The Winter Bug Out Contest! Rookie of The Year Award!

[riverjoe47]

I see what you mean about it must be reindeer pelt . Almost like a wolf pelt with that thick under fur . Looks pretty cozy .

[bark-eater]

snow!!!!!!

[riverjoe47]

I thought Maine was always covered with snow .

[Woods Walker]

bark-eater

Forgot to say I liked your split wood eating plate. Is that a Wiggy's poncho liner being used for a ground cloth?

[Dubbya]

snow!!!!!!

Yeah, Ive been watching this. What luck that I didnt go this weekend and now I am to depart next. All in the spirit of winter camping. Today the high was 78ish. Around the time I get home tomorrow the temp will be in the teens with single digit wind chill. Gotta love Texas!

[bark-eater]

bark-eater

Forgot to say I liked your split wood eating plate. Is that a Wiggy's poncho liner being used for a ground cloth?

Well I had to do something bushcrafty.... I have a picture of a perfectly good spoon blank going up in flames. That is a Wiggy liner, which was one of my "cheat" additions to the base bugout bag. I put it under me the second night which was colder and it may have made a difference, but not as much as putting an extra scrap of blue pad under my hips and shoulders. I'm going to have to get on writing out a trip report before I forget the details.

[Woods Walker]

bark-eater

Forgot to say I liked your split wood eating plate. Is that a Wiggy's poncho liner being used for a ground cloth?

Well I had to do something bushcrafty.... I have a picture of a perfectly good spoon blank going up in flames. That is a Wiggy liner, which was one of my "cheat" additions to the base bugout bag. I put it under me the second night which was colder and it may have made a difference, but not as much as putting an extra scrap of blue pad under my hips and shoulders. I'm going to have to get on writing out a trip report before I forget the details.

I like to use my poncho liner stuffed into the bag on top and around me if chilled. Wiggy’s liner is warmer than the USGI but packs down like a beast in comparison. I prefer Wiggy's but seem to pack the USGI more.

[xxxDarksidexxx]

bark-eater

Forgot to say I liked your split wood eating plate. Is that a Wiggy's poncho liner being used for a ground cloth?

Well I had to do something bushcrafty.... I have a picture of a perfectly good spoon blank going up in flames. That is a Wiggy liner, which was one of my "cheat" additions to the base bugout bag. I put it under me the second night which was colder and it may have made a difference, but not as much as putting an extra scrap of blue pad under my hips and shoulders. I'm going to have to get on writing out a trip report before I forget the details.

I like to use my poncho liner stuffed into the bag on top and around me if chilled. Wiggy’s liner is warmer than the USGI but packs down like a beast in comparison. I prefer Wiggy's but seem to pack the USGI more.

so you like the USGI liner huh... ive been wanting one for a while now. i may grab one on my way home from my camp trip. how small does it pack down?

[Bubba Enfield]

Part 1- Overview

Instead of a chronological report, I'll give an overview followed by discussions on shelter, water, fire, and food. Of course fire overlaps both water and food.

I went out Friday morning after my oldest went to school, and got picked up Saturday shortly after lunch.

The drop-off point is a 30 minute drive from my house. It's a piece of bush owned by the county. From the road, I start on a logging track into the woods.



Almost a kilometer in, I leave the track and head uphill. The snowshoes sank in almost 12" going through that maple bush.

It's all up and down hills at this point, and a 6' pole is indispensible for keeping upright. The site is about a 2Km walk from the road, but I went a bit longer, taking the winding/climbing/roundabout route. Some folks snowshoe in there, and if anyone started to follow my tracks, I wanted them to give up before they found my site. Two-thirds of the way up a large elevation, there is a bowl that I like to camp in. While most of this bush is maple, this section is pine. The combination of pine trees and terrain makes it a hard-to-spot site, day or night.

The temps were around -5C during the day, and -12C or so at night. Very little wind, but this site is quite sheltered anyway. I've been there with the wind howling above the 40' pines, while feeling hardly a breeze. The big concern with wind is snow bombs dropping off the trees. It was snowing lightly for most of the trip.

This is my gear.

I know the pack looks unbalanced, but that blue pad weighs next to nothing. My webbing is Canadian surplus, it's what I wore in the '80s. I've altered it because I don't use it for ammunition; it's just a comfortable way to carry 15lbs of smaller gear. Things like FAK, water, snacks, radio, compass, etc. I can access more than half the stuff without taking it off, and it fits fine under my pack.

Here's the site when I got there.

I stayed on snowshoes around camp until sundown. By that time the snow was packed down enough to walk on. I stayed warm, fed, hydrated, and had a terrific sleep. If you've never woken up to a view like this, you really should try it.

[Bubba Enfield]

Part 2- Shelter

The first layer of shelter is clothing. Here's what I wore, took, and left behind.



I wore the black Helly Hansen base layers (bottom left) with two pairs of the wool socks. Then the Swedish surplus wool pants (top left). Then the dark green Canadian wool combat sweater (top middle) under the light green Canadian wool button-up shirt (bottom middle). Over all, the Australian Outback 3/4 length coat (top right). Grey wool boonie hat (top right).Leather work gloves, $6 at Giant Tiger, over $2 wool liners from the dollar store (bottom right).

When the sun went down, I added some warmth. See the dark brown wool pants (top left)? These are very thin wool pants, old-man suit pants, $3 from the Goodwill. I add them between the base layer and the Swedish woolies. (They also rock under jeans or BDUs). I also added the Dutch wool neck tube (bottom right, middle of pile) and switched to the the green wool watch cap.

Clothes that got left at home are the plaid fleece shirt(top middle) and the grey fleece vest (bottom right). Both great items, just not required. Items taken in reserve are the fleece camo gloves (bottom right), tan balaclava (bottom right), and the handmade wool sweater (bottom left). This last is a Goodwill purchase, worth it's weight in gold. With that sweater packed, I fear no winter weather.

Here's the Dutch wool neck tube in action.



My boots. Nothing fancy. They work great.



Here's my sleeping gear.



On the left, there's a 2 degree C bag and a Hudson's Bay point blanket. This combination keeps me warm at -20C. A blue foam pad from wallyworld. (I plan to use the sewing machine to modify it a la Doc Simon, but haven't gotten to it yet). 2 tarps, camo for shelter and blue for floor. Sleep socks. East German rain camo poncho, for a sit pad during the day and a bed cover at night.

Here's my shelter.



I tied cordage to a tree, about mid-thigh height. The other end stretches to the ground, tied to a log buried in snow. The camo tarp goes over the line, and three sides are buried in snow. The blue tarp makes the floor. This is not a shelter to sit in and do stuff. It's strictly a "crawl in to sleep" affair. Just big enough for my bed, my pack, and a bundle of dried wood.



I wrap the wool blanket around the sleeping bag. I take off the Swedish pants and the Aussie coat, and use them for a pillow. My webbing and snowshoes are stacked at the entrance. It's not airtight, and that suits me fine.

Here's a pic just before bedtime.

[Bubba Enfield]

Part 3- Water

Staying hydrated has long been a challenge for me when winter camping. On arrival, I turned my plastic canteens upside-down in their pouches. I drank this water as is for the first few hours. It was quite cold, but I was gathering/cutting wood, so I stayed warm enough. Once wood was done, I got the kettle on for coffee. I was trying a new stove: a cheap folding sheet-metal job that uses canned heat (basically Sterno with a wick).

(This pic is from the next morning). I knew that it would be less efficient than those compressed-gas stoves folks use, but it appeals to the cheapskate in me. Also, it's potentially simple enough for my wife to carry in an emergency bag, without a lot of practice. Be warned: the flame is VERY hard to see. Sitting on the ground, in the open, it took fifteen minutes to take about three cups of water from frigid to hot enough for coffee. Coffee went in my slim stainless steel thermos, which fits perfectly in my cargo pocket.

Having a hot drink at hand while working around camp is a bonus in winter. Some of my water was used for cooking, but the rest was heated and poured back into various SS containers, to delay freezing. Eventually I started melting snow. I found a relatively clean spot, away from the fire to minimize debris.

I added snow to a bit of water in the kettle, and topped it up as it melted. Much of this was done by putting the kettle close to the fire so it would melt while I did other things. My foil loaf pan was also used for melting duty, covered with foil. To filter out the crud, I've used a bandana or sock in the past. This time I tried paper coffee filters (free from the kitchen cupboard!).


I found this to be an extremely slow way to filter. Before bed, I had 2 ss containers full of hot water (in socks) in my pack, and my thermos full of coffee in my sleeping bag.

In the morning, the bottles in socks had cool water, with no ice in them. The thermos still had warm coffee.

The only reason I still use the plastic canteens is because the cups are so convenient. However, stainless steel water containers truly rock. I need to get a few of those ss nalgene-type bottles, and find some folding-handle ss cups to fit around them. I'm certain I can find some magazine pouches for my webbing that would fit such a setup.

[Bubba Enfield]

Part 4- Fire

When winter camping, I put put off lighting the fire as long as I can. The earlier it's lit, the more fuel it requires. Also, gathering and cutting wood keeps me plenty warm.When I arrived, there were some logs buried in the snow from a previous trip. (I figure that's fair game, akin to pre-stocking a BOL). After pulling them out, I went out for more. I like to keep a circle of 100 meters or so around my camp in which I gather no wood. This is just in case of emergencies. So I head out on snowshoes and do a big circle, finding dead stuff half-buried in snow. (I never pull out anything that looks as if it might have an animal living under it. I would if it was survival, but not for an exercise). Once it's dragged back, I start processing it according to size. My backpacker's saw truly shines for this.

For the bigger sections, I cut part way through, rotate the log, cut part way, repeat. Then I drop it across another log, right on the cut. This snaps it in two.


The biggest sections are made into a reflecting wall. This serves the double purpose of being a wood-dryer; I lean the cold or wet wood against it on either side of the fire. It doesn't take long until it's burnable. I put stacks of kindling on top of the wall to dry out, and when dry I put in my shelter for morning. I made a fire platform of much thicker pieces than in spring/summer/fall; as they burn they melt the snow away until the fire lands on the ground.



When ready to light, I get some dry dead limbs from low on the pine trees and build the fire.

Even with a little snow on them, they're dry enough to burn, and will burn long enough to light the colder/wetter stuff. This system drys the wood in a surprisingly short time. I've used it when things were truly sodden due to snow and rain.

This was my first time using a fire steel and vaseline-soaked cotton balls.

Those things sure light easy, and burn long!


In the morning, I used my cheapskate option, paper matches wrapped in wax paper.

In my opinion, this is an extremely cheap and effective firestarting option. I have these in every coat, jacket, hoody, backpack, vehicle, I stick them everywhere! Less than two bucks for fifty books of matches, and $1 for wax paper from the dollar store. You simply can't afford NOT to have these scattered throughout your kit as backup.

Unfortunately, this is still an everyday carry item for me.

It's important in the winter to carry your lighter in your pants pocket, rather than in your pack. It will work far better when it's warm.

[Bubba Enfield]

Part 5- Food


On the left are some food packs I made up. I was inspired by ODA226's INCH bag, and found some Knorr side dishes on sale.There's also oatmeal, chocolate, napkins, pepperoni, chewing gum, and a few other things in there. I didn't end up using the side dishes, but more on that later. Next to the food packs are some large chocolate bars. (The fruit'n'nut was in my Christmas stocking, the other two were a buck each at the liquidators). Below them are two foil loaf pans, flattened. I wanted to try them out after seeing Ninja Elbow use them. Next is some ziplocs with coffee, nuts, couscous, and instant mashed potatoes. Of course jerky, and my pockets were full of hard candies.

(IMO the first food items in a BOB should be chocolate, jerky, nuts, and hard candies. They require no heat or prep, can be eaten on the move, and can keep you going for a good while).

For lunch, I heated water in the loaf pan.

I shaved some jerky into the water while it heated.

Then I added a pouch of instant mashed potatoes(garlic).

This made a very filling meal, that was very easy and very cheap. Between couscous and instant mashed potatoes, I believe I've completely gotten over minute rice as a camp food.

The side dishes need the water to boil, then simmer for seven minutes. I decided that in this cold, the canned heat wasn't up to it. Plus, after the potatoes, I wasn't hungry, and spent the rest of the day nibbling on jerky, chocolate, and hard candies. I'll try the sides in the spring and see how they work.

My traditional camping breakfast.

Cheap, easy, filling, and delicious.

[Bubba Enfield]

Part 6- Conclusion

Some final thoughts on the trip. My shelter setup worked great, as always. For water, stainless steel rules the day. While I'm a confirmed cheapskate, I'll definitely be finding the coin for some SS nalgenes with cups. And the SS thermos in the cargo pocket is the new standard. I really liked the fire steel/pj cotton combo. The canned heat stove did okay. I see this as a cheap, light, easy alternative to carrying fuel bottles etc. Not as effective as the better stoves, but good enough to put in duplicate kits as backup, or for someone with limited funds. Add a few foil loaf pans, and you have a cheap way to heat a drink while huddling in a stairwell during the CHUD invasion.

As for clothing, no worries. I worked the bugs out long ago. Many useful (if non-tactical) items can be had cheaply at the thrift shop. Work gloves with cheap knitted liners are a must. The only clothing item I won't cheap out on is the wicking long underwear. Not just for warmth, but they reduce the threat of sweat in winter. Those cotton "thermal" longjohns they issued us in the '80s were absolute crap.

I have to put in a good word about my Aussie coat. I've worn it as a top layer in every condition for fifteen years and it truly rocks.

I was extremely pleased with the instant mashed potatoes. They will be a mainstay from now on. They come in a cellophane pouch, which I replaced with a ziploc baggie. The original pouch has air in it, and you risk it bursting in your kit. They were two pouches for a buck and a quarter at the liquidators. They require very little heat to prepare, and could serve two people.


I hope this write-up isn't too long-winded or simplistic. Rather than a competition, I see this thread as a chance to have a tremendous resource of winter camping information. I'm just trying to be the voice of thrift, and hopefully inspire someone to get outdoors in winter. If you've never seen the winter woods at night, you really should.

[Woods Walker]

so you like the USGI liner huh... ive been wanting one for a while now. i may grab one on my way home from my camp trip. how small does it pack down?

Actually I prefer a sleeping bag but the liner makes for a nice blanket during summer and helps a marginal bag however doesn't actually line a ponch when worn. Go figure? I don't have the measurements but packs down smaller than my most UL downbag.

Bubba has sure peaked my interest.

[xxxDarksidexxx]

so you like the USGI liner huh... ive been wanting one for a while now. i may grab one on my way home from my camp trip. how small does it pack down?

Actually I prefer a sleeping bag but the liner makes for a nice blanket during summer and helps a marginal bag however doesn't actually line a ponch when worn. Go figure? I don't have the measurements but packs down smaller than my most UL downbag.

Bubba has sure peaked my interest.

ill pick one up. i have a down blanket that i love, just wish it was a little longer.

yeah, when i saw all that i was like WTF is going on with bubba? it better be epic bubba!

[Slingblade4428]

Gloriously it will be in the fifties this weekend while I bug out. Kayaking downriver + camping 2 days. Pics and write-ups to come!

[the_alias]

Epic Bubba
Love the super simple feel to your shelter, ahhh everyone has snow shoes I wants!

[FreeRider]

Nice work Bubba! I'm with you 100% on the instant mashed potatoes! Delicious, filling and most of all cheap!

[Rhombic]

Nicely done Bubba! You are an inspiration to me and lots of others I'm sure.

[Omega Storm]

I'm planning for this weekend or next. Looking forward to it.

[Woods Walker]

The_alias.

Snow shoes are all the rage.

Bubba

I liked the Trailblazer buck saw and Mora carbon Clipper. Single walled SS containers are nice but they seem to freeze up faster than plastic and are harder on the hands with both cold and hot liquids inside. Ice coats the insides like a shell very fast. On the pro side fire won’t hurt it and to me water just tastes better out of SS. The pros are enough that often there will be a SS canteen in my kit. I also pack a SS double walled thermos if it’s very cold. Lipton sides are good but nothing cooks faster than those potato packets however mine always seem to take more hot water than the instructions call for. Beef jerky or pepperoni tossed in for the win. In any case the packets are becoming my favorite trail food item and have worked their way into my BOB as well. A soft snow base is hard to walk over even with shoeshoes. Feels good once the area is set and the shoes come off.

I liked the tarp shelter for the light snow fall though would have worried a bit about the blue ground pad. It looks like one I had that was around 1/8 of an inch thick though could be folded over easy. Great looking trip and write up.

[riverjoe47]

Part 6- Conclusion

Some final thoughts on the trip. My shelter setup worked great, as always. For water, stainless steel rules the day. While I'm a confirmed cheapskate, I'll definitely be finding the coin for some SS nalgenes with cups. And the SS thermos in the cargo pocket is the new standard. I really liked the fire steel/pj cotton combo. The canned heat stove did okay. I see this as a cheap, light, easy alternative to carrying fuel bottles etc. Not as effective as the better stoves, but good enough to put in duplicate kits as backup, or for someone with limited funds. Add a few foil loaf pans, and you have a cheap way to heat a drink while huddling in a stairwell during the CHUD invasion.

As for clothing, no worries. I worked the bugs out long ago. Many useful (if non-tactical) items can be had cheaply at the thrift shop. Work gloves with cheap knitted liners are a must. The only clothing item I won't cheap out on is the wicking long underwear. Not just for warmth, but they reduce the threat of sweat in winter. Those cotton "thermal" longjohns they issued us in the '80s were absolute crap.

I have to put in a good word about my Aussie coat. I've worn it as a top layer in every condition for fifteen years and it truly rocks.

I was extremely pleased with the instant mashed potatoes. They will be a mainstay from now on. They come in a cellophane pouch, which I replaced with a ziploc baggie. The original pouch has air in it, and you risk it bursting in your kit. They were two pouches for a buck and a quarter at the liquidators. They require very little heat to prepare, and could serve two people.


I hope this write-up isn't too long-winded or simplistic. Rather than a competition, I see this thread as a chance to have a tremendous resource of winter camping information. I'm just trying to be the voice of thrift, and hopefully inspire someone to get outdoors in winter. If you've never seen the winter woods at night, you really should.

Thanks for shareing . A couple of quick questions . Do you just light matches and all for fire starter or are you just keeping matches dry ?
I was thinking that coupled with my wax soaked toilet paper sawdust tubes would not only be an excellent lighter but emergency heat in a pinch .
Like you I just hate spending just to spend . That backpacker saw is something I might have to have tho . Im still trying to figure out the clothing thing so appreciate your detailed description .
Great post thanks for taking the time and effort to share .

[pirate91bravo]

Part 5- Food


On the left are some food packs I made up. I was inspired by ODA226's INCH bag, and found some Knorr side dishes on sale.There's also oatmeal, chocolate, napkins, pepperoni, chewing gum, and a few other things in there. I didn't end up using the side dishes, but more on that later. Next to the food packs are some large chocolate bars. (The fruit'n'nut was in my Christmas stocking, the other two were a buck each at the liquidators). Below them are two foil loaf pans, flattened. I wanted to try them out after seeing Ninja Elbow use them. Next is some ziplocs with coffee, nuts, couscous, and instant mashed potatoes. Of course jerky, and my pockets were full of hard candies.

(IMO the first food items in a BOB should be chocolate, jerky, nuts, and hard candies. They require no heat or prep, can be eaten on the move, and can keep you going for a good while).

For lunch, I heated water in the loaf pan.

I shaved some jerky into the water while it heated.

Then I added a pouch of instant mashed potatoes(garlic).

This made a very filling meal, that was very easy and very cheap. Between couscous and instant mashed potatoes, I believe I've completely gotten over minute rice as a camp food.

The side dishes need the water to boil, then simmer for seven minutes. I decided that in this cold, the canned heat wasn't up to it. Plus, after the potatoes, I wasn't hungry, and spent the rest of the day nibbling on jerky, chocolate, and hard candies. I'll try the sides in the spring and see how they work.

My traditional camping breakfast.

Cheap, easy, filling, and delicious.

Cool. Not sure how you guys do it in the Snow. I HATE to be cold. Was the use of Han Solo in Carbonite to remind you not to be frozen?