Posted 2009-08-27 5:24 AM (#110035) Subject: Winter Camping
Veteran
Posts: 270 Location: Roanoke IL
How many of you camp in cold climates during the winter months? I've never done it. I live in central IL, and the winters aren't much fun. I sit around being sad that I can't ride. I know there are some parks that are open during the winter, but I've never gone. I'm wondering if anyone has any tips for making an overnight winter camping trip easy and fun. I've got a LQ trailer with a good furnace, but I couldn't use my water system, since the tanks would all freeze. Any suggestions or tips?
Posted 2009-08-27 5:40 AM (#110036 - in reply to #110035) Subject: RE: Winter Camping
Regular
Posts: 73 Location: rochelle va.
We have been in Jacksonville Florida in February, the temps got into the mid 20's. Just turn on the heat and we were fine. Winter camping is ok. You just have to watch your water hose, it will be the first to freeze. At night unhook the hose and drain the water out. This keeps your city water fill from freezing, and your hose will be empty to hook up the next morning. I have ran my furnace going down the road in cold weather, that way on a long trip you won't have frozen pipes when you get where you are going.
Posted 2009-08-27 7:14 AM (#110039 - in reply to #110035) Subject: RE: Winter Camping
Regular
Posts: 74 Location: Dublin Ga
I camp during the summer some but the only time we go horse camping is in the winter in fact the only time I ride a horse on the trails is in the winter. I use the summer time to fatten the horses for the winter. I live in middle Ga. so we have gnats and mosquitos, so the winter isd my favorite time to horse camp
Posted 2009-08-27 11:45 AM (#110053 - in reply to #110035) Subject: RE: Winter Camping
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
Have`used the LQ for elk hunt and deer camp. Out west used bottled water for cooking and drinking, insulated my indoor fresh water tank and used it frugally for showers. Let grey water escape as used through hose fitting and hose on waste cap, used RV anti freeze in black water holding tank and used it sparingly. Have a catalytic heater we used for heat to save batteries, have on onboard quiet generator used for powering micro and blow dryer etc, and to recharge batteries. Worked great. Rode every day for 10 days and had no difficulties. Have a waste water portable tank on rollers that can be used to dump black water tank into to transport to dump station if we had to.
Posted 2009-08-27 2:13 PM (#110055 - in reply to #110035) Subject: RE: Winter Camping
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
I live in Florida and seek out colder places to ride in the winter. Ended up in Ga in Feb just after the storm that dropped snow in Atlanta and just East of Atlanta. When we finally made it to the park (long story), it was 26 degrees outside(or less) and their power was still out. We used the generator to heat us up until we went to bed as we don't like to run it all night and we don't have a furnace in our trailer (that was probably a mistake on our part). We didn't have any issues with the water in our tank since it is under the couch and the interior stayed warm enough. Also, it probably wasn't cold enough for a long enough period of time to be a problem. Now, it did warm up during the day and we enjoyed riding in the snow. We spent a week or so visiting 3 of the Ga parks and at the end of the week we were riding in t-shirts. Gotta luv the South.
I think you would be fine with an overnight in your neck of the woods with a little planning....have fun!
Posted 2009-08-27 8:30 PM (#110064 - in reply to #110035) Subject: RE: Winter Camping
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Just go and have fun.
Nothing like riding around in the winter to see more big game.
Bull Elk on the far hillside.
I don't mind riding in the winter. I prefer bright sunny days with the temps above 30* But I have ridden in much colder. Sometimes when cabin fever is just too much, it doesn't matter how cold it is.
Most of my coldest camping is done during hunting trips. We haul a canvas wall tent up the mountain and set it up and often leave it for 4-6 weeks. We run up for the weekend and hunt and spend the night in the tent with the horses on a highline.
It's a 7 mile ride in from where we park the truck and trailer. Most of the time we do this ride in the dark. Leave after work on Thursday or Friday and ride up the canyon in the dark. It's not uncommon to be 14* to 16* at 6am when you are heading out in the dark to get to where you want to hunt.
Home away from home.
Nothing quite like the high country in the winter.
As others have said, I don't use my water system in the trailer once I have winterized the trailer. The few nights we do stay in the trailer, is mostly to use the furnace or to help stay dry because the weather is really bad. One of the biggest problems with winter camping is how early it gets dark out. In January it's dark at 5pm. Which means a lot of sitting around the camp fire telling stories.
Posted 2009-08-27 9:42 PM (#110066 - in reply to #110035) Subject: RE: Winter Camping
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368 Location: Georgia
Those photos are beautiful but there is NO way I could make a trip like that! I don't even like to go out side if it gets below 50 degrees. Yeah..I am a whimp! But hey I can ride when it is a 100 degrees outside.
Posted 2009-08-28 3:38 PM (#110084 - in reply to #110064) Subject: RE: Winter Camping
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
Man oh man, Painted Horse, that is my cup of tea....although the hubby hunts, not me. I love the winter and the cold doesn't bother me all that much. One of these days I'll get to your area!....
Posted 2009-08-29 12:10 PM (#110096 - in reply to #110066) Subject: RE: Winter Camping
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 522 Location: Tucumcari NM
Originally written by lesliemal on 2009-08-27 9:42 PM
Those photos are beautiful but there is NO way I could make a trip like that! I don't even like to go out side if it gets below 50 degrees. Yeah..I am a whimp! But hey I can ride when it is a 100 degrees outside.
You are missing out on an incredible experience! There is nothing to compare to riding at first light or late evening when the snow has hushed the world and the only sound is the creaking of your saddle and the chuffing of your best friend's breath. The air is crisp and tangy, the light is an incredible deep blue, and the solitude is complete. Absolutely amazing.
Posted 2009-08-30 8:30 AM (#110111 - in reply to #110035) Subject: RE: Winter Camping
Member
Posts: 6
Location: West Concord, MN
Looks like a lot of fun and I agree there is nothing better than riding early morning or later in the evening in the snow with your best friend. Would love to make it out your way to ride someday.
Posted 2009-09-09 5:45 AM (#110454 - in reply to #110035) Subject: RE: Winter Camping
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Winter is my "camping season". Granted we don't get much winter here, but I start going camping from late Sept thru Nov .. Didn't camp in Dec last year, but will try this year..Then I start again Feb-March until end of April,.. sometimes into May. It is too brutally hot in the hill country ( AND coast!) to camp at any other time . Last Nov, my daughter and I camped in a regular ground tent (sleeping bags also on the ground!) and it got to the high20's - low 30's that night. Some "camping neighbors" from NM came over to check on us the next morning saying that's what the nighttime temp had been when they checked it in their LQ.. We were pretty much OK.. My daughter complained of being cold, but she had the Alaskan sleeping bag with hand and feet warmers tucked into it.. I was ok (more padding on my bones..LOL!) Late last season, I bought a Mr Heater and may try it this year.. It warms up a good bit during the day, so we can rejuvenate before nightfall. Plus, we don't go for extended days.. just one or two.. Can't take that much time off. Bandera is about 4 1/2 hours away and is the only place we have to go without really striking off on a lengthy trip.
Winter Camping
.jpg)
