It is the middle of January here in the western United States. Not exactly ideal weather for camping in most places in the Northern Hemisphere. So, what, if anything, can campers do this time of year besides wish camping season were here?
Well, actually, there are lots of things we can do, if we have a mind to. Our options for heading out onto the trails or into the forest (or even the desert) might be limited by weather and temperature right now, but there are other things we can do to stay active and productive. Winter is a good time to do some good preventive maintenance on our equip, perhaps do some shopping for new camping clothes and gear, look into new equipment we might want to try out, and research places to go when the season opens in in a few months.
Preventive Maintenance should include inspecting all our gear and repairing or replacing damaged items as necessary. It is a good time to re-oil the leather seals on camp stove and lantern plungers, clean burners and gas lines (spiders like to nest in them!), inspect tents, sleeping bags, and camp clothing. These items might need to be cleaned if they weren't cleaned before storage or if they have become contaminated during storage. Tents might benefit from a new coating of waterproofing. Any missing or damaged loops or fasteners should be repaired or replaced. Tears in tents, sleeping bags, and camp clothing should be stitched and any tent repairs sealed. Hiking and riding boots should be cleaning and inspected and sprayed with waterproofing. Look for missing, worn, or damaged latches and laces and repair or replace as necessary. Worn soles or heals? Now is a good time to take them to the shoe repair shop and get them fixed so they will be ready to use when you are ready to use them. Check flashlights and other battery powered equipment. Hopefully you removed the batteries before putting them in storage. If not, you may now have corroded batteries that need to be removed and the compartments and contacts thoroughly cleaned.
The off season is also a good time to make wanted improvements or enhancements to our equipment. Major additions to RVs, campers, and boats can be done now without impacting use during the normal recreational season. Of course, if any of our mechanical devices need repair, now is a generally a good time to get it done. Anything in the interior can usually be done regardless of weather but some external repairs or additions (roof repairs for example) might require waiting until better weather, but you may be able to perform inspections now to make plans and get the necessary materials you will need when you can work outside. It is a good time to check batteries and make sure everything is properly lubricated. If your equipment is sheltered from the elements you can most likely proceed with any desired improvements regardless of weather.
The off season is a good time to do research on new equipment, new activities, and new destinations. You will probably not want to take time for it during actual camping season when you can get out and go places and having some lead time to prepare for new adventures is always helpful. The Internet provides lots of resources for researching new gear, activities and destinations. You can usually find a plethora of articles and videos to help you evaluate new options and find the best prices and fastest delivery of purchases. It is nice to be able to read reviews and watch Youtube videos before you spend a lot of money on some new gadget. You might even want to do some background research on your favorite destinations and activities to learn more of their use and history. You never know what interesting or even useful information you might gain. I had been dirt biking the Mojave Desert for several years before I learned the stories behind some of the familiar landmarks we explored or encountered during our rides. One of our favorite campsites had, at one time, been a way station for the famous 20 Mule Teams hauling borax out of Death Valley and later a railroad switching center. A popular rugged desert site we often rode our dirt bikes to and through had been used to train astronauts for the moon landings and used in many movies. I even located a memorial marking the crash site of an X-15. I also like to learn what I can about the flora and fauna of areas we go to. It can be helpful to know what precautions you might need to take against animal attacks. Our most frequent threat in the desert was rattlesnakes and scorpions. Many plants may be edible or even have medical properties in an emergency. However, what might be useful in any given area is dependent on what grows there. Knowing the wondrous medical properties of esoteric tropical rain forest plants isn't going to do you much good in a North American forest or desert, but knowing the benefits of things like willows, poplars, and even sage brush, might very well be. BTW, the bark of willows, poplars, and aspens, contain salicylic acid, the natural equivalent of aspirin and sage brush can be used to make an effective disinfectant solution as well as providing a fragrant, easy-to-light fuel for campfires. I have found that chewing the bark from about 6" of small (1/8") willow branches had about the same affect as taking two aspirin. While it may not taste like candy, the taste is not too unpleasant.
Some adventurous people actually do go camping in winter weather. If you choose to explore these options, make sure your equipment, including your clothing, is properly configured for winter use. most RVs, campers, and boats, are designed or adapted for use in mild weather. They must be appropriately "hardened" for use below freezing temperatures, not only for your comfort, but to prevent serious damage to the equipment. Water expands when it freezes you must protect anything that hods water: plumbing, water jugs, cooling systems, etc. Simple things like parking an RV, setting up a tent, or making a campfire, require extra considerations when camping in snow or freezing weather. Having shelter and clothing appropriate to the conditions you are in could literally mean the difference between life and death and will certainly be necessary for comfort! You might find it useful to try some cold-weather camping as a means to prepare for winter emergencies.
Get off the couch and do something!
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