Camping in the wild, wild winter...
Think tents are strictly for summer? Think again...
WHO IS IT FOR?
Let’s be honest – winter wild camping isn’t for everybody. But, and this is the important thing, with a little bit of knowledge and preparation, anybody can do it if they want to. And if you don’t want to, well, we won’t hold that against you. But you might want to carry on reading, just to make sure you know what you’re missing.
WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?
Put simply, wild camping is pitching your tent outside of a designated campsite, the ‘wild’ part of the description usually regarded as the critical component. ‘Winter’ wild camping is doing exactly that in... winter, where snow, frozen ground and cold temperatures all add to the ‘experience’.
WHERE SHOULD I GO?
Wild campers will, in general, aim to get out into the depths of the wilderness to pitch their tents, thus ensuring a true ‘wild’ experience. This might be the middle of a moor, the pinnacle of a peak or the confines of a cwm. Sticking your pop-up tent on a verge next to your car isn’t really in keeping with the ideology. However, to truly experience a winter wild camp in its purest form, you want snow and, preferably, lots of it. This will usually mean heading up into the mountains to find a suitable spot. The arctic-like plateau of the Cairngorm mountains can often be relied upon for appropriate winter conditions (as you can see from these photos), but they can be too extreme or remote for some; other UK mountain ranges are available.
In terms of finding a specific site, there are multiple points to consider. Firstly, you might not want too much of a walk in, particularly if it’s your first time. You’ll be carrying more gear than you’re used to (more about that later) so your pack is likely to be heavier, and walking through snow is more energy-sapping. There’s also the issue of getting back to civilisation should you decide to abort your camp. If the weather turns foul and you find your previously reliable tent rendered down to its bent-pole and tornfabric components, you probably don’t want to be facing a six-hour trek through a blizzard back to your car.
Naturally, your safety is hugely important. Pitching at the bottom of a lee slope might offer some protection from the wind, but it also puts you in prime avalanche territory. Checking the forecast (more about that later, too) before you set off is a must, as is inspecting a detailed map. These will guide your decision as to where (if at all) you go. Once you’ve established that your preferred location will pose minimal risk to you and your tent, you can start to consider comfort and aesthetics. A flattish platform will make for a better night’s sleep, and it’s always nice to peel back your tent to reveal a view in the morning, assuming the winter weather plays ball.
WHEN SHOULD I DO IT?
Winter. Obviously.
WHY WOULD I WANT TO?
Some people like the hardship of it – the challenge of pitting themselves against the harshness of winter in the mountains. But these are the same people who might consider carrying rocks in their pack because it isn’t heavy enough, so perhaps we should dismiss their motivation as of limited appeal.
There are entirely practical reasons for wild camping in winter. Around the turn of the year, days are shorter and the going in mountainous terrain tougher. As a result, hillwalkers can find themselves moving slower and with less time. What might be an accomplishable day walk in the summer may benefit from an overnight camp in winter, effectively splitting the trek into two shorter legs with a wild camp in the middle.
But it’s the more emotive attractions of wild camping that we’re mostly interested in. Even if you’re the sort of person to baulk at the idea of intentional discomfort (as most sensible people are), the magic of moonlight on ice, the silence of a snow-dampened evening and the sensation of being warm, cosy and, yes, comfortable wrapped up in a sleeping bag while the winter night skulks outside your tent door, are all experiences worth seeking.
And suffering needn’t be part of it. Consider the siege-type exploration of Victorian-era adventurers, where the pioneering of new frontiers didn’t have to mean going without home comforts. Your gear plays a huge part in this (see the panel, left), but the fact remains that winter wild camping doesn’t have to equate to unbearable icy torment.
HOW DO I GO ABOUT IT?
Like many mountain-based activities, it helps to have a more experienced friend who can guide you through it. But even
if you’re flying solo on your first winter wild camp, it needn’t be overly daunting – you just need to be a bit sensible.
Your first port of call is a weather check with Mountain Weather Information Service (www.mwis. org.uk) or the Met Office’s mountain forecast (www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/ weather/mountain-forecasts). You want to be on the lookout for high winds, heavy precipitation, and dangerously low temperatures – essentially anything that could turn your winter adventure into a nocturnal nightmare. Assuming the weather is okay, you’re good to go (although it’s essential to let somebody know where it is you’ve gone).
Be sure to allow more time than you might usually take to reach your camp spot. On your first-ever winter camp, it’s preferable to arrive in daylight. Once you’ve reached your site, look for a suitable spot to pitch. In the snow, roughly mark out the position of your tent. To maximise its robustness it should be pitched pointing into the wind. Walk up and down within this space, trampling the snow into a relatively flat and solid platform. You may need to dig out some snow to even the surface, but don’t remove too much – it’s a vital insulating layer between you and the ground.
If there is a bit of a breeze, you might want to use some of the dug snow (or dig some more) to build windbreaks. A good snow-wall constructed at the head of your tent will encourage spindrift to be blown up and over your sleeping chamber, rather than deposited upon it. A build-up of snow can rapidly become heavy, bowing your tent under its weight, so is best discouraged. It’s also not a bad idea to create a sheltered cooking/dining area. Remember, using a stove inside your tent is to be avoided – think fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. If you really must cook under canvas, ensure there’s plenty of ventilation and use the porch.
The actual pitching of the tent is much the same as other times of the year, until it comes to the pegs. They might struggle to stick in snow, but turning them sideways and burying them under compacted ice and, for a belt and braces approach, weighing them down with a few good-sized rocks should do the job. Nonetheless, it might be worth investing in some chunkier pegs if your tent comes with the lightweight ‘toothpick’ variety.
When it’s time for sleep, keep anything you don’t want frozen solid (such as your boots or water) in the tent with you. Climb into your sleeping bag and zip and cinch it right up – you don’t want that air you’re warming to escape. It’s worth keeping some extra layers at hand, just in case you wake up cold. Then close your eyes and enjoy the silence or, better still, the gentle flutter of delicate snowflakes on nylon. In the morning, if you’re lucky, you might be treated to the best show on earth as the sun creeps out from its slumber to cast a glow through the thin air as it climbs. A winter sunrise over snow-blanketed hills is hard to beat. SO… HOW HARD IS IT? It’s more work than regular wild camping, which is more effort than staying in a hostel, which is more basic than a 5-star hotel. Horses for courses and all that. But it’s not so hard that, if you’ve ever fancied giving it a go, you shouldn’t be able to. In fact, there’s every reason why you should. There’s a rare magic in the air when darkness sweeps over ice-crusted winter peaks, only surpassed by early morning light. To experience it, you have to be there; if you are, you’ll never question why again.
“THE FACT REMAINS THAT WINTER WILD CAMPING DOESN’T HAVE TO EQUATE TO UNBEARABLE ICY TORMENT.”