6 Tips for a Cold Weather Camping Trip

I have always much preferred comping in the winter. Something about the ruthlessness of the climate, the challenge of pitting yourself against the elements, and the reward of knowing you have braved conditions most would rather not entertain gives me a sense of achievement.
For me, walking, camping, expeditions have always been about pushing myself and finding out the limit of my gear and abilities. That being said, my ability to host a successful winter weekend has not been easily won; with many a cold wet night spent in inadequate shelter, or wearing gear that just wasn’t up to the punishing reality of harsh Scottish winters. It has been a case of trial and error and through the following tips hopefully I can help you to avoid the same pitfalls!

1. Always carry more socks than you think you will need! And keep them dry!
   – There is nothing worse than having wet and cold feet. Not only is it uncomfortable but it can pose a greater risk over longer periods of time as heat is drawn away from your body. One thing I have learned is that you will use more pairs of socks than you realise in the winter. I always like to double sock when doing long walks anyway and inevitably; either through snow or sweat your feet will be damp by the end of the day. I always find pulling on a pair of dry warm socks when you’re back at the tent instantly revitalises you, so make sure you always keep a spare pair in a secure dry bag!

• My go to socks for in the tent are thick woollen military issue that provide a welcome warmth and snugness after a long day slogging up Munros.

2. Waterproof, Waterproof, Waterproof.
   – This might sound obvious but so many times I have seen people caught out by just how penetrating the rain/snow can be. For this reason I like to employ a double waterproof system. A waterproof rucksack, with everything inside also stored in waterproof bags provides a guarantee that when you come to pitch your campsite, you don’t have soggy tent poles. As I’m sure many of you have experienced: once something is wet, it stays wet. So the best plan of attack is to keep as much as you can dry for as long as possible. Additionally, don’t just use one waterproof liner, split your gear up across 2 or 3 internal waterproof bags, that way if one should fail (to paraphrase) you don’t have all your kit in one basket.

• I use regatta 5-15L dry bags, but also even something as simple as a freezer bag can be mighty useful for those smaller items like toiletries and cameras.

3. Choose your campsite carefully.
   – As the Goldilocks fairy tale goes, everything needs to be just right. Try and choose a campsite that is not too low (cold air collects in valleys) but also not too high (often much more exposed). Try and look for natural formations that can act as weather breaks. Flat ground is best but if this isn’t possible then always pitch with your door facing downhill (so you can sleep with your head uphill). If you have the luxury of snow then don’t be tempted to clear it away, snow is an excellent insulator so stamp it flat before pitching your tent for an extra layer of protection from the ground.

• During the winter I have used a North Face VE25 tent, providing excellent protection from high winds it is a little on the heavy side at 4.3kg but I always find this a small price to pay for the extra additional features.

4. Don’t skimp on gear.
   – By this I don’t mean you need to be kitted head to toe in the best gear money can buy, but it’s vitally important that you have gear that’s up to the job. Slowly over the years I have managed to amass a decent wardrobe of equipment, the items I’ve found that I have gotten the most use out of are definitely my base layers, a good set of layering gloves, and good quality windproof layers. That covers clothing but in terms of equipment, I have always found my Jetboil to be super useful in the winter due to its ease of use especially when you have cold fingers! Another invaluable piece of equipment has been a strong head torch for when you don’t quite get back to the tent before the sun dips below the fells!

5. Everything takes longer.
   – Always allow yourself extra time for everything, especially when planning your walks. I have found that planning a ridge walk with multiple points where a route can be cut short in the event of delays is best practice. This was learned the hard way when me and a friend once attempted to wild camp the Pennine way and due to bad planning got caught on to of the Yorkshire dales in January. A cold and uncomfortable night followed when we eventually had to surrender to the darkness and pitch camp.

6. Last of all take plenty to keep you entertained!
   – Winter days are short, and winter nights spent in the tent are long. For the sake of your sanity, ensure you have plenty of things to keep you occupied, books, MP3, and writing a journal are all good options. Just bear in mind that anything you take requiring power also needs a way to keep it charged! And books require light to read so make sure you have a reliable tent light to hang from the roof! A friend and I always found a deck of cards and bottle of whisky passed a great deal of time and provided us a reliable way to decide who carried the lion’s share of communal gear the following day! Just make sure you practice your poker face if this is the route you choose!