Join me for 3 days of Winter Camping, Hammock setup, Snowshoeing, Camp Stove testing with multiple Fuel types for Snow Melting, Cold Weather Clothing tips & more on this mega episode.
For this solo winter backpacking and snow camping adventure, I’ll be heading into the deep snow of the Sandwich Range Wilderness in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. If you’re serious about geeking out on the finer details of camping in deep snow in temperatures below zero F, this video is for you. We’ll be spending a lot of time at camp experimenting, demonstrating and discussing a lot of winter camping topics in detail, including –
Snowshoe types and usage
Campsite selection
Using the Outdoor Vitals Mummy Pod System
Snow melting for drinking water
Extensive testing using the Optimus Polaris Optifuel stove comparing several camping fuel types for winter cooking & snow melting – LPG canister fuel, white gas, and diesel fuel. Liquid fuel stove priming, inverted canister mode, fuel efficiency, etc.
Winter hammock camping tarp setup in the snow.
Trekking poles for winter hiking
Staying warm on winter camping trips – clothing layer management and strategy, sleeping bag choices, hot water bottle for supplemental warmth.
Traction & Traversal
MSR Denali Ascent Snowshoes *No longer in production, I got them on Ebay. A modern equivalent would be something like the MSR Evo Ascent Snowshoe. Kahtoola Micro Spikes *I didn’t end up using them, as I had my snowshoes on most of the time, but I always throw these in the pack for snow trips to deal with icy terrain. Trekking Poles – CNOC Outdoors Carbon Fiber Vertex Trekking Poles
Come along for 2 days of Winter Hammock Camping, Backpacking, & Camp cooking as we hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail near Port Clinton, PA.
For this winter camping adventure, I’ll be taking advantage of a couple of free days by heading up to Port Clinton, Pennsylvania for a spur of the moment solo backpacking trip. Along the way, we’ll see some sections of the Appalachian Trail that PA has to offer, go over my winter backpacking gear, setup a winter hammock camping rig, build a campfire, and do a a decent amount of camp cooking on my trusty, old-school canister stove.
Trailhead Parking
Appalachian Trailhead, Port Clinton, Pennsylvania, Rt 61 Note: Parking at the actual trailhead is no longer allowed / possible. I parked in the town of Port Clinton near the Fire Station and proceeded down Penn St to the dead end. This small detour allows you to hike directly under the highway bridge and link up with the Appalachian Trail on the other side.
This was a relatively simple ‘in and out’ hike with a total one way distance of just under 3 miles and an elevation gain of 1,284′.
Port Clinton Winter Hammock Camping Elevation Profile for Hike In – Sintax77
Notable Gear Used / Seen on this Backpacking Trip: For a more detailed account, check out my full Winter Ultralight Backpacking Gear List Blog Post / Video.
Using the MummyPod on my upcoming winter White Mountains trip to try and sleep one night on the ground using a bivy sack in sleeping bag config, and one night in a hammock in a pea-pod setup.
Chameleon Sidecar Accessory for the Dutchware Gear Chameleon Hammock System
Carol Update
Sleeping Pads for Winter Camping? (I double up two summer ones)
Big Agnes Q-Core SL Sleeping Pad (inflatable) I used it on the ground at -25F by itself. …not a great idea. I had a pretty cold butt, but I lived 🙂
How to get started with your first overnight backpacking / camping trip.
“Mickey Mouse Boots” – military surplus boots for extreme cold weather and snow.
Bushcraft is cool, but like many niche hobbies, it can cultivate some arrogant attitudes. Emphasis on some, but it’s out there. And no, I’m not even necessarily talking about Joshua’s comment. His was relatively mild but a good segue for discussion.
Fires starting / campfires on camping trips.
Survival skills (great to have) vs just having fun in the woods (great to have as well).
Hammock Gear Burrow 0° Top Quilt Wide, 26.4 oz (I went with the wide version for better coverage on tent trips where I may sleep on the ground. If you only plan to use yours in a hammock, you can probably do a standard width model)
Climbing Grade Carabiners Rated 1,000lb+, 1.5 oz for the pair (In the video I’m using Dutchware biners that came with my Chameleon Hammock, but I also use Black Diamond Neutrino carabiners
Total Hammock System Weight: 1.75 lbs (793 grams) Total Insulation System Weight: 3.25 lbs (1.47 kilos) Shelter System Weight (tarp plus all lines & adjustment hardware): 8.75 oz
Deep Winter Hammock Camping System Grand Total Weight: 5.55 lbs (2.52 kilos)
Join Sara and I for 3 days of Hiking & Hammock Camping on a Backpacking Trip in the Adirondack’s Dix Mountain Wilderness.
For this backpacking adventure, I’ll be breaking the hiking trip into two parts. Hiking the Dix Range Part 2 is comprised of mostly hiking and summits, as we ascend from camp up onto the Dix Range to hit the Beck-Horn (a subsidiary peak of Dix Mountain) and the summit of Dix Mountain itself.
The previous Dix Range Part 1 covered our hike in to camp, setting up our base camp with our two person hammock camping system, and some campfire chat while we made a campfire, camp chores, and cook some backpacking food.
Set out from camp and continue north along the nearby Elk Lake to Dix Mountain Trail.
Get some views of Dix Pond along the way.
At the junction, head right (east) to ascend the Dix via Beckhorn Trail.
Tag Beckhorn (a subsidiary peak of Dix Mountain) for some amazing 360 views of New Yorks Adirondack Mountains.
Continue a short bit and tag the official summit of Dix Mountain for another round of views.
Begin a steep and rocky descent via the Hunters Pass Trail.
Rejoin the Elk Lake to Dix Mountain Trail at the junction from earlier
Return to base camp along the Elk Lake to Dix Mountain Trail.
Dix Range Adirondacks Day 2 Elevation Profile – Sintax77
Day 2 Total Mileage: 7 miles Day 2 Gross Elevation Gain: 2,913 feet Day 2 Gross Elevation Loss: 2,913 feet
Trails Used Day 3 (hike out)
Break camp along the Elk Lake Trail, after the Lillian Brook LT and just before the large bridge crossing Lillian Brook. As of 9/14/17, this site had a yellow “Camp Here” disc, designating it a fully legal spot, despite it’s proximity to a small stream nearby. The stream is probably a convenient water source when flowing good, but we opted to get our water a 100 meters or so down the trail by the Lilian Brook bridge.
Head south on the Elk Lake to Dix Mountain Trail
Pass the Slide Brook Lean-to . The Slide Brook LT and camping area makes for a popular base camp for hikers hitting the Dix Range. We chose to push on a bit (under 2 miles) to the lesser used Lillian Brook lean-to area, which as some nice, legal campsites that are a bit more secluded.
Return to the Elk Lake Trailhead Parking Lot. This is a decent sized lot along a gravel road on the way to the Elk Lake Lodge. If the lot is full, you may park for free at the Elk Lake Lodge, a bit further up the road.
Day 3 Total Mileage: 3.6 miles Day 3 Gross Elevation Gain: 354 feet Day 3 Gross Elevation Loss: 559 feet
Full Trip 3 Day Grand Total Mileage: 14.6 miles Full Trip 3 Day Grand Total Elevation Gain: 3,900 feet
Notable Camping / Backpacking Gear Seen on this Video
Alpha
, long
*No longer in production, I got them on Ebay. A modern equivalent would be something like the 
.
*I didn’t end up using them, as I had my snowshoes on most of the time, but I always throw these in the pack for snow trips to deal with icy terrain.
*I’m not sure my model is in production anymore. The closest current version seems to be the 
.
(came with my Sawyer S3 system)
carabiners
Sleeping Pad
Sleeping Pad
Bear Canister
in 