The 2014 Minnesota Frozen Butt Hang was my first experience at a group hang. So I thought I would share some of the things I experienced/ learned on this trip and I hope others will chime in too. I have camped in the winter many times in everything from wall tents to pine bough lean-to’s. So learning about cold weather hanging was fun.
Testing your set up before you go is paramount, not only to find your limits but how you can adapt it to different conditions. But that is a learning curve that you need to discover for yourself there is no single perfect set up and learning what works the best for you is the goal. Try to work everything with gloves or mittens on. You may be setting up/tearing down in below zero temps, I’ll just say cold fingers and slippery Zing-it is not easy, whoopee’s can be interesting too! I let a lot of my gear set outside on a cold day to see if it became too stiff to use on the trip. Something as small as a garden hose blade guard that can’t flex below zero, can lead to a nasty cut fighting with it later.
Being outside at cold temperatures for an extended period of time will test your body in many ways and what clothing you wear can make or break a trip just like your sleeping system. I don’t want to open a forum can of worms on personal options, but I’d rather stay warm and dry then worry about weight of my clothes on a trip like this. Ultralight gear has it’s time and place but it might not be right for these situations.
Pulks are a necessity on these trips, just make sure your sled slides well. I had bought a new sled so I could loan out my other one. The bottom had a slight texture from the roto molding, it did not slide even going downhill. Kicked my butt all the way to camp, lesson learned polish and wax you sled before you go. A cover for the sled is not necessary but sure is nice keep things together and snow free. I used a British military pack cover, a couple easy mods and it worked for less than $5.
If there is more than12”-15” of snow there are two things that will make your life better. Snowshoes and a shovel. I had a small collapsible aluminum shovel, it worked, but was a lot of work with 30” of snow to move. Snowshoes make off trail work possible, and some are better than none.
Tools can be a blessing and a curse, mainly axes and saws. In the cold your muscles are stiffer than normal, and your movement in the snow is diminished. Unless you are very skilled with an axe, I would only use a saw. Standing knee deep in snow and chopping waist high, a short swing could lead to major issues. So make sure that you are comfortable using your cutting tools with gloves/mittens on. Watch and learn from the bushcrafters, they can make something from nothing and you can learn a lot from them.
A folding chair is great around the fire, and works good under your tarp to get your boots on and off easier. Bring two closed cell pads, one to sit on and one for under your feet. I did learn a lot preparing for this trip and during it that alone made it worth it. But being with a group of strangers that soon became friends, and were more than willing to help everyone else out put the icing on it. My hat is off to everyone that made the event enjoyable for everyone that attended.
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Originally Posted by Kaycee
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