As my thoughts turn to the world returning to normal, I'm thinking about doing some ski flying and airplane camping next winter. There are some strips I can think of that would be pretty easy to pull off technically (e.g. Johnson Creek, Moose Creek) And others that it would be difficult/impossible to identify the LZ. Fortunately, many of the ones that would be difficult to identify also wouldn't have the wood necessary to provide warmth, so no big loss.

Who has done this style of adventure before? Have people published guides or other information, or will I be creating one myself from whole cloth?

Sounds like fun, let us know how it goes.....I have as yet resisted the urge to hit some of my summer time camp sites when on the skis. I have landed some of them, that's not the issue, but spending the night there??? Pass.....too damn spoiled I guess, my only overnight trips with the skis on the plane have involved the kind of camping where you have a 11:00 checkout time and an in room coffee maker.

If you do it please don’t past it all over social media. Winter camping in remote places is one of last things we have left that hasn’t been destroyed by YouTube stars and other social media.

whee wrote:If you do it please don’t past it all over social media. Winter camping in remote places is one of last things we have left that hasn’t been destroyed by YouTube stars and other social media.

Amen

If you do post about it, make sure you complain a lot and make it look miserable. Use filters to make it look grey, cold, and dreary, and maybe fall in the river a few times just to get the point across.

And don't bother to ask if you can use one of the Chamberlain Basin ranger cabins, seems like a natural but I was told no way. Too bad, that would be perfect. I really doubt a YouTube post would result in a rush of winter camping newbies, too demanding for most, including me I guess! Copper Basin is there any time I choose to winter camp, ain't happened yet.

First acquisition, if you don't already have one: A GOOD, as in GREAT, tent. Understand that you will likely want something that can be heated. That takes tents to a whole different level. Unheated tent?? No thanks, I've camped at -45 and stayed warm. Comfortable? Not even close.

Airframes Alaska offers various iterations of the Arctic Oven tents. These tents were developed for and tested by some folks who've made some epic (as in utterly amazing) snow machine treks in the high Arctic. These guys did some really amazing trips using these tents, like all the way across the continent, staying above the Arctic Circle.....

Here's their website: https://www.airframesalaska.com/Arctic- ... s/2025.htm A review with a bit more info: https://alaskaoutdoorssupersite.com/ten ... -oven-tent

Then there's a stove.....https://www.airframesalaska.com/Arctic- ... h07041.htm

After those, winter camping gear is not that different than summer camping.

But, I guarantee you'll want a warm tent.....

MTV

mtv wrote: Unheated tent?? No thanks

Heated tent? I think that's called a motor home. LOL. Kinda takes the fun out of winter camping...

Big insulated tents, stoves, etc etc etc = weight weight weight.

NF Moutain 25 and a -40 bag have served me well on many double digit sub zero nights up in N ME. Even the bag and a bivvy in the snow keep one nice and toasty. It's getting up to pee that becomes unpleasant.

Maybe a heated tent might be more fun?

IMHO, the best winter camping is when there is enough snow to make a quinzee and the temps are low enough to keep them viable. They are relatively easy and fun to make. I have slept comfortably in -15F weather because the interior of the quinzee stays in the high 20s to low 30s. Take an insulating pad for the floor and a good synthetic sleeping bag. You might actually get too warm at night. Seriously better than a tent when the stars align to allow one to be constructed.

I agree with Squash that a snow cave is a good way to go. They take a little work to build but are much warmer than they sound. A cabin is best. I’ve spent quite a few nights when it has been below zero both in a wood stove heated cabin and in a snow cave.

The big time consumer is water. You’re melting snow or getting water from a creek, river, lake or when I’ve done some cabin camping a hand pump well.

I have done snow caves and super good bags with a bivy sack. They work best together, but if you have a good bag and gore tex cover, you can do about anything. Just take a good shovel for the snow and a bottle to preempt those unexpected trips into the cold at night.

I know of several range cabins, used by ranchers,sheepherders and cowboys in the summer, otherwise just left open/unlocked. Nothing in them of value, most do have a wood stove, some have wood. All in remote areas. One has a note on the table as you walk in "YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEND THE NIGHT, TAKE WHAT YOU NEED, LEAVE WHAT YOU CAN." That one is outside of Grey's Lake. Copper Basin has one, I've met the crew that uses it in the summer, after landing nearby, and was promptly invited to breakfast by the rancher's wife. I wouldn't presume to use it without permission but I could track them down and I'd bet anything that they wouldn't have a problem with it at all, more likely to be offended I even asked, if they are like the other ranchers I've dealt with! There's another one up Pass Creek, near Mackay. Hell, there's one I can see right out the kitchen window, a half mile away, used only for family reunions once a year, permission is a given, I could fly up there and camp out but it seems rather pointless so close to home! I'm not worried about listing these locations, I doubt there will be a lot of pilots tough enough and bored enough to abuse them on YouTube. If the winter nights were not so long....I'd be more into it I guess, crawling into a tent or bivy sack at 6 and laying there for 12 or 14 hours just doesn't sound that appealing, but maybe I'm missing something.

Arctic Oven

Pick your model and explore your stove options. I’ve used the wood stove numerous times and have the propane stove for my Igloo model. Pros and cons for both.

These tents will exceed and outperform any expectation you have. Better than a cabin; roomy enough, warm up fast!!!!!, breathe, withstand hurricane force winds, and dry.

Maybe “heavy” depending on what model you get, but light enough and mobile and can be accessorized however you want.

Just awesome.

Typing this up gets me excited for the next Arctic Oven adventure!!!

These tents are so awesome that just like airplanes, a guy needs more than one, depending on the mission!

A fly in winter camping adventure is on my aviation bucket list.

Bigrenna wrote:

mtv wrote: Unheated tent?? No thanks

Heated tent? I think that's called a motor home. LOL. Kinda takes the fun out of winter camping...

Big insulated tents, stoves, etc etc etc = weight weight weight.

NF Moutain 25 and a -40 bag have served me well on many double digit sub zero nights up in N ME. Even the bag and a bivvy in the snow keep one nice and toasty. It's getting up to pee that becomes unpleasant.

Maybe a heated tent might be more fun?

There’s a difference, at least in my mind, between “winter camping” and “winter survival”. One is a great deal more pleasant than the other, in my experience.

Sleeping in most of your gear because getting in and out of it could cause frostbite to certain parts of ones anatomy, has lost its shine for this kid.

And, yes, a snow shelter works well, in a survival scenario, been there.

But, he’s talking about CAMPING here. And, launching off into the pucker brush, he’s also not likely to know how much snow there is out “there”. Arrive on scene, planning a nice snow shelter and find....not much snow?

MTV

I agree with MTV; you need to bring all the required supplies and gear, as he says this isn't a survival exercise. I'd even go so far as a small supply of firewood just in "local" supply doesn't exist.

Quis wrote:...Just take a good ..bottle to preempt those unexpected trips into the cold at night.

Gatorade quarts are great for a 2 Pee night, Pint bottles are best for those who just Pee once. [The bottle volume & apeture size thoroughly researched in multiple fire camps and winter treks].

I've carried one of those red PortaJon bottles for the last 35 years, and maybe it's just me but no way can I utilize it while sitting down and flyin. Doesn't matter how bad I need to, I can't go while sitting and flying. BUT, with it, once I'm in the tent I stay in the tent, if you catch my drift.

I landed about 20 times in various scenic and remote areas today, in a bit over 3 hours of ski flying, I will fondly think of them all when I crawl into bed at home tonight, thanking my lucky stars I'm not stuck out at one of them.

Kifaru sawtooth or tipi with a stove. My 8 man with stove is 15lbs all in and I can stand up like an adult and it stays very warm with the stove. 100% made in the USA, I use mine all 4 seasons

https://kifaru.net/store/shelters/tipis ... -man-tipi/

I got an hour of ski flying in today. But, at -6 when I started the Flying GoCart, the last thing I wanted to think about was camping!

At 5'8" I can nearly stand up in my "InstaTent" dome tent, (pull one fiberglass rod and poof the whole thing self erects, even after a few beers, and it's getting dark) agreed, that makes a huge difference in comfort and utility, being able to stand up. 15 pounds is not bad, what kind of stove? Opps, got it, they have their own.