Rain

If it rains on my "winter" camping trip in two weeks - i will be pissed!

Lots of winter camping activities in Algonquin Park!!

View this link for the excitement that is my home, in the winter.

http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/recreational_activites/current-ski-trail-conditions.php

SHC

Your home away from home! Well....mine at least.

http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/camping/yurts-in-algonquin-park.php

View the following for a great pic and description of our Yurt in Algonquin, as well as an image of winter in Algonquin.

SHC

Winter Camping - clothing....aka....wear some clothes when you winter camp

(some excerpts borrowed from Maurer&St.Clair2009)

Your body keeps you warm not your clothes. Clothes merely provide insulation to trap your body’s heat. (Yes, that is ALL they do....ok...they also provide coverage for the uglies)

Anticipate the changing conditions and alter your clothing accordingly. (Duh, they teach this in JK)....Addendum....hot - no clothes, cold - wear all your clothes.

Warmth from your body is trapped between your body and the fabric, as well as between separate layers of fabric. This is one reason why wearing several layers of clothing is more effective than one thick layer. Other reasons include the way weather and activity levels change; layering allows you the freedom to shed an article of clothing when either the temperature or your activity level increases (or, for example, your premenopause kicks in, or when you are embarrasses or experiencing a panic attack!). When either of them drops, you add a layer or two to trap your body heat within your clothing.

Clothing – protective shell (shells, jackets, pants that protect from wind and weather), insulating middle layers (wool sweaters, polar fleece, fleece pants - PREFERABLY TEAR-AWAYS - YES YOU HEARD IT HERE! - , down parkas, vests), wicking base layers (long underwear, liner socks, liner gloves).

Headware – ear band (PICTURE THE 80'S - PREFERRABLY IN FLUORESCENT PINK), winter hat, ball cap, hood, sunglasses (AGAIN, IN THE PICTURES DEPICTING THIS SPORT IT APPEARS BEST THAT YOU TRY VARNETT'S OUT OF THE 80'S WITH REFLECTIVE LENSES!).

Other stuff – gators, shell mitts, boots (AGAIN, DUHHHHHH).

FEET

Keep feet dry and warm. Use a thin liner sock and then add a thicker, warmer wool or synthetic sock over that. If you experience consistently poor circulation to your feet, you may want to consider wearing a vapour-barriere (VB) layer between your think liner socks and thicker insulating socks. VBs, in general, are materials (typically plastic  or nylon) that resist the passage of moisture (i.e. a bag). This barrier can prevent perspiration from leaking out, eventually raising the humidity level near the skin so that sweating slows or even stops.

Always keep at least one pair of socks dry.  On a day hike, keep the spare pair in a Ziploc bag. ON an overnight, bring one or two additional pairs and always keep one of those pairs in the bottom of your sleeping bag when you’re not wearing them during the night. IF a pair gets wet, dry them by placing one sock directly on each thigh, between your skin and your base layer. Your body is your best heat source and your thighs will warm and dry your socks in just a few hours. You can use more than your thighs…(DON'T BE SO RUDE) try your armpits or your belly (HA).

Head to toe clothing list

Liner hat

Fleece ski hat

Balaclava (LIKE THE BANK ROBBING KIND)

Sunglasses

Goggles

Lightweight long underwear top

Midweight long underwear top

Pile sweater (THIS DOESN'T MEAN PILES OF SWEATERS - THINK FLEECE/WOOL)

Pile vest (DITTO)

Waterproof/breathable shell jacket

Liner gloves

Insulating mitts

Shell mittens

Lightweight long underwear pants

Fleece pants with full side zippers (EASY ACCESS - BUT DON'T THINK YOU ARE GETTING ANY ON THE TRAIL GUYS - WAY TOO FRIGGING COLD FOR CLOTHES TO BE REMOVED)

Waterproof/breathable pants or bibs

Liner socks (2 pair at least)

Wool sock (or other – 3 pair at least)

Gaiters (optional) - THINK 80'S

Boots (NOT WEDGES, PLATFORMS, HEALS, FASHION BOOTS, BOOTS WITH DANGLY THINGS, BOOTS WITH ZIPPERS)

Camp booties (optional) - AGAIN PREFERRABLE IN PINK!

Snowshoes - UNLESS YOU WANT TO DIE IN THE DEEP SNOW.

Backpack – small is good in case we hike. Water bottle would be A bright move.

Sleeping bags - THIS WOULD BE A GREAT TIME TO INVEST IN AN EXPENSIVE VERSION.

Misc.

Shovel - BRING ONE to build a Quinzee and a snow wall. TO LEARN HOW TO BUILD A QUINZEE - TUNE IN NEXT TIME.

HEADING OUT ON THE MARCH BREAK. WATCH FOR STORIES OF WEATHER, WILDLIFE AND MORE.