No, we are still growing strong. Everything is great, and she even asked me a couple weeks ago if we could go camping again. I think we have a convert! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

We are going to have a chance for one more winter trip, and we are gonna go backpacking this time. It's something she hasn't done, everything has just been a short hike in at most. In fact, yesterday we went and walked a 4 mile trail with our packs to see how she would take a hike with gear. She seems pretty excited about it. I was asking her as we walked how she thinks she would like a cross country trip, which is a goal of mine. She said that maybe after a couple seasons of camping in different weather she would enjoy that.

And just so you guys know, she's all mine <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

And the "old timers" slept on wool blankets, not easy-to-melt nylon. The way I remember using hot rocks was by burying them under a thin layer of soil. Then you slept on top of that. Don't thrash too much in your sleep though - if you scrape the soil off a rock you'll know pretty darn quick!

Added Thought: I'd better say this before someone else does - DON'T DO THIS! It's definitely not LNT since the hot rocks will cause sterile zones in the ground. Definitely don't do this in forest duff - you might start a forest fire and not even know it. If you are on duff, you really have no business starting a fire anyway unless it's in an approved fire ring.

What Nity said; and Bill you ARE such a lucky man! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

MistaBrown,

Trappers and aboriginal peoples build a long fire, let it burn down, then cover it with a few inches of soil and sleep on top of it. It would be easy to set up a tarp over it.

On overnight ski trips on snow I have used a Whelen nylon lean-to with fire in front of it. It is real luxury to warm your feet, socks, and boots by the fire. If your prepare wood ahead of time it is easy to wake every 3 hours or so and add some wood.

A great source for winter camping info is www.wintertrekking.com
Unfortunately, someone hacked the site a while back for who knows what reason and wrecked the site. They hope to get it back up in a while. It is really a shame because that site was by far the best source for traditional cold weather camping tips, gear tests, you name it. Several members here besides me belong to it so if you guys are wondering what happened, that's the answer.

There is some info about the hack and the site owners' attempts to get it back online on www.bushcraftusa.com

I went snow cave camping last year and with a really good all synthetic sleeping bag and a flannel liner I was warm down to 4 degrees, BUT the getting up in the morning was a killer diller. I brought a change of shoes. Boots for day use and small rubber sock type for camp site use. In the morning I put a couple of heat packs in the boots, when the boots were warm and toasty I put the heat packs in my pants back pocket.

Home is where the heart is, it does not have to be a house.

I used a Whelan type rig and a fire on a cold Northern Arizona backpack. It was quite nice.

I think I have a clue, but anyone know where I can view a photo of a "Whelan" type rig?

I am assuming it's set up kind of like this, from a side view. The "L" would be a person sitting inside the rig, and "#" would be the fire in front of it:

    ^
  /   \
 /
/  L        #

That's it. In a more elaborate version, you will have a backstop/reflector for the fire,making it even more cozy.

Would the MSR Fast Stash tent be an example of a Whelan-style tent?

http://cascadedesigns.com/en/msr/tents/essential-series/fast-stash/product

glenn,

The tent you reference is a step in the right direction. I like how you can hang out under the canopy but out of the tent. The Whelen design looks more like a closed version of the canopy of this tent alone. It was designed after WW I. Your design looks very versatile.

Just remember that being close to the fire ensures you'll get holes melted in your nylon shelter from sparks (inevitable in bad weather when the wood is wet). If it's silnylon, which is flammable, even worse. I assume that cuben also melts at low temps, but I would never put a $500 investment anywhere near a fire anyway!

I consider it to be an "embellished" Whelan. Just the fly alone would be the classic Whelan, as I understand it. But that would be a cheaper tent, without as much profit?

I believe Whelans are typically used with open fires for cooking and especially warming. The tent wall in the MSR example would defeat the purpose of a warming fire.

A classic Whelan is made of cotton canvas and plays nicely with an open fire. Not so with modern synthetics.

Why on earth did they put a picture of a mannequin using the bathroom in this tent on their site?


http://cascadedesigns.com/images/product/large/Fast_Stash_4_.jpg

I suppose emitting warm greenhouse gases is another way to warm up a tent...

billstephenson,

Just google Whelen lean-to. Most of the commercial versions are canvas 9 lb.s too heavy to carry, but perfect for a canoe or top pack on a mule. There are several designs to make one out of light materials.

Wow, hadn't noticed that. I better check out the pictures for my Carbon Reflex - maybe it has some features I wasn't aware of! (Seems a shame to dig a hole through that nice nylon floor, though.)

Thirds on that - easier than hot rocks. and works well.

Make sure you have a good bag and baselayer, and wear something on your head and face. (I love my bank robber balaclava)

Add that to *eat stuff* right before you go to bed. don't eat supper at 6 pm, then go to sleep at 9. have a good snack before turning in, you'll be warmer.

If you're a guy. have a pee bottle. Freezing to get out of your bag in subzero temperatures when you don't have to is well... silly.

I do have a small hot tent rig, (a small homemade wood stove with tigoat pipe in a modified golite shangri-la 3) and a couple of large canvas wall tents with airtight heaters. They are nice to warm up and dry gear in. they are no substitute for a good sleeping bag. No tent stove will keep you warm all night for any reasonable sized tent/stove. A good bag and a a nalgene full of hot water will.

could always pack a couple 'hot hands' type chem heaters. pack easy and no mess/danger. I've thrown one down in my foot box before, makes a big difference.

One caveat to the hot bottle: this may not work with a hydration bladder. Many carry specific warnings not to put boiling water in them.