Winter Camping Guidelines and Tips

If you go backpacking in winter, you need to know how to select a good tent and camping spot. Here are some basic guidelines to keep in mind.

Avoid Avalanche Zones:
Make sure that you are not in an avalanche zone. Most avalanche zones have a slope of 40 degrees or higher.
Do Not Camp Under Snow Covered Branches:
Snow covered branches can snap at night and fall on your tent.
Avoid Valley:
Cold air flows downhill and pools at the bottom of valleys. Don’t camp in a low spot.
Try to Find Natural Wind Breaks:
Moving air and wind will strip heat from you. Try to dig your tent behind a natural wind break such as a large boulder or small hill, or build one using snow blocks.
Morning Sun:
Sites that get morning sun will warm up faster in winter. They’re also useful if you need to dry out your sleeping bag due to internal condensation.
Flatten The Snow Under Your Tent:
Before you pitch your tent, harden the snow under it by walking over it wearing snowshoes or boot.
Point Your Door Downhill:
Point the front of your tent downhill when you pitch it. This will prevent cold air from flowing into your tent when you need to go outside.
Metal Objects:
Avoid leaving any ice axes or any metal object in your tent, avoid direct contact with the floor when camping during a thunderstorm.

Tent Space:
Test out the tent in store, since each person has different needs when it comes to space.
The smaller is the tent, the warmer it will be at night.
Hydrostatic Head:
It’s measured in millimeters (mm) and usually fall anywhere from 800 mm to 20,000 mm. These figures indicate the amount of water pressure a fabric can withstand. That means a tent with a 2,000 mm rating will endure a 2,000 mm or two meter column of water bearing down on it before it starts to leak. Usually choose above 5,000 mm for snow camping.
Double Roof or Single-Wall Tent:
Single wall are extremely light but tend to allow more condensation, meaning the walls may dampen with your own body vapor. If you choose a single-wall camping tent, make sure that it has good venting.
The Vestibule:
How to protect yourself from the shocking change of temperature when going outside? Have a transition between the interior and the exterior of the tent. Most camping tents have a vestibule, which offers enough space to store your backpack and cook your meals.
Wind Strength:
Make sure that the rain-fly reaches the ground if you will be camping in strong winds. Also ensure that the rain-fly has plenty of tie-down points to attach stabilizing guy lines