Winter camping tips from the Coast Mountains

Whether it’s enjoying the views from across the valley or standing in a col wishing you had more time to explore the area - winter camping is how I choose to spend more time into natural wild spaces. Last winter I spent a few days winter camping with a new winter camping tent, down sleeping bag, sleeping pad and my friends in the Coast Mountain Range.

Here’s the recap complete with tips for camping in winter, a gear list and more.

Basking in the last of the light with hut booties adorning our feet and a camping sleeping pad for a seat, we took a moment to just be. Beyond the mesmerizing natural beauty of the winterscape, the feeling of being remote, self-sufficient, in good company, prepared and so very alive is always worth acknowledging. After a few rounds of boiling water with our winter camping stove of choice, Jetboil Flash Cooking System 2.0, we’d officially cooked, cleaned, hydrated and each filled a Nalgene with warm water to heat up our sleeping bags.

Cozy and comfortable while sleeping on the snow can be a reality with the right gear. This year I met MEC’s tremendous winter camping gear trio. The MEC Nunatak 3-Person 4-Season Tent, VectAir UL 4S Insulated Sleeping Pad and the MEC Talon Windstopper -30 Down Expedition Sleeping Bag. This gear combo was a game changer–it has shifted my perspective from expecting cold restless nights to snoozing in a cozy mountain oasis. Winter camping is no longer just about the location, it’s about the entire experience. Needless to say, I slept soundly perched on a mountaintop between two pals.

We spent the days ski touring, exploring and investigating the conditions. Getting eyes on a place is always such a contrast from how you envision it on a map. The contours are often more humbling than expected, wind patterns and snow acclimation specific to the season can rule certain things “in” or “out” - but the one thing that is certain is that you don’t know until you go. Approaching with curiosity and caution is key. Grateful for another successful winter camping trip filled with good company, epic terrain and cozy quarters.

Winter camping tips

Okay, your turn! Let’s get you dialled for the winter camping season. Starting with packing - bring what you need, of course, and maybe pass on the extras for the first go, because those extras stack up in weight and size quickly. For absolute clarity, “extras” do not include communication devices, warm layers, first aid, or any of the other ten essentials. A great place to start with “what to pack” is MEC’s winter camping gear checklist. Here are a few of my learned tips as well:

Packing tips:

• Pack bulky items lower in your pack. Heavy bulky things that you won’t be using should go in the lower middle portion of your pack where they won’t be in the way of gear you’ll want to access prior to setting up camp. Heavy items should always go lower in your pack and crank that hip belt nice and tight because that is the best place to carry weight.
• Split up group gear. No need for everyone to bring toothpaste and a camp stove. Manage group gear according to size. Three-person winter camping tent? Split it between the three of you, or offset it with other group gear to ensure that everyone is pulling their weight - literally.
• Save space. Collapsible things are awesome - like mugs or bowls because they are otherwise bulky.
• Bring an extra lighter or waterproof matches. They don’t weigh much and give you peace of mind that you’re not out of luck if you drop one in the snow.
• Stay warm through the night. -4 degrees when you're moving and grooving feels very different than when you’re trying to snooze. Bringing some fresh dry clothes for sleeping like a base layer, gloves and socks can go a long way for a body temperature reset. Store these (along with hut booties) in a compression sack to help save space in your pack and ensure they stay dry on the approach.

Tips and tricks for camping in winter:

• Make a platform. Choose a place that’s fairly level and spend time stomping down the area with skis or snowshoes so it’s flat and level for the best sleep possible.
• Keep snow out of your tent with a dug-out vestibule entrance. Digging down an extra foot under the vestibule makes for additional comfort for taking boots on and off. You can easily sit in the tent and take your boots on or off in the vestibule to avoid tracking snow into the tent.
• Secure your tent in the snow with anchors. For anchoring your tent in the snow, you’ll notice that the consistency of the snow influences how easy it is to set a solid anchor. I like to use the MSR Blizzard Tent Snow Stakes with a bunch of extra cordlette so I can bury deeper if needed. If you run out of snow stakes, use any bags you can empty like stuff sacks, sleeping bag sacks, sleeping pad sacks, a skins bag, or similar. Fill it with snow, close it tight, tie a cordlett to it and bury it as an anchor.
• Bring gloves that have good dexterity for cooking, building camp and ski touring.
• Fuel on the up! This means you’ll be fueling yourself beyond whatever dinner you have in store for camp. Pocket snacks and proper nutrition en route are vital for energy management.
• Bring miso. I love to bring a few extra miso soup packets in case anyone in my group needs extra calories, warmth or sodium. Any powdered soup works, this one is just my fave.
• Adjust your layers often. You’re in it for the long game and sweaty clothes will do you dirty. Pick sweat-wicking base layers and wear these with synthetics and waterproof layers on top for activities. When it comes time to cozy up, packable dry layers and down will be your best friend. Learn more about how to layer here.
• Boil water before bed to fill a Nalgene. Then put it at the bottom of your sleeping bag for extra warmth. Ensure it is fully sealed tight as the heat can expand the plastic and you’ll want it to be 100% leakproof before putting it in your sleeping bag.
• Sleep with your ski or snowboard boot liners. Frozen liners are a no-go in the morning. I also often put damp gloves inside my sleeping bag or inside a down jacket if I’m sleeping in one so that my body temp dries them out.
• Bring winter-rated fuel. Winter camping stove fuel doesn’t go as far in cold temps, be sure your camp fuel is rated for winter temperatures and bring extra - melting snow can feel like a full-time job in the cold. At least an hour-long job.

My personal winter camping gear faves:

• Jet Boil: This makes the water management and hydration game easier to stay on top of and the protected flame does better in the wind and cold.
• MEC Nunatak 3-Person 4-Season Tent: Light, easy to split into group gear, spacious vestibule.
• VectAir UL 4S Insulated Sleeping Pad: I’ve never been warmer while sleeping on snow.
• MEC Talon Windstopper -30 Down Expedition Sleeping Bag: The Goretex exterior is awesome for ensuring you stay warm even if your bag gets a bit of moisture.
• Various compression stuff sacks for clothing/toiletries and sleeping bag: makes it easier to find what you need and keep dry things dry.
• MSR Blizzard Tent Snow Stakes: because regular tent pegs don’t cut it in the snow.
• Garmin inReach Mini 2: my most trusted form of communication and the battery lasts a few days.
• MEC Hut Booties: because living for days in ski boots can be rough!
• Arc’teryx Alpha Parka: An emergency layer for myself or if needed for rescue.
• Leatherman: Always at the top of my pack for quick fixes whether that’s ski bindings, cutting cord or slicing salami.
• UCO Stormproof Matches: The waterproof container is great and these matches work like a charm in every condition.
• Canadian Heritage Roasting Co. instant coffee: A necessity.

Comfy, cozy, effortless gear makes for more time for connection, laughs, and appreciation of the experience. With the right gear, a good winter camping set-up makes all the difference and is worth the investment.