Hi all - this is my first post here, though I've been lurking for a couple of months now learning all I can before my first real winter trip in mid-February. I'm renting a snow trekker tent and stove for this trip, and my question is: what do all of you do for a floor? Tarp? Just one or more than one? Does the stove go on the tarp (I'm guessing maybe not - but maybe you build a log base on the snow?) Anything else? Do you put something down as an "entry way" for removing snow-covered boots and clothes? Do you dig a pit in the snow inside the tent to create a platform, as discussed in the "Snow Walkers Companion?"

Lots of questions, I know, but I appreciate any thoughts. This is a great board.

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 having 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!

Thanks, George, that's exactly the kind of info I was looking for. It never would have occurred to me to not lay the floor right away, but your advice makes perfect sense.

George

I was thinking of putting down two pieces of PVC tarp in only the sleeping area away from the stove. Both these pieces will be the tanks for my sleds. I have the 10' x 13' crewcab by Empire Canvas, my ideas are having each tank 7' x 10' then overlapping them inside the tent, and of course covering all the gear.

Give it a try. It might work for you.

Again, it has been my experience that a tarp is not needed inside the tent (in any area) during the day. It actually just gets in the way and collects dirt.

That being said, I do lay a small tarp down at night for laying down under my exped sleeping mattress (it is an air mattress with goose down inside), to help prevent any punctures. Frankly that is the only reason I use one at all. If I had a closed cell mattress I would not even set up a tarp on the floor at night.

But really, a ground floor, uncovered, in my opinion, is 100x's easier/better during the day. At least that has been my experience.

One idea, that has worked for us, is using rubbermaid containers for brining the gear up in our sleds (see photo below). The advantage to using these is: (1) It keeps all your gear well organized (2) Easy access (3) It is water proof (if it rains). We usually keep most of our gear outside the tent when we go to bed at night (chairs, kitchen supplies, table, etc). During the day we take out all our sleeping supplies and set up chairs/table and kitchen inside.

Again, that is the setup we have had the most success with so far.

That does not mean there is not a better way (or a diff. way for you).

PS: MAKE SURE YOU BRING SOME CANDLE LANTERNS FOR INSIDE. Note:Setup candles away from above the stove. They melt fairly quickly if they get blasted by the heat from the stove. You can hang them right from the crossbar that goes along the roof (along with any wet gear). Good luck! Middle pic shows our pine bow floor from several years ago when we were in Quetico. That was BY FAR the best floor anyone could ask for. NOT LEGAL IN BWCA.