We decided to jump on a last minute invitation to join our friends and their friends in their annual tree hunting/reunion camping trip. It was a weekend of tree hunting, snowshoing, peppermint snaps, bread on sticks and renewed love for our Springbar tent.

The Springbar can as tent is great for winter camping, but bring a good snow shovel for the 10x14 spot you have to dig out for it.

This was our first proper winter camping experience. However, we treated it almost like any other trip and assumed that nothing would be much different as long as we brought our Mr buddy space heater and our ski clothes. Boy, did we learn.

Against our initial plan, we left an hour later than expected Friday afternoon and arrived at the kids' dinner and bedtime. I had planned ahead and had dinner cooking in our 12v slow cooker in the drawer. What we did not foresee was the 1,5 ft of snow slowing down our setup significantly. Poor Mike had to clear an area big enough for our 10x14 ft 'winter palace', aka the Springbar. E was excited about the snow for about 5 mins until she realized how cold and deep it was. From then on it was mildly unbearable to keep the kids warm and happy while M was fighting the elements.

After almost 2 hours (! A record slow, snow to blame) kids were in bed in their warm suits and we were having precooked warm risotto, huddled up next to Mr. Buddy.

We were lucky that our friends' friends had arrived and had a roaring fire going. Only after having stood around there for a bit did I finally warm up. To our (surprising) delight, peppermint snaps was passed around along with eggnog, 'eggnaps', for the brave. Mold wine was also going around which made for a much better snow drink than our cold beer.

Lessons # 1, 2, 3 and 4 learnt for camping in snow:

1) Don't leave too late unless you're sure to have a quick setup. Tired kids in the freezing cold is just bad! 2) Bring a big shovel, 3) check the current weather! 4) Warm meals with no effort is key in the cold (think soups, risottos that cook themselves in a slow cooker, fast frozen backpacking meals that need only water).

Mr. Buddy space heater has a multipurpose (warning: probably not at all recommended to toast bread on these. Don't make it a habit).

Day 2:

We survived the night and the kids seemed surprisingly comfortable. I had to take a layer off O in the middle of the night because he was fussing and had a sweaty neck. I had been worried about his ability to sleep on a mat next to me. We have been sleep training him (still.trying.hard!!) so he is no longer in my bed at home. He wants to, though, so I feared that this trip would set us back. But nothing much has changed (weeks later he is back in my bed!) and he slept okay next to me, but was not letting me go the second night.

We woke up to beautiful sunshine and sparkly views. Biscuit was in heaven chasing squirrels It did take her half a day to embrace the cold and the snow. Elinor demanded first thing to go outside and M was a hero and pulled her around on the sled while I still braved up to leave my sleeping bag.

Toddlers love the sleigh. Mama loves dadas who pulls the sleigh!

Our friends who have kids exactly our kids’ age had arrived very late in the evening and were luckily in a trailer (so they didn’t have to endure the same late-night- struggle). E was very happy to finally see her friend again and they loved puttering around in the snow and 'help' the big kids building structures. It did take the kids a bit of time to get comfortable being layered. All that gear is new to them and it took a bit of whining and cold hands because mittens were apparently the enemy. A bit more snow play (or layer practice) from home would probably help.

Snow play with the big kids is the best!

Bring (snow) toys!

Now, these friends are awesome! They are still children at heart and their car is usually stuffed with gadgets and gizmos and toys. We had all brought sleds which the kids loved. But they brought a proper wooden one to transport our trees on for the hunt. The kids loved that one as well. I also wasn't surprised when we returned to the group after a family nap in the tent to find an almost done snow arch/fort made by the entire group. These guys really do snow camping well.

2-3 hours of work by the serious winter campers. Ta-da! One arch/snow fort.

After nap times were over we decided to go hunting for a Christmas tree. We were able to borrow snow shoes from the rest of the group and they were immensely useful for our hike to find the perfect imperfect tree. The toddlers were excited - E had been talking about getting a tree all week once she understood what a Christmas tree is.

TIMBER! Hiking to find our Christmas tree was so worth it and memorable for the toddlers.

After our hike in a beautiful meadow and two nearly perfect trees later we rushed to get dinner going before sunset. E was tired and whiny and refused to touch the pre-made Mac and cheese I had brought. We started making 'twist bread' which is bread snaked on the tip of a stick and baked over the fire, something all kids in Denmark do growing up. The concept is great but it requires patience and someone to help oversee it.

Twist bread (snobroed) making to the backdrop of a beautiful frosty sunset.

E was not impressed by any of it and was done socializing. We ended up bribing her to eat a little while watching TV. I had grand plans of making Austrian mac and cheese (Kasnocken) but was relieved to find that we still had leftover chicken salad for lunch which paired very well with twist bread from the fire.

The fire was moved inside the arch for a more rustic experience

Second night - 10 degrees F!

We ended up going to bed early with the kids, but I got up at 8 pm because I couldn’t sleep. I joined to group for a beer at the fire which was now being moved inside the arch. It was very cozy. I was ‘summoned’ by O an hour later, though, and was unable to get up the rest of the night without him complaining. I have to say, the second night was mildly AWFUL! I was having muscle aches and was unable to get warm even in my snow pants. E kept waking up because her hands would get cold (again, mittens were still the enemy). Everyone was cold (except O).

Day 3

Somehow, it’s all forgiven (not quite forgotten) once the morning sun hits the tent. Wearing a snow suit for breakfast is not exactly practical, but we all had the feeling that we could survive anything sitting there in our layers, trying to all get close to the stove top or Mr. Buddy. E had hot chocolate for breakfast - something new in her world - and she LOVED it.

E discovering hot chocolate - and loving it.

Everyone emerged slightly defeated but cheery and we packed up while the kids dove into snow piles. I learned that it is possible to help pack up a tent while wearing a sleeping baby on the back (now I have I have no excuse when we set up/pack down). We had ‘plowed’ the LX into its position rather randomly in the dark - we were not sure if we would be able to leave again. After a few attempts, M was able to reverse out without the need of a winch or snow chains.

The campfire was constantly going in these cold temperatures.

Baby napping in carrier, check! Folding heavy tent, check! Posing elegantly for picture, check! Avoiding yellow spot in pee behind me, check!

Lessons #5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 learnt for camping in snow

5) Bring toys (sleds, shovels, buckets, flags, saw for cutting out building blocks etc). The kids will love you endlessly and you need to stay active in the cold. 6) Bring snowshoes, especially for wilderness camping. Hunting for firewood and trees would have been impossible without them. (I have personally tested and can recommend MSR Lightning Explore for super traction and lightness, MSR EVO for mostly packed trails and cost and Atlas Elektra Access or Atlas Elektra Montane for easy, comfy bindings, both deep and packed snow and flat terrain or traction on hills, respectively. Wildhorn Outfitters are a cheap, yet highly rated alternative for the occasional use that I have not yet tested, but would still buy). 7) Again, pre-made meals or easy meals that only require hot water ARE lifesavers!!! Our Springbar tent was so roomy and nice because we had room to set up our Kelty love-seat and our table with the stove top. It remains our winter tent. However, all that room is also making it hard to heat it up. Mr buddy was helping, but only just. 8) A canvas tent is definitely better in the cold, but we should probably invest in fleece liners for our 40 degree sleeping bags or another Mr. Buddy. 9) Having snow chains with you is always a good idea.

snowshoes and a backpack carrier for baby/toddler are essentials for getting around safely in the snow. Remember to size up if carrying a load in deep snow (27 inches for women/30 for men).

Side notes: Remember to get a permit from the forest service to cut down a tree. AND, beware of the potential costs snow camping might lead to: My husband is now convinced we need an off-road sleep trailer, just to have more options for camping relatively comfortable (an idea he has been opposed to up until now).

winter camping in the snow is beautiful and worth it of you prepare well and bring the proper gear.

It was a beautiful spot and a great experience, however, I did thoroughly enjoy being able to sit outside without ski gear on to eat on our way home. Not to mention being able to pee without a frozen ‘smack’ in my butt from kneeling too low (bidet, 2.0)!

What did the kids wear to bed at night and during the day:

O was in a thin woolen body/onesie (look for merino wool or merino silk blends like this one for a very soft and lightweight option great for summer hiking as well), wool pants/tights and wool socks or booties underneath his Molehill 700 down bunting suit. He was also inside a kelty kids 30 degree sleeping bag. I had him in a wool cardigan the first night, but that was too warm for him. Our Molehill suit is not waterproof, but that was fine for O during the day since he wasn’t sitting in the snow.

the Molehill down bunting suit is so warm that O rarely needs his balaclava underneath the hood.

E was harder to keep warm because the Molehill suit doesn’t cover her hands and feet anymore. And she climbs out of her sleeping bag. She was also in a woolen layer (long sleeve and tights) with a fleece sweater over. We tried keeping her in the sleeping bag or at least keep it over her. We placed an adult sleeping pad underneath her REI pad for extra insulation. and we had extra woolen and fleece blankets lying around that we threw over her when needed. E had a second hand-me-down snowsuit which was waterproof for daytime snowplay. She is outgrowing it, though, so it was a bit short.

A waterproof snowsuit is a must for all the snow angels to be made

Lessons learnt on clothes for snow camping with kids:

Invest in the right sleeping bags and bunting suits for kids. It’s worth investing in peace of mind. (again, out Molehills are brilliant!) For daytime, make sure your toddler’s boots are big enough for thicker socks. E wears a size 7/7.5, but needed a size 8 in boots. Also make sure they are tall enough so snow doesn’t get in. Invest in gaiters if the snowpants don’t block the snow out. Have waterproof mittens with thumbs and tie a string between them and run it through the sleeves of the jacket to keep them in place when the little one is not wearing them. WARNING! Beware of the heat that hand and feet warmers can generate. NEVER place them directly on the skin and only use them for a very short time if at all. We haven’t tried them, but we have seen the burn blisters they can develop on a baby’s skin.

Mittens AND boots (if too small or short) can be the enemy. Make sure to go up a size. If all fails, place your toddler by the fire to keep warm.

Please share your best advice or lessons learnt from winter camping/snow camping with little ones. We are still learning and I am braving up to do it again, so any advice is useful.