Winter Backpacking Trip

I'm going on a backpacking trip to the UP of Michigan next friday. If I am lucky, it will snow like it is supposed to next week and stay under 30 degrees. As of now (and obviously depending on the snow conditions), we have snow shoeing, cross country skiing and dog sledding on the docket. I have never done any of these activities and I am fully prepared to get my butt whooped, but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for me before we head off??

So excited :)

I have TWO suggestions... and probably reems more if these suggestions are old hat:

1. Don't skimp on your backpack or your sleeping bag. Carrying your gear in a ripped backpack or sleeping in a freezing sleeping bag will exhaust you.
2. Drink plenty of water. You can't deal with the cold properly if you are dehydrated. Water means water, not snow... and if you melt snow for water, don't eat the yellow snow.

Have fun. I LOVE backpacking! (Although I'm not as crazy about winter backpacking unless it's from the hotel room to the hot tub.)

I have done my share of backpacking/outdoor survival, in fact I have taken much optional training in it as I love it.  Now like was said water is extremely important, you kidneys are more active in the cold thus producing more urine and depleting you of water, when you are depleted of water you have a much higher risk of sever frostbite, so drink water every hour even if you don?t feel like it. 

I don?t know what you guys are doing for gear but that does make a big difference in your abilities on this trip.  Big thing is make sure you have a mattress of some kind to keep you off the cold ground in your tent, as the cold ground in the winter will be murder on your back muscles and kidneys. 

have the first layer of your clothes be made of sweat wicking nano fibre stuff.

Those are some general outlines, I can help if you have any more questions.  O ya and you can never have enough cutting instruments on a trip like this.

I am going on a winter exercise in 3 weeks 4 day sleeping outside, no tents in the real and I mean real far north, I will be seeing temps of -30 C for sure if not -40, should be fun.

Hi there! I visit the UP frequently to go rock hunting. There's lots of great places to stay on the Keweenaw. Have fun!!

I love the UP!  Where are you guys going?  I would love to hear the details of your trip afterwards.  It sounds like a pretty adventurous trip, so I am assuming the people you are going with know what they are doing in terms of gear, food, etc.  Be sure to bring enough layers of clothing.  It is much better to bring a number of thinner, lighter layers than one giant sweater, for example.  That way, you can modulate your temperature more precisely, and you can have options if something gets soaking wet (which it all probably will).  When you stop moving for the night and make camp, change everthing you are wearing (absolutely everything) because you don't want the moisture that you built up during the day's activities to freeze you once you stop.  Have lots of fun!!  I love being outside in the winter, it is SO beautiful!

Thanks all for the advice!

Susankaye:

We are heading to Tahquanemon Falls State Park and Wetmore. The trip is actually a really cool opportunity for someone who is very inexperienced in winter camping. My university has an Outdoor Recreation Center that was just opened up last year and through it individual students or student groups can rent all kinds of awesome equipment (all top of the line, brand new). Also, they lead small guided trips. All I have to provide is my clothing and they take care of all of the equipment, which is great because I am a poor medical student who cannot afford too much right now (just the clothing put me way out of budget for the past two months!!). So to answer your question, yes I am going on the trip with some very experienced guides :).

Again thanks for all the advice, and keep it coming!!

I just checked your profile - I see you're a woman (or a man named Suzi), so I have more specific gender suggestions to add:

~ Plan your trip around your cycle. I speak from experience when I say that nothing says "I hate winter" like trying to deal with your womanly moments with cold fingers.

~ Carry toilet paper in your jacket sleeve where it's warm and accessible. This is not the time to carry a roll in an outside pocket of your backpack.

~ I sewed microfleece leg warmers and wore them under my other layers. I have NO idea how other women go pee in frozen temps, but I know there's not enough hair on my upper legs to keep me warm when I leap from the tent in the morning.

~ Speaking of leg hair, stop shaving your legs. Freshly shaven legs chafe badly. Stubble irritates. Best to have a fresh crop of leg hair.