My sons wanted to know what snowcamping was like..

“So I took them on a little overnighter in Kings Canyon National Park! Well... it was a balmy 9 degrees last night but they survived...LOL! We asked about camping in the Azalea campground at the entrance station to the park...the lady ranger looked at me like I was nutz or something. I asked about the campground rates and told her I had heard that they were free during the winter months she said "Yes they are free this time of year....probably because they don't think anyone would actually use them" LOL!

After a long day of playing in the snow and a round of cheesebugers...I told them I had brought cards and stuff to help pass the long night...much to my surprise my sons were snoring by 7:00 PM and didn't crawl outta bed til 8:30 the next morning.
At about 10:00 PM that night I had about enough of tent living...put on my jacket and down booties and went for short walk to admire the pitch black skies and the brilliant star show...I noticed that I felt a little cool....then I realized
I was out trekking in my long johns :)



Today was B E A utiful!”

“Purdy, WW. And better you than me out in the 9-degree weather!”

“Beautiful pic and great report, Wind Walker.

Don't get to do much snow camping here in Alabama, lol...”

“Lucky kids....and dad.


The only way you really get to see that, is to wake up to it.”

“Sounds like a great trip...and as usual you have great pictures to go along with the report.”

“Can I be one of your kids?”

“Sure Navi...when you get those new shoes...we'll go get 'em all wet and snowy!


Our little camp...if you look at the bear box that's how much new snow they had up there from Sunday's storm.

Not many folks in the campgrounds this time of year...there were two guys from So Cal camping in the snow too...they were heading for Death Valley today.”

“Thanks Dad!

Read your e-mail.”

“Cool beans, WW!”

“Cool trip report WW. If you don't mind me asking, how old are your kids? I've got a daughter who will be going on her first backpacking trip with me this summer, she's 13, and a son who is 3 and I'm thinking about taking him on his first overnighter to a near by wilderness area this summer. My wife thinks he's too young but I think never too young to expose them to the trail. He goes with me on day hikes now and he loves it.”

“Great photos, WW! -Keep 'em coming.

It's understandable your boys were able to sleep as well as that. It's totally quiet and the air is clear. There's something about crashing on a few feet of snow with the wind blowing.

Remember Taft Point with the 70mph winds? And it was still a good night's sleep. Slept soundly. Sawed some logs. 8)”

“My sons are 18 and 14 and have been going with me on BP trips for years. In the last couple of years I have started going on winter trips too...They have been watching...and finally showed some interest...they had a ball and will probably want to go again.

Three years old is kinda young....but if you build the trip around him...so that it's not too much for him...
Who doesn't like the adventure of sleeping in a tent or under the stars when they're a kid?

Just make it fun and he'll want to do it again and again!”

“Feel like adopting a daughter?”

“I've never used a bear box / container, but why locate it so close to your tent if you brought it for critters / bears? I did camp in a remote area with my wife & daughter once. My very young daughter wanted to sleep in her own tent. I faced the openings to each other & woke up to every little noise. She did wake up & call out to me once during the night, then she was fine. I'm much more comfortable going by myself or occasionally with other adults.”

“We were snow camping in a (car camping)campground that has a bear box at every campsite. I didn't carry that thing in! That bear box was empty we used the one up by the road near our car.

I roamed around taking pictures all weekend and didn't see one bear print in the snow.

I do carry a bear canister when backpacking though and usually locate it 100' or more from my tent.”

“Catshiker, the bear container in the pic is one placed by the NPS. They're bolted down and weigh quite abit. They're quite common in front county campsites and a few in the backcountry there. Since it's winter, it doesn't really matter if you camp next to it. Then again, many folks camp adjacent to them in summer. Bears just go for the food not sleeping campers, YET! :)

But yeah, if you pack in a bear canister it's probably best to camp away from it. I usually place mine about 30 feet away. Gives me a chance to watch bears. Funny thing is that they don't bother with can but come sniff me in my bag.”

“When I camped overnight in the snow, Dec. 19th, in northern Iowa, I was the only one in the state park. My boots stayed dry since the snow on them did not melt.”

“Excellent report and pics, WW!

Three isn't too young for backpacking, IMO - check here. Took Cameron on his first winter trip last March.”

“Winter camping is great, but you have to watch out for hazards like this on the trail. They may look dangerous, but they're harmless.”

“Scary!!!”

“Yeti? LOL!”

“I think it's a rare photo of Sasquatch's younger brother, "Beanie".”

“GRIN Beautiful!!”

“It's rumored that "Beanie" may be sighted here on Wednesday and Thursday....”

“Well...have fun "Beanie" looks like it's extra beautiful up there right now....may even get some fresh snow today and tonight!”

“Bay Area's getting totally hammered right now - and it's "cold," which should mean lots and lots of white stuff in the mtns!!”

“Absolutely beautiful pictures, WW!”

“Thanks to all for the kind words.

We also stopped by to visit "The Nation's Christmas Tree" which is also the country's only "Living Shrine" and 3rd largest tree in the world...



The General Grant Tree”

“"The General Grant Tree, third largest of the sequoias, is over 267' tall, 40' across its base and over 107' around. Estimates of its age range from 1500 to 2000 years old."
The General Grant Tree”

“wow wow wow! thats one great big dang tree!

WW, you rock! you are a lucky dad of some lucky kids....if ya know what i mean....”

“BEEAUTIFUL”

“One more...

”

“Ok two more...

”

“Very cool stuff.Loks like playtime in the snow was in full swing!!!!


Man and that tree that has to be one of the things that I have to see before I die.

Good stuff dude!

8)”