Going camping in winter is only for the strong-willed people who are eager for an adventure, that's for sure. You can rent a cabin, sleep outside with a tent, or, for the Indiana Jones out there, grab a backpack and be ready to go. According to the camping style you choose, you'll have to incorporate certain strategies to get the best out of your trip and overall have a safe experience. Luckily, all the additional tips I'll give you today can be used in all scenarios. Now, let's take a look at some crucial camping tips you need to know for this winter season.
This topic might be a little uncomfortable for some of you, but it has to be said. It's no secret that colder temperatures will make your bladder go crazy. In simple words, you'll want to urinate a lot more. It's very annoying to go outside every twenty minutes to avoid your bladder from exploding, especially late at night when you want to go to sleep. There's something you can do about this. Place an empty bottle inside your tent to urinate whenever you want to, you won't need to go outside and the bathroom will be much closer than you think. Just make sure you label the bottle appropriately.
You'll notice winter nights seem to last forever, and sometimes it's just impossible to fall asleep. For these certain occasions always carry something you can entertain yourself with. It could be literally anything, a book, a magazine, a portable videogame console, drawing or knitting, you decide. If you're going with other people then consider bringing board games, those work amazingly when you have company. You could try to make an itinerary, that way you don't have to think too hard about activities to do when you're feeling bored, you can just focus on enjoying every moment.
Hypothermia and cold injuries are something you definitely have to watch out for, things could escalate very fast and ruin the entire experience. Make sure you stay warm at all times, drink hot beverages, layer up your clothes, check if your sleeping bag is completely dry with no traces of humidity, and so on. You can't avoid the cold in winter, it's like trying to avoid the sun during the day, it's impossible. But you can avoid places where the temperature is significantly lower.
The wind during winter can be dangerous. You need to secure your tent as much as you can to avoid getting it torn down by mother nature. If you think the wind could be a potential problem at the location you chose, then a good idea is to try to look for wind blockers. Wind blockers are things at your campsite that can help block or redirect wind flow, such things could be rocks and trees. Look for trees that prevent the air from pushing directly against your tent. It sounds like it's not a big deal but I promise, it actually makes a huge difference.