It's a winter wonderland outside, and you're probably thinking one of two things: You want to stay inside, curled up in a blanket and wait for the snow to melt, or you want to get out there and romp around.
Since this is Rochester and the snow is here to stay, at least for a while, you might as well make the most of it. One way to do so is a camping trip.
Sound fun? Well, it is. Whether you go with a bunch of friends or your significant other, sleeping outdoors in frigid weather is a great way to spend your weekend. To me, the stars seem to glisten a little more brightly and the air seems a little clearer. Those reasons alone make winter camping a dream for me. That is, if I'm prepared.
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To make sure you are, check out this list of dos and don'ts before you hit the hills. Because we aren't experts on the topic we checked out a bunch of Web sites (listed in our sidebar) for pointers.
Here's what we found:
Do …
wear layers. If you're able to take something off or put something on, you'll be able to control your body temperature. Make sure you're wearing at least three layers:
A base layer — Long underwear works well. Just make sure it's not made of cotton, which traps moisture and is slow to dry in the cold.
An insulation layer — Fleece, a material that doesn't trap too much water and dries quickly, works best.
A wind- and waterproof outer shell.
eat plenty of carbs. Sorry, Atkins lovers, but carbohydrates provide a reliable, constant energy supply that helps the body generate heat.
bring a warm sleeping bag. Sleeping bags for winter camping have temperature ratings. Pick one with a rating lower than the expected low temperature. For instance, if the forecast says it's going to get down to 10 below zero, bring a bag that will keep you warm if it hits 15 below.
give thought to tent placement. Because the windchill is what's really going to get to you while you're trying to sleep, make sure the entrance to your tent opens downwind. Also, make sure you don't place it at the base of a hill. Otherwise, you could wake up buried in snow.
drink lots o' water. You're supposed to drink eight glasses a day, but during a winter camping trip, you should drink even more. Because you probably won't be able to tell if you're properly hydrated, pee in the snow and see what it looks like. If you can't see it, you're hydrated.
Don't …
warm yourself with alcohol. Some of you may subscribe to the theory that camping isn't camping without a bottle of your favorite liquor or a 12-pack of your favorite beer. During the summer, that's a great theory. During winter, that's not so smart. Alcohol thins your blood and hampers your body's ability to warm itself.
rely on a fire. During the winter months, firewood can be very hard to find outdoors. So, if you don't bring enough to last your trip, you're going to get really cold.
eat snow. Thirsty? Make sure you have plenty of liquids to drink. Don't rely on the snow 'cause you'll waste too much energy trying to turn it into liquid.
forget your hat. A warm hat will do wonders to keep you warm. Considering that 80 percent of your heat is lost through your head, you might as well wear it while you're sleeping, too.
go solo. It might seem like a great idea, but winter camping is never something that should be done alone. Why? It's dangerous. Bring someone along, and make sure that people at home know where you're going in case of an emergency.
