I was ten the first time I camped in the winter, and a boy scout. My leader warned us to change our socks and mitts every couple of hours; I listened, but my best friend didn't. We spent our second night at the hospital after he passed out from hypothermia. Unlike many things in my life, this was one lesson I was happy to learn from afar. If you're considering winter camping with kids, some preplanning will make your trip safe and fun.
For your first adventure, keep it to one or two nights and stay within driving distance to civilization. Kids are generally better sports than adults; cold mornings and early evenings are fine as long the time in between is packed with lots of outdoor fun. Set your kids up for a lifetime of winter camping with these simple rules:
Gauge your speed
If you're hiking to your destination, remember that the snow will slow you down. A trail that takes two hours to traverse in the summer will exhaust short legs and take twice the time during the winter. Moderate your expectations and have a back-up plan if you can't make daily goals.
Over estimate clothing needs
Warm, wet weather followed by a cold night is your most dangerous enemy. Thankfully, high tech fabrics designed to wick moisture away from skin make staying dry easier to manage. Estimate your clothing needs and add 50 percent more when traveling with kids. And remind them to change often even if they argue. Hypothermia is not a death sentence, but frostbite is irreversible (damage can vary from mild scarring to tissue death).
Never go anywhere without your compass or GPS
This is rule number one, no matter what the season, but it can be a life and death issue in the winter. During snowstorms your own footprints, landmarks and animal tracks disappear. And panic sets in fast when freezing to death becomes a real possibility. While you're at it, make sure you have cell service for that first trip.
Stay close to your equipment
This may seem like a misnomer, but hikers who set up camp and then go for a walk to find water or wood are as common as brown bears in Tennessee. Explore your surroundings only in pairs and mark your position continually on your GPS or compass. If you do get turned around, you'll be able to make it back to the equipment you need to build a fire and stay warm.
When it comes to camping with kids, capitalize on their adventurous spirit. After all, when was the last time you spent a night in a snow covered forest just for the fun of it?
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