Winter Camping resources
Here are some ideas to help simplify planning for your next winter campout. These were shared in the recent Varsity Huddle.
8 simple tips for a comfortable winter camp
- Preparation (mental and physical) for boys and adult leaders.
- Burn calories to stay warm—eat lots of calories.
- Closed-cell foam pad for sleeping, standing, sitting, etc.
- Hot water bottles at night in sleeping bag (Nalgene work best).
- Layer clothing – bring a complete change of clothing (especially with snow caves).
- Bring an extra sleeping bag, tarp, or blanket for extra warmth.
- Sleep with a Beanie.
- When building snow caves – take two days to build them.
Resources
Places to go
- City Weekly article – Has information about Big Cottonwood Canyon, American Fork Canyon, Spanish Fork Canyon, Strawberry Reservoir, Mirror Lake Highway, East Canyon, Rockport State Park.
- Utah National Parks Council – Maple Dell or Frandsen Scout Ranch. Overnight packages include activities, equipment and food.
Winter Camping Info
- Basic tips for staying warm
- Outdoor Action Guide to Winter Camping – A very thorough guide to preparing for winter camping. Includes information on clothing, food, shelter and gear tips.
- Outdoor Action Guide to Snow Shelters – Good illustrations for different types of snow shelters.
- Okpik Participant Handbook (pdf) – a prep guide for people attending a Boy Scout Okpik camp. Can be applied to any winter camp.
- Okpik: Cold-Weather Camping – a Boy Scout book available from ScoutStuff.org for $10. Also available free as a pdf (scanned images). May or may not be at the Orem Service Center.
- Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills - A book recommended as a general outdoor reference. Amazon, Wikipedia
Activity ideas
- Ice fishing
- Hiking/Snow-shoeing
- Cross-country skiing
- Fire building competitions
- Build a sled to haul gear
- Shelter building – see link in Winter Camping Info section above for different types
- Animal tracking
- Lion hunting game (#4 at http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/games/b-p/tracking.htm)
- Snowshoe soccer
- Fox and Geese
- Track and Snow – set up a hurdles course using piles of snow. Can have contests for speed or height.
- Biathlon
- Hot springs near Fillmore
