"Would you be interested in a winter camping trip?" I received this request in a Dec. 16th email from my friend Charlie. The proposal was for 3 nights of camping over President's Day weekend. As the time for this trip neared I began to think better of spending 3 days (and nights) in the dead of winter camping; especially given we have 3 feet of snow on the ground. With a little encouragement the trip was reduced to 2 nights. We were already on Plan B and the trip hadn't even started.
Another friend, Hunter, joined the escapade. With packs loaded the 3 of us, plus my trusty sidekick Tucker, departed at noon on Saturday. Charlie, ever the experimentalist, decided on cross-country skis rather than snowshoes and to pull his gear in a sled rather than lug a pack. Good idea. Bad execution. The sled broke down within a half mile. A trail repair was effected, only to have it breakdown again after another half mile. After 2 and 1/2 hours we were only one and a half miles in towards our intended destination of about four miles away. Time for Plan C. With daylight soon to fade we located a source
of water and camped where we were.
First order of business was to set up a tarp for the common area which would be used for cooking. Done. Then a fire pit was dug in the snow and a fire started. Done. Next more pits were dug and tents erected. Done. As the last vestiges of daylight faded and it began to snow we cooked our dinner of reconstituted freeze-dried meals and grilled steaks. As evening fully descended and faced with a long cold night ahead Charlie confessed, "This just isn't as much fun as it used to be." Charlie wasn't feeling well. Even with a change into dry warm clothes he could not get himself warm. Time for Plan D. Charlie, Tucker, and I hiked back out in the dark leaving Hunter on his own.
Rather than face a midnight return hike on my own I bedded down at home and headed back with the first light (and a thermos of coffee) to join Hunter. Hunter and I did an extended day hike. Charlie rejoined us in the early afternoon and we moved on to Plan E. Pack up and leave.
Summary of Trip:
- Distance traveled: 3 miles round trip with gear. 10 miles total.
- Number of tents transported: 2
- Number of tents used: 1
- Number of sleeping bags transported: 3
- Number of sleeping bags used: 1
- Number of stoves transported: 2
- Number of stoves used: 1
- Number of meals transported: 18
- Number of meals consumed: 6
- Weight of gear transported: Approx. 180 pounds
- Amount of gear actually used: Approx. 60 pounds
The good news. We actually had a great time and I managed to snag a couple nice shots.
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