Popular Mechanics - USA (2019-03)

If you get bored easily, yes. The colder temperatures, combined with the shorter days and longer nights

of winter, mean you will be spending more time in your tent. But even if you don’t get bored easily, you’ll

be

.

.

.

spending a lot of time in your tent. And probably on your phone. Keep the device as warm as possible

to help reduce battery drain and bring a portable charger to extend battery life further.

WILL I

GET

BORED?

5

Where

should

I go?

FIRST, YOU SHOULD go to your backyard if you live in a cold climate. You can test your gear and get a

sense of what it is like to sleep on snow, while still having the safety net of going inside to get warm should

you find yourself feeling uncomfortable.

Once you’re ready to hit the trail, however, you can go camping in many of the same places that you

would during the summer. A lot of state and national parks, as well as national forests and other pub-

lic lands, are open year-round, although they are often unstaffed and trails aren’t maintained. Before

heading out, be sure to check online to see if your chosen camping destination has any restrictions or

warnings that are in effect during the winter.

LOTS OF SNOW

WHERE’S THE SNOW?

ACCESSIBLE REMOTE

ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS

New YorkLocated in upstate New

York, the Adirondacks are beautiful and

rugged, yet still easily accessible. During

the winter, the Adirondacks tend to

be quiet and deserted, making them a

worthy winter-camping destination.

THE ICE AGE TRAIL Wisconsin Stretching

for 1,200 miles across Wisconsin, it can be

remote, wild, and very scenic, particularly in the

winter. Chances are you won’t see another living

soul on the trail.

PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL

LAKESHOREMichigan Pictured Rocks

National Lakeshore runs for 40 miles along

the banks of Lake Superior and includes

towering cliffs, massive sand dunes, and

tranquil beaches. In the winter, the crowds

that normally flock to the shore are long

gone, making it an incredible place for

winter campers to escape for a while.

CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK

Oregon More than 43 feet of fresh

powder fall on the park on average

each year, making it one of the snowiest

places in the U.S. If you go in well

equipped and prepared, it is one of the

best winter playgrounds imaginable.

GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK

Colorado Snow isn’t especially abundant in Great

Sand Dunes National Park, but due to its high elevation

temperatures can get quite cold. Dress warmly, bring a

warm sleeping bag and a four-season tent, and soak up

the isolation. With few winter visitors, you’re likely to

have miles of open space all to yourself.

@PopularMechanics _ March 2019 55