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Post by Coolkat on Dec 5, 2015 19:53:57 GMT -8
My biggest concern with winter camping is dying of boredom during the 16 hours of darkness. Also petrifying, if I spend too much of it stuck in a dinky tent. This is exactly why I'll probably never get into winter backpacking.
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Post by Lonewolf on Dec 6, 2015 12:10:19 GMT -8
My biggest concern with winter camping is dying of boredom during the 16 hours of darkness. Also petrifying, if I spend too much of it stuck in a dinky tent. That's why you need good gear and a great headlamp. You hike and climb in the dark. BTW, putting chains on non-drive wheels isn't a good idea. The chains can dig in at slower speeds and on hardpacked ice and snow, causing the tire to stop rotating.
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RedDoug
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Post by RedDoug on Dec 6, 2015 13:27:22 GMT -8
Snow is why I live in southern Arizona! Put your fear behind you- move to the SW!!!
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tomas
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Post by tomas on Dec 6, 2015 13:27:29 GMT -8
My biggest concern with winter camping is dying of boredom during the 16 hours of darkness That can get annoying for me as well, particularly since I solo hike exclusively. The good news is that winters here don't get drastically cold, so sitting by the fire and thinking can pass the time. I've taken short walks once it gets dark, but rarely far because I don't want to separate myself from my gear.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2015 13:40:38 GMT -8
BTW, putting chains on non-drive wheels isn't a good idea. The chains can dig in at slower speeds and on hardpacked ice and snow, causing the tire to stop rotating. I'd go a bit further and recommend checking the owner/operator manual on the vehicle driven. Mine (a 2012 Chevy Colorado with 4-wheel-drive) says not to use tire chains on any wheels because they "can cause damage to the brakes, suspension, or other vehicle parts." It says to use another type of traction device only on the rear wheels and only if the manufacturer of that device recommends it for my specific vehicle and tire size. A person can search "tire traction devices" on the web, or go to a good automotive supply store and ask about what they have. Then, if needed, shop around for the best deal that will actually work on that vehicle. I carry extra weight in the form of pea-gravel in the pickup box over the drive axle, and with low-range 4WD, I haven't found any road or trail road conditions yet that the 4WD can't handle. But if I do need a little extra traction, I can sprinkle the pea-gravel in front and rear of the tires for a short distance after shoveling away any loose snow. But all that assumes I don't accidentally go off the road into a deep snow bank. To the opening poster, I definitely understand that a person can not always afford to purchase another vehicle equipped for snowy roads. That's why earlier advice to practice with the vehicle you have now in a safe area, such as a sloped parking lot, is so important.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2015 13:46:42 GMT -8
Snow is why I live in southern Arizona! Put your fear behind you- move to the SW!!! Blah! I wouldn't dream of it. I was born for snow and live for snow. Anytime I contemplate moving, it is to an area with more snow. I figure anyone whose biggest concern about snow camping is slick roads has a heck of a lot going for him already.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Dec 6, 2015 15:43:48 GMT -8
Since tire chains are mandatory on all vehicles 4wd or not under some chain regulation conditions (Chains required: No Exceptions) and legally required to be carried in others ( or a five thousand dollar fine...), vehicles incompatible with snow chains could be a problem. I had a Saturn where the wheel clearance didn't allow chains (the accessories package it came with had a wider tire that substantially reduced the clearance in the wheel wells.): big problem for winter trips. A compromise for some vehicles is they are compatible with cable traction devices which are allowable under chain requirement conditions and have lesser clearance issues. www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/chains.htmOther road jurisdictions likely vary, best to check your DoT website. None drive wheels for rear wheel drive cars are the steering wheels: giving them good traction has benefits, such as allowing the car to be steered. On a front wheel drive car they be less useful I'd grant, especially at more prudent speeds where braking doesn't tend to pull the rear around in a slide. When the front stops faster than the rear interesting things can happen. Though the classic cause if that imho are people changing lanes at too high a speed and hitting the snow ruts at an angle causing the rear end to snap around. How those cars backwards off the side of a straight stretch of road likely got that way.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Dec 6, 2015 16:01:23 GMT -8
HSF--we had that problem with our Outback! OTOH: we never needed to put chains on. We did get and carry some of the cable chains, figuring that if we were ever really stuck, we'd have them, and risk the damage to the wheel wells (all we were threatened with). But it's something to watch for--they DO sell packages that don't allow you to use chains, and you need to be aware of that when buying (we weren't).
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Dec 6, 2015 16:05:33 GMT -8
R neither was I warned! Months and months later I went shopping for chains and stumbled across that little detail.
I went with the same solution: expecting to just be very conservative in my steering motions (not a bad idea in snow any way, that rear end always wants to snap around) and hope for the best.
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Post by Lonewolf on Dec 6, 2015 18:51:45 GMT -8
p me. Blah! I wouldn't dream of it. I was born for snow and live for snow. Anytime I contemplate moving, it is to an area with more snow. Why I moved to MT. The next and last will be to Alaska for retirement.
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Post by Lonewolf on Dec 6, 2015 18:54:04 GMT -8
Fires are tough to build in 20'+ of snow. Particularly when the trees, much less downed wood, are buried.... :(
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Post by geophagous on Dec 8, 2015 23:20:15 GMT -8
Prius with chains.....the diamond ones from Les Scwab and careful driving work wonders!
Best dollars you can spend and will probably last until you sell your car!
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walkswithblackflies
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Dec 9, 2015 5:20:07 GMT -8
In an odd twist, the mountain passes often have less snow than where I live (Syracuse).
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on Dec 9, 2015 7:22:23 GMT -8
Quite often it isn't the car, but the driver's skills that gets you where you want to go. This about sums up my ideology. The big thing is to avoid jerky maneuvers and speed changes. Every movement should be smooth and gradual. In the end, the road will dictate how you should drive, which may sometimes be not to drive at all.
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Dec 9, 2015 9:56:49 GMT -8
Fires are tough to build in 20'+ of snow. I have built a few fires in deep snow. I lay down some logs.large branches on top of the snow for a base and then build the fire on top of it. It will sink down a little bit but still usable for a few hours.
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