BWCA Messageboard |
 | ||||||||||
 | ||||||||||
 | ||||||||||
 | ||||||||||
 | ||||||||||
 | ||||||||||
 | ||||||||||
 | ||||||||||
 | ||||||||||
 | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
Rockwood Lodge 
|
||||||
 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Winter Camping and Activities snowtrekker tents Reply
|
View BWCA Photo and Trip Report Contest Page
Poll: What is your favorite month in the BWCA/Q?
| Previous Messages: | |
| Author | Message Text |
| castNblast |
02/19/2010 03:41PM Thanks for all the tips! I like the digging out all the snow method. What is the longest winter camping trip you guys have done? My friends decided to back out on me as far as camping goes. They decided they would much rather stay at a cabin on gunflint lake so we are renting a place from Hestons lodge for the weekend. I am still thinking of doing a couple days solo during the week, but without anyone to split the rental gear with I am not sure. I would also have to rent it for the whole weekend since I would be staying at the cabin from fri-sun and the only rental places I have found are in duluth, two harbors and ely. Does anyone know if there is a place that rents snowtrekker tents in or right around Grand Marais? If I can't find a place that rents the tents up there I might just stay at Gunflint Pines and do some day hikes since they have pretty cheap weekday rates. Anyone up for some hike in laker fishing the second week of March? Blake |
| Soledad |
02/19/2010 12:42PM I have an 8x11 snowtrekker and I don't have much trouble at all setting up. As for the floor, I only shovel out the kitchen area and leave the back of the tent as it. That ice that forms in front of the stove can be a real hassle and dangerous. Four people would be pretty crowded in my tent, bring some small chairs or egg crates for everyone to site on. |
| George |
02/18/2010 03:03PM Nice set up! I also put the flaps on the outside and cover them with a little snow to create a seal. Works great! Newbies make sure you are careful though, if it freezes to the ground, you can rip the flap when pulling off the ground during take down (I learned this the hard way...my fault though, I tugged pretty hard like an idiot). Regarding the flattening snow. I can guarantee that if you scrap all the way to the ground (instead of patting the snow down) the floor will eventually be much warmer than a snow floor (especially after 1-2 days). The ground does thaw quickly. Leaving a snow floor is just like building a snow wall to close to the tent, it will create a cooler affect). I have an exped mattress that popped a few years ago in the middle of the night (it is an air mattress). Luckily we were in Quetico and had a nice pine bow floor (this is only legal in Quetico not the BWCA though)! it was the third night and the ground had completely thawed. I was able to sleep directly on the ground without without a mattress and kept very warm! That being said, everyone has their preference. Some people insist that building a loft out of snow and carving out a sunken kitchen is the way to go (and for them it is the way to go). I just prefer to be able to sit on the without my ass turning to ice:) I am getting old though, and lazy:) 
|
| Franzenrp |
02/18/2010 06:56AM Portagekeeper, I have my ground cloths folded to the outside and covered very lightly with snow. I cover the flap just enough to weigh it down and seal it off from wind penetration. " Don't over do it " The frame is tougher than it looks, I've set up the 12'x 10' crewcab usually by myself, and have had no issues. |
| PortageKeeper |
02/18/2010 04:52AM George and Franzenrp Good info. It looks as though you both leave your bottom wall flaps in.... less chance of freezing to the ground? I've set up my solo myself, but one would need to be carefull with a larger tent as the frame seems that it could bend if too much pressure was set on one corner, until set up. Maybe the 2-3 person models have a stronger frame. |
| Franzenrp |
02/17/2010 07:24PM I agree with George, I to bring a couple of 9'x 7' construction tarps and lay them down over the snow. I usually snowshoe down the snow instead of shoveling it away, I like the snow instead of the cold frozen ground to sleep on. Snow will add some insulation value to your ground mattresses. I also like a no floor design, and like George says give yourself plenty of time for all camp chores.   
|
| George |
02/17/2010 09:26AM Snowtrekker tents are very easy to set up. Ideally you want two people, especially for your first time, but you'll have no problem with just one person. Basically you will join 5 poles together >--< while you are under the tent. I am lucky enough to own a snow trekker. Here is a quick summary of how I prefer to handle the floor (e-mail me if you want more tips and tricks I have used over the years): An Entry About Floors made last year: First, there is no wrong way of doing this. I'll give you my preferences and what I have learned with various methods. Some people will disagree with certain points....as they may have diff. preferences. You have to find what works for you (which is half the fun): The snow walkers companion suggests that you use pine bow for your floor. If you are in Quetico you can do this... However, BWCA rules state that this is not allowed. I have done it in Quetico and it totally rocks. Nothing better than the smell of freshly cut pine bow. Plus the floor tends to warm up considerably. But again, the BWCA has a leave no trace policy. You have several options for the floor in the BWCA. Usually we dig the floor out all the way to the ground. The problem with digging out a kitchen pit with a snow platform for sleeping is that the snow usually turns into an ice platform (it melts slightly from the heat in the tent and compacts to an ice sheet). We did this our first year, we dug out the kitchen and raised the sleeping area with a snow ledge. We covered this with a tarp and it turned into ice. You'd slide right into the stove. IF you go all the way to the ground, it is not nearly as cold as the ground does thaw and warm slightly after the stove goes for awhile. Bring a tarp, if you desire, for laying down at bedtime. Keep the tarp off the floor during the day. You do not need anything for your boots when you enter. Keep them on or put on slippers. That is the beauty of not having a tarp floor. You can have a clean floor even with your boots on. You can spill water with no worries. You can hang clothes to dry, and not half to worry about them dripping on the floor. You can even do the dishes in your tent, dump the water in the corner, it will disappear.. I was worried about "no floor" before our first trip. Trust me, you'll never go back. Last tip of advice. When you put snow down along the edge of the tent canvas, do not build a wall right against the tents wall. Rather, put a small amount of snow along the tents edge to keep it sealed BUT Build a small wall several feet away from the tent. This wall will block the wind for you while sleeping. If you build i right against the tent (or to close) It creates a cooler effect. You'll be sleeping right by a slab of ice...that makes things much cooler. E-mail me if you have any questions: georgethaler@hotmail.com Make sure you send us a trip report when you get back! You'll have a blast! good luck! You'll have a blast! PS: Make sure you leave plenty early, setting up camp, cutting wood, getting water all take a lot of time and energy (so make sure you stop throughout the day and fuel up)!   
|
| castNblast |
02/17/2010 09:06AM Is it possible for one person to set up a four person snowtrekker expedition tent by themselves. I was thinking of renting one for a winter camping trip for our group of 4, but I will likely be traveling in a couple days before everyone else. Thanks Blake |
Copyright © 2002-2013 www.bwca.com- Legal Notice DMCA