First Solo Winter Camping experience

[GilligansWorld]

Mere miles from the top of Cameron Pass CO on the eastern side of the Continental Divide. Probably more extreme than I had anticipated but wisdom is experience right .
Had too much fun testing my new DIY Gear - made a Pulk to test along with some water storage methods. I should have taken heed on the water - ruined 2 stainless bottles trying the snow hole trick. Any how here are the pics.
Unable to test my synthetic underquilt I made as the primary suspension shock cord I bought wasn't strong enough to support the UQ. No worries as I will get some different shock cord and test it.

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[Need2noCallahan]

Very cool and I really like the sticker. I always carry an extra hank of stretch cord to snug a droopy under quilt.


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[GilligansWorld]

Very cool and I really like the sticker. I always carry an extra hank of stretch cord to snug a droopy under quilt.


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Well that's either going to be a "Go Steelers" or a "I believe too ehh".
Either way thank you for the kind words and the view.

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[Malcolm]

Looks like a really great trip—and not least because of the steak. How long were you out, and how far did you hike in? Care to elaborate on what happened to those steel water bottles? I'm kinda dense...

What a beautiful location. One of these days I'm just going to up and move to Colorado.

[GilligansWorld]

Looks like a really great trip—and not least because of the steak. How long were you out, and how far did you hike in? Care to elaborate on what happened to those steel water bottles? I'm kinda dense...

What a beautiful location. One of these days I'm just going to up and move to Colorado.

1) "How long were you up there" - Great question - 2 days and 2 nights.
2) "How far did you hike in" - Another awesome question - according to the map about 1.2 miles.
3) "what happened to the stainless steel water bottles" - Ahh what an idiot I am - Conventional wisdom on water storage is to make a snow hole and the snow will insulate the water just enough not to freeze - might be true but stainless steel isn't the right material - when it freezes is expands and plastic (lids I mean here) don't hold up to that kind of pressure nor does metal but metal bends. Any how use a nalgane bottle or like it I guess. Maybe just melt snow and let freeze in a pan then melt the ice?
Anyhow thanks for the view

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[psyculman]

Great pictures. That snow looks pretty firm. Could you have put boiling water in those SS bottles, and kept them in your pack with other gear to insulate them? Did you make your own sled?

[GilligansWorld]

Great pictures. That snow looks pretty firm. Could you have put boiling water in those SS bottles, and kept them in your pack with other gear to insulate them? Did you make your own sled?

Yes to both questions and good idea. Snow NOT firm till walked on with snow shoes - odd snow at that powdery. Not good for snow balls

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[TallPaul]

Looks like a fun trip. Great pics. Stars out at night? Looks like it was clear.

[GilligansWorld]

Looks like a fun trip. Great pics. Stars out at night? Looks like it was clear.

First day and night blue Bell day and yes Stars out - Second night only just before Dawn (very high and whispy Alto cumulus clouds I think). High on Wednesday the 15th was 25-30* and low according to my temp reading was .6* - Thursday high was 33* but low only like 16*. Clouds intermittent but ripping across the sky.
I dodged a bullet on Friday. Usually I lounge around my last day but I got up ate and decided to pack up instead of staying the final day.
Typically after I eat I might lay back down for a relaxing rabbit nap then finish packing and leave but had a weird hunch.
Broke camp about 9:00 and hit the car at 9:30 (downhill was Soooo much faster then pulling my crap uphill).
Snowing as I began packing - very light. By the time I am at the car moderate snow. As I descend highway 14 back down the mountain, like 5 minutes or a few miles - Bam white out. Can't drive more than 10-15 mph for like 30 minutes.
My third night I bailed on - on a hunch basically. Not that I don't want to camp in a storm - but not one with sustained gusts of 30-50 mph in an area I am camping for first time.
Forecast on Monday panned out a bit advanced. Wed. night was supposed to be windy and slightly warm, Thur. was supposed to be warm and partly cloudy, Fri. was supposed to be warm during day with wind building and snowing into Sat. Highs in mid to upper 30's and lows in teens except Wed. Almost perfect forecast but just a bit slow.

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[TallPaul]

Sounds like you got out just in time. I don’t winter camp much but my concern would be around getting back to a car blocked in by snow. Even if they plow you might have to dig your car out.

This is a bit random but in the gear pic, what is the thing with the handle on the yellow bag next to the first aid kit?