best tent camping minnesota image
Anita
I have a sleeping bag. Should I bring anything else because the weather is really cold. Or should I do something to gain more comfortable?
Answer
DO NOT use an air mattress or a cot in cold weather - either is quite literally worse than nothing at all in freezing temperatures. A closed cell foam pad is good, and nothing beats a Thermarest (or similar) self-inflating foam pad for camping.
I've been winter camping in sub-zero temps in northern Minnesota, and you can get by with thermal underwear, a closed cell foam pad, and a sleeping bag rated for the weather you expect. Mummy bags are the warmest (and most low temp bags are that style anyway).
Remember that moisture is a bigger enemy than cold. Cold air, even very cold air (-20 to -30 F) is not hard to handle if you're dressed warmly and you're dry. If you're wet, anything below 40 above zero F can be life-threatening.
A few other tips:
- Don't sleep with your socks on. Take them off and throw them in your bag down by your feet. The heat in there will dry them overnight. Sleeping in them will keep them damp and cool your feet.
- Wear boots with removable liners (Sorels or similar) and do the same with the boot liners. Putting your feet in warm socks and liners in the morning feels great.
- Throw at least the first layer of clothes you're going to wear the next day in there too (yes, I know it's starting to get crowded). Putting on warm clothes in morning is great. Cold clothes are bad. Cold underwear is really bad.
- Don't overdress for bed. I find it's better to add a bit when it gets too cool than to remove when it gets warm because you tend not to remove until you start to sweat, and then whatever you were wearing is wet. Wet is bad.
DO NOT use an air mattress or a cot in cold weather - either is quite literally worse than nothing at all in freezing temperatures. A closed cell foam pad is good, and nothing beats a Thermarest (or similar) self-inflating foam pad for camping.
I've been winter camping in sub-zero temps in northern Minnesota, and you can get by with thermal underwear, a closed cell foam pad, and a sleeping bag rated for the weather you expect. Mummy bags are the warmest (and most low temp bags are that style anyway).
Remember that moisture is a bigger enemy than cold. Cold air, even very cold air (-20 to -30 F) is not hard to handle if you're dressed warmly and you're dry. If you're wet, anything below 40 above zero F can be life-threatening.
A few other tips:
- Don't sleep with your socks on. Take them off and throw them in your bag down by your feet. The heat in there will dry them overnight. Sleeping in them will keep them damp and cool your feet.
- Wear boots with removable liners (Sorels or similar) and do the same with the boot liners. Putting your feet in warm socks and liners in the morning feels great.
- Throw at least the first layer of clothes you're going to wear the next day in there too (yes, I know it's starting to get crowded). Putting on warm clothes in morning is great. Cold clothes are bad. Cold underwear is really bad.
- Don't overdress for bed. I find it's better to add a bit when it gets too cool than to remove when it gets warm because you tend not to remove until you start to sweat, and then whatever you were wearing is wet. Wet is bad.
Where are some cool places to stop in California?
Jb
I'm taking a road trip to California tomorrow morning from Minnesota. I'll spend about a week there driving along the coast from north to south and will be bringing a tent. Anybody have any suggestions on places to stop for the day and see? Also do you know of a good place to camp that's reasonably priced or even free? Thanks!
Justin in Minnesota
Answer
The 17 mile drive in Monterey is famous. The iconic "Lone Cypress" is located there
http://images.google.com/images?q=17+mile+drive+monterey&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&oe=utf8&rlz=1I7HPIA_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=dPagS_TDMoWiswO8nY3lBg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CB4QsAQwAw
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must see. It's where they filmed Star Trek IV, the one with the whales.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/
Further south is Big Sur. Highway 1 has some of the most beautiful scenary in the world.
http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/
Stop along the central coast at San Simeon. Take the tour of Hearst Castle. It's remarkable.
http://www.hearstcastle.org/
The Santa Barbara Zoo is right on the coast.
http://www.santabarbarazoo.org/
In LA, go to the Getty Center. It's has one of the largest art collections in the world and admission is free.
http://www.getty.edu/visit/
In San Diego, Mission and Pacific Beach are your best bet for fun in the sun. Belmont Park has a vintage wooden roller coaster (one of two remaining seaside coasters on the west coast) as well as other rides. There is a boardwalk that runs the enitre length of both beaches. It's a great place to rent a bike or skates.
http://www.missionbeachonline.com/
http://www.belmontpark.com/
Some must see attractions are the world famous Zoo, Sea World, and Balboa Park. Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in the country. You can get a park passport which allows you entry to a dozen museums as well as the zoo.
http://www.balboapark.org/info/passport.php
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/index.php
BTW you are not going to find free campsites on the coast. There are no private ocean front campsites and the rest are state parks which mostly require reservations for overnight camping. All beaches (with the exception of military bases) are public and camping on the beach is not allowed.
The 17 mile drive in Monterey is famous. The iconic "Lone Cypress" is located there
http://images.google.com/images?q=17+mile+drive+monterey&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&oe=utf8&rlz=1I7HPIA_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=dPagS_TDMoWiswO8nY3lBg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CB4QsAQwAw
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must see. It's where they filmed Star Trek IV, the one with the whales.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/
Further south is Big Sur. Highway 1 has some of the most beautiful scenary in the world.
http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/
Stop along the central coast at San Simeon. Take the tour of Hearst Castle. It's remarkable.
http://www.hearstcastle.org/
The Santa Barbara Zoo is right on the coast.
http://www.santabarbarazoo.org/
In LA, go to the Getty Center. It's has one of the largest art collections in the world and admission is free.
http://www.getty.edu/visit/
In San Diego, Mission and Pacific Beach are your best bet for fun in the sun. Belmont Park has a vintage wooden roller coaster (one of two remaining seaside coasters on the west coast) as well as other rides. There is a boardwalk that runs the enitre length of both beaches. It's a great place to rent a bike or skates.
http://www.missionbeachonline.com/
http://www.belmontpark.com/
Some must see attractions are the world famous Zoo, Sea World, and Balboa Park. Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in the country. You can get a park passport which allows you entry to a dozen museums as well as the zoo.
http://www.balboapark.org/info/passport.php
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/index.php
BTW you are not going to find free campsites on the coast. There are no private ocean front campsites and the rest are state parks which mostly require reservations for overnight camping. All beaches (with the exception of military bases) are public and camping on the beach is not allowed.
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