What special considerations are there for food and water when winter camping? You don’t need to worry about things spoiling during winter camping trips like you do during the summer, so you can even bring stuff like ice cream if you want! But we recommend prepping everything you can beforehand because it’s harder to prepare food in the cold. Gravity water filters won’t work, so you need to drill down through the lake ice to collect water, and then boil it or use iodine tablets. You can melt snow too, but it takes a lot of snow. What are your favorite spots to winter camp? It depends on the type of adventure you want to have. Slim and Hegman Lake are great for beginners because accessibility generally isn’t a concern and you’re never more than two miles from your vehicle. Moose Lake and Fall Lake are great for folks who want to venture further. Those Lakes are frequented by dogsled teams, so you’ll be able to travel further along established, relatively safe routes. But no ice is ever 100% safe. If you’d like to ice-fish a lot, Snowbank and Wood Lakes and Lake One are great spots. What special considerations are there for bringing kids? Plan your trip based on their capabilities. Unless they have a lot of all-season outdoor experience, winter camping may not be the best fit for really young kids. However, this is a great experience to share with them when they’re ready. Try beginner routes first. What about ice safety? If you’re unsure about a spot on the ice, go around it. Know where you are in terms of moving water, which produces thin ice. Know what to do if you fall through. Have detailed conversations with your outfitter ahead of time about safety and location-specific considerations like rivers and spring slush.
What else do you want those considering winter camping to know? It’s a wonderful, quiet, challenging experience. Keep it simple, start small, and know your capabilities and limits. Set your expectations and be prepared to change plans and be flexible. It’s important to leave no trace: pack out all your garbage, don’t cut live vegetation, collect firewood far from shorelines, trails and campsites, bury human and dog waste at least 200 ft from the water, campsites, and trails.
Piragis Website > | Ely.org Outfitter Directory > | USFS Winter Camping Guidelines >
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