Winter Camping with a Pulk Sled – Adirondacks Deep Snow & Icy Summits

Join us for 2 days of winter camping, backpacking & snowshoeing with a pulk sled in the deep snow of the Adirondack mountains.

For this winter camping adventure, we’ll be using a DIY pulk sled to setup up a base camp in the Giant Mountain Wilderness.  Day one will be dedicated to building camp and settling in, followed by a summit attempt of Giant Mountain on day two.

Our winter pulk sled will be used for group items such as campfire cooking gear, stoves, steaks and other food, additional firewood, our tent, etc.  In addition to the sled, Mike, Frank and myself each have a backpack for personal items such as cold weather clothing options and other gear. A list of notable gear can be found at the end of this post.

Route Overview – Roaring Brook to Giant Mt – Sintax77

No permit is required to camp in the Giant mountain wilderness, but there are rules and regulations regarding backcountry camping. You can find more information on the Adirondacks Park Giant Mountain Wilderness website here.

Full GPS track data, including campsites, water sources, etc, for this trip and many others can be downloaded on my Trip Data Page.

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Tagged! – 3 Luxury Backpacking Gear Choices

3 “Luxury” Backpacking Gear items that I like to bring on Camping Trips.  

Items Seen & Discussed

I recently tagged by Restless Outdoors to make this video. You check his YouTube channel out here. 

My 3 Tags

Winter Hammock Camping in the Smoky Mountains

Join me for 3 days of Winter Hammock Camping, Backpacking & Hiking in the Smoky Mountains. 

For this winter camping adventure, I’ll be doing a Gregory Bald Loop Hike, incorporating campsite 13 Sheep Pen Gap, campsite 113 Birch Spring Gap, and a hike to the Shuckstack Fire Tower.  This is my second backpacking trip to the Smokies, but due to the shorter winter days, ice, and snow, I’ll be slowing the pace down a bit compared to my previous hammock camping experience there.

Route Overview – Gregory Bald Loop – Sintax77

A backcountry permit is required for all campsites in this area. You can reserve them for $4 per night on the Smoky Mountains National Park website here.

Full GPS track data, including campsites, water sources, etc, for this trip and many others can be downloaded on my Trip Data Page.

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Gear for Winter Backpacking – Tips, Tricks & Budget Options

How to go Winter Backpacking. Cold Weather Camping Gear & options for every Budget.

Playlists Mentioned in the Video

Winter Backpacking Gear Discussed

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Sawyer Micro vs Katadyn BeFree – Flow Rate, Size, Weight & Gravity Filter Options

A detailed comparison of the Sawyer Micro Squeeze & Katadyn BeFree Water Filters for Backpacking, Hiking, and Camping.

For this backpacking gear review, I’ll be comparing two light weight, hollow fiber membrane water filters for ultralight backpacking – the Sawyer Micro Squeeze and the Katadyn BeFree.  Both of these filters are available in minimalist, personal use setups for solo hiking, as well as gravity water filter setups for group backpacking trips.  I’ll detail the specs, configuration options, features, and flow rates for both, along with my own personal experiences with these water filtration systems.

Both of these water filters are .1 micron, suitable for the majority of contaminates encountered in the greater North American region – cysts, bacteria (such as E. Coli, salmonella, leptospirosis, cholera, etc), and protozoa (such as giardia and cryptosporidium).  When combined with the Sawyer select system, the Saywer Micro also offers the ability to protect against viruses, chemicals, and heavy metals.

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Sneak Peak – Dutchware Pup Tent (Prototype)

A solution to Hammock Camping with your Dog?

In this backpacking gear video, I’ll be tinkering with a new prototype piece of hammock camping gear, the Dutchware Pup Tent.  Please keep in mind that this is a prototype that is still in development.  I’ll be checking out it’s features, setup options, and usage with my dog Denali.

I’m looking forward to keeping an eye on DutchwareGear.com from future developments.

Weight: 275 grams (9.7 oz) with the stuff sack.

Other Hammock Camping Gear Seen: