article “winter camping for beginners”

Club Tread is a site I have been using for years for advice on trips in Western Canada. We link to many of their pages.

But this is the best Club Tread article yet!

Thanks so much to author Stephen Sharp.

He is less keen on building a quinzee than am I:

All my experiences with snow shelters have not been successful or comfortable. They are fun to build but I am claustrophobic!

They are definitely warmer than a tent but take at least three hours to excavate. Having to evacuate a snow cave in the middle of a blizzard because the roof was collapsing under the weight of an enormous snowfall has soured me completely on them.

My favorite snow shelter is a snow trench. Essentially it is a trench dug into the snow in which sleeping platforms have been cut and is covered by a tarp that is covered with a layer of snow. Remember to bring some sort of sleeping bag cover to protect it from getting wet from dripping melt water!

I find that a candle lantern is an essential piece of gear to use in any shelter or tent. Besides providing light, a candle will help dry out the air and add a little warmth.