Most people watch the weather to decide how many layers of clothing to wear or to determine if they’ll need to defrost their cars before driving to school. Snowcampers tune in to see if a cold weather blast will allow them to leave their warm living rooms and enter a world where building and sleeping in igloos is commonplace.
For warm-weather campers, the mere idea of snowcamping can seem absurd; hiking, dining and sleeping in the dark, icy conditions of winter hardly fall under the
definition of outdoor fun.
Jim Blanchard, who teaches the Outdoor Pursuits Program Snowcamping Preparation class, explains that snowcamping actually tops regular camping for many reasons.
“When it snows, the lands that might not be up for wilderness character are beautiful and free from most people,” he said.
Blanchard also recommends snowcamping because it doesn’t require bug repellent — all the bugs and mosquitoes are dead.
First-year snowcamper Aimee Furber, who tried the sport so she could continue backpacking when the cold weather hit, said people shouldn’t try to the sport
completely unpracticed.
“Before someone tries snowcamping they should have some experience backpacking. Not everyone is into backpacking, and dealing with winter conditions adds an extra
element,” she said. “The person should know about safety issues like hypothermia and avalanche danger and have some understanding of what it takes to stay comfortable
in the cold.”
Trip preparation involves equipment with extra insulation that will hold up in winter elements. Blanchard suggests bringing a thicker or second sleeping bag, layers of wool or synthetic clothing, snowshoes, mittens, extra socks, rainwear and a pair of boots that provide loose, dry insulation.
Furber has her own set of preferred gear.
“Some of the most useful items I’ve found in cold weather are hand and feet warmers, … a Thinsulite pad to sit or stand on to minimize heat loss and one complete layer head-to-toe that always stays dry,” she said.
While a tent is seemingly an important piece of camping gear, it is optional in this sport. Blanchard said a snow cave or igloo is a good shelter because campers are completely sealed off from the elements and can keep a constant temperature of about
25 degrees.
There are also other options for cover. The snowcamping class uses tarps for shelter because they help the students to stay dry and comfortable. They also use tents, although it’s harder to keep dry inside them because of the humidity.
The drawback of igloos is that they take time to build. Blanchard says a cave can take experienced campers about two hours to build and newcomers up to four hours.
Blanchard will teach these skills in his class this term.
About 30 students and six instructors will also go on the three-day weekend trek to Tumalo Mountain. They will learn how to build snow caves and a survival shelter, go on an afternoon hike and discover the challenges of cooking in the snow.
“People divide up before we go up into tent groups … then every campsite uses a little stove, gasoline or compressed gas, and people take a variety of foods. You want to take foods that cook quickly and easily,” Blanchard said, adding that campers traditionally take ramen or other freeze-dried foods.
In addition to these challenges, there are also certain dangers and setbacks the students will learn. Avalanches and stream crossings that look safe in the snow but can be very thin are among these.
“You need to be savvy about the routes you select in those types of conditions,” Blanchard said. “If you educate yourself, it’s not rocket science. It doesn’t take a lot of skill to learn to avoid those major hazards.”
Another obvious drawback is the cold, but campers often find ways to warm themselves.
“If people get cold feet on our trips, they most often end up on the belly of someone else to get warm,” Blanchard said.
Whether campers try this sport for the thrill, the challenge or the need to get outdoors, snowcamping can test their limits and provide an enjoyable winter recreation activity.
“I’ve enjoyed backpacking, hiking and skiing for many years,” Blanchard said. “Unless you are going to limit yourself to travel during the dry summer months, you’ll inevitably find yourself in the snow.”

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