Snow camping?

“This coming winter will be my first real snow camping trip. So, I was wondering what is the best thing to use when staking down a tent in the snow. Should I use special snow tent stakes or snow anchors that are burried in the snow? What one would hold my tent in place the best, during strong wind and storms? Any other suggestions or advice would be helpful, thanks!”

“Don't bother with snow stakes. Tie loops of cord on your tent loops and place sticks on them and stomp them into the snow. I do that all the time and it works. You can even use a stuff sack or other bag filled with snow, but I always use sticks. I've endured some big storms using this method.”

“Snow anchors (stuff sacks) work great too, the only problem is that they freeze and get stuck in the snow and you gotta' dig them out sometimes. I think they are best for basecamp situations.”

“If you use small enough sticks, but big enough to hold the tent you can just kick them and they break and you won't have a problem with them freezing in place.”

“I can feel the cold of the snow with just one groundpad. I usually bring 2 to insulate me from the snow. This weekend I used my slumberjack inflatable chair over a Z-Rest.”

“Alaskan Packer - For guying out my tent I find long (3 ft.) sticks about as big around as a finger and bury them horizontally in the snow with guy-line tied to them. For staking out the corners of the tent body, use the same length sticks pushed as far vertically into the snow (at an angle) as you can. The more stick you can get under the snow the better.

I've handled some pretty big winds and heavy snow this way.”

“Plastic grocery bags have work for me in the past. Hefty sticks work great to. Learn some good knots and get some good cordage that is not to prone to freezing completely.
Also look to pitch behind natural wind blockers if at all possible, thick stands of pines, hills, rocks, whatever.

Definetly double pad or invest in a thicker winter sleeping pad design for such occassions. Also use any extra clothing parka, pants, or other items as part of the barrier. Don't forget your E blanket!!!”

“Ski/hiking poles work perfect for staking out my tent and if your tent has the adjustable loops, skis also work.
It's recomended for sleeping on snow that you have at least 1.5" to 2" of insulation between you and the snow.”

“I've found the snow stakes to be useless in dry, unpacked snow. The snow anchors work very well though be prepared to dig them out - the snow gets like cement after a while.”

“OK, this is going to sound ugly, but it's really easy to do. If I could show a picture it would be instantaneously obvious...Deadmen, as they are called, are really easy to make. Take a 4"X4" (OR 6"x6")square piece of wood (approximate), drill a 1/4" hole in the middle (approximate), then get a piece of rope (2' in length, approximate), tie a knot at one end, then run the rope thru your deadman & tie the other end to your tent. Bury the deadman in the snow, it holds EXTREMELY well. I've done a fair amount of snow camping, this really works.”

“If you're above the trees, try a bivy sack. I have a Canadian army surplus one that is just a big, plasticised mummy sack. It doesn't breathe, but I use a VBL and so no vapour gets into my sleeping bag or under the bivy sack. I do get frost around the opening, however. It's a lot easier than a tent and I just don't carry or put up a tent in the winter any more. I lie in my bag(s) and read or cook with the aid of my headlamp. In extreme situations, I dig a trench and use the blocks I dug out to build a wind wall. When I get up, I pack up and get moving. Otherwise, everything everyone else said is right on. I hate snow caves by the way - I would resort to one of those only in a survival situation. One of my buddies has an Integral Designs bivy sack that is wonderful and breathable - it's the one with a hoop over your head to prevent the feeling of being suffocated; the new ones even have a chimney vent, but I'll probably stick to a light tent for summer packing. Happy trails.”

“What type of shovels do you use when snow camping(brand/model)? I looking at buying one, but I wonder how well a folding military issue shovel would work. Probably not to great if you had to do much digging. Any suggestions? Thanks!”

“In my opinion, a folding, military shovel is far too heavy and of very limited use in snow as they're made for dirt. The Mountain Gear (U.S.) and Mountain Equipment Co-op (Canada) carry excellent winter shovels, some are even available with a snow saw or avalanche probe in the handle. To be honest, mine is a 10$ cheapo that I bought at the local hardware store. It's made for carrying in the car, not for digging out a driveway and is about the same size as a mountaineering one. It has an inexpensive, telescoping (steel?) handle that my buddy prefers to his Life-Link because it has a button release from the plastic shovel part that makes it easier to take down. I wrapped sport tape on the exposed metal to make it less slippery in the cold (and safer for bare skin). I take it down and lash the handle to my pack's side lash points on the other side of the pack from my snow stake. I have double loops and daisy chains for my ice axe and third tool and I lash my Tubbs over them and the shovel over the snowshoes. It's not as burdensome as it sounds as I don't usually have everything on the pack at the same time and often leave things in the car at trailhead depending on the trip and the conditions. I definitely prefer plastic - won't bend. It's heavier than a real one, but you get what you pay for and it works fine. Happy trails.”

“To help insulate me from the cold ground I've added a "sunshield" the silver foil looking ones, to my snow gear. They are light, thin, and are easy to fold. Reflecting your body heat back at you, makes a big difference.”

“Alaskin Packer:
As far as a shovel - I use a 9" heavy plastic plate - it doubles as my eating plate and as a snow shovel on the trail. Double duty for about 6 oz
If you need to dig your car out - that's a different story”