Re: winter camping/backpacking - tips for newbies

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Posted by SteveTheFolkie on January 16, 2007 at 9:13:21 am EST
In reply to Re: winter camping/backpacking - tips for newbies posted by Tom D on January 16, 2007 at 2:43:13 am EST

Start small if you're going to learn the ropes on your own - keep the distances reasonable and try to take your first winter trips in an area where you can easily return to civilization if things start to go wrong.
Assuming that you enjoy daylong winter activities (hiking, backcountry skiing, travel on snowshoes) I'd start with an overnight (close to the trailhead), followed by a nice day long trip back into the woods, which ends up back where you started for another "night out" - and build from there.

You might want to check in the local mountain equipment shops - who knows - there may be others with more experience who wouldn't mind having you come along. Perhaps outting clubs would be a better source than shops -
As for equipment - EMS and REI used to rent stuff - not sure if that is still the case. If you know some experienced folks in the area - you might be able to borrow.

Proper winter gear is expensive - but having been in a tent as it shredded one night above tree-line - forcing a friend and I to dig a snow cave (which we were stuck in for a few days while the weather raged outside) - the extra money for a proper winter tent would have seemed cheap halfway through digging that cave (a rather cold, wet and somewhat unsatisfying experience in the dark of night).

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