The sun sets over McCrae Lake in Ontario, Canada. (alexindigo / flickr) http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexindigo/ / CC BY 2.0
The afternoon has drifted to 3 p.m., and you know the sun will be down in about 90 minutes. You and your hiking partner have snowshoed five miles to where you stand now, a grove of towering hemlocks reaching for the sky above the ravine. And while you try to ignore the 20 degree weather and the biting wind, all you can think about is a hot meal and the comfort of your sleeping bag and tent.
Having the most comfortable, sheltered campsite during a winter backpack is essential to the success of your trip. You spend more time in your campsite during winter backpacks than you do during the spring, summer and fall since the sun goes down earlier. Conditions are harsher during winter, too – wind chill, snow or sleet, extreme temperatures, avalanche possibilities – that having the correct campsite also is a top-priority safety measure.
Here are a few tips on how to pick the right campsite for your winter backpack:
- Do some pre-planning during the days or weeks prior to your trip. Look carefully at a topographical map to determine where you want to camp, considering what might provide the best wind protection. Pre-planning also includes checking the weather forecast to see if any storms are possible and from where they might come. Ridgeline campsites are more exposed to the wind.
- Talk with forest/park rangers before leaving. Ask them where are you least likely to encounter avalanches.
- Arrive in enough time so you can set up camp, start dinner and possibly make a fire. Darkness and winter cold makes this much harder.
- Look for a campsite near a stream, lake or a water source. If you can’t find one, you’ll have to melt snow, but that takes up valuable stove fuel.
- When arriving at camp, search for “widow makers.” Widow makers are tree limbs or trees ready to fall with a stiff wind. Avoid sleeping under them.
- Face your camp to the east or south. Nobody wants to free themselves from the coziness of their sleeping bag, but at least you’re facing the sun and will get warmer faster compared to campsites facing west, which will remain in morning shadow.
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