WOODCARVING & ACCESSORIES

5 Key Pieces of Wilderness Equipment for Winter Camping Trips

If you are interested in winter camping, particularly travelling in the boreal forest under winter conditions, presented below are my five top kit choices. This is in addition to winter shelter, sleeping gear and cooking apparatus.

Axe: Whether you are sourcing fuel for a wood-burning stove or making an emergency long-log fire, the power to use an axe to process dead, standing timber into firewood is critical. A good axe is an essential tool, more critical than a knife in this environment. If you have got your clothing, an axe and a technique of making fire, then you will be able to brave the conditions. An axe nonetheless , is a hazardous tool. More so during time in a place where you'll be likely wearing gloves, standing on deep snow and possibly wearing snowshoes or skis on your feet. The snow-filled forest in winter isn't the first place for an amateur to come to terms with wielding an axe. It is better to learn to use your axe smoothly and with safety in the easier, hotter summer months then carefully apply your talents to a winter environment, keeping in mind the extra awkwardness and allied risk factors.

Saw: As well as an axe, a full-sized buck-saw or bow-saw makes the job of preparing firewood both less risky and more effective. The fusion of axe and saw creates an exceedingly powerful combination. For small roles each member of the party can also carry with them a belt knife and a folding saw on their person.

Snow Shovel: A much undervalued tool of the north is a snow-shovel. There are plenty of occasions when the ability to move snow swiftly and effectively is fascinating. A good quality snow shovel makes a big difference. Moving powder-like or granular snow needs more of a sweeping motion than a digging action. An extendable handle helps achieve this motion while continuing to avoid back strain. A D-shaped handle allows you to grip it even if wearing mittens. When working in confined spaces like hollowing-out a quinzee, the handle can be reduced to its minimum length. A metal blade that is formed to cut into hard snow will make comparatively easy work or carving away compacted snow when hollowing-out a shelter. Finally, customize your spade by adding hockey-tape to the metal shaft to scale back the conductive heat loss from your hands when using the shovel.

Ice Auger: This piece of apparatus, while moderately bulky and not so easy to pack along with the remainder of your equipment, makes cutting through ice on lakes and streams a relative piece of cake. Far less bother to use than an ice-chisel and an entire world away from cutting a bowl in the ice with only an axe, this specific tool allows you to cut clean cylindrical holes directly down through the ice. Formed somewhat like a cork-screw, there are two extremely sharp blades at the end of the gizmo that cut into the ice. The auger then takes the ice out of the hole as it descends. It could be a little stiff to get through the under surface of the ice and once drilled thru, the hole very quickly fills with water. You then need to use the drill to flush the bore-hole a number of times to clear any ice. While a full size auger is awkward, there are smaller versions with hinged handles that are comparatively lightweight, definitely lightweight enough to keep on a pulk.

Brush: Finally an ordinary piece of clobber that makes a serious difference. A compact stiff-bristled brush is handy for removing snow from personal clothing and equipment. The removal of snow and ice is crucial because otherwise as you enter the warm environment of a heated tent or cabin, the snow begins to melt and moisture will get into your clothing, boots, etc along with the warm, dry space itself. Better to brush all the snow off your boots, including the soles, before you hang them up to dry than to have them dripping on you and your kit in the tent. A wooden-handled vegetable-scrubbing brush can be acquired for a bit less than a dollar. It is just a little bigger than a nail cleaning and I carry mine in a pocket of my jacket.

Paul Kirtley is owner and chief instructor of Frontier Bushcraft, a leading bushcraft company. He also writes a highly-regarded bushcraft blog.