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.
Join me for 3 days of Winter Camping, Hammock setup, Snowshoeing, Camp Stove testing with multiple Fuel types for Snow Melting, Cold Weather Clothing tips & more on this mega episode.
For this solo winter backpacking and snow camping adventure, I’ll be heading into the deep snow of the Sandwich Range Wilderness in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. If you’re serious about geeking out on the finer details of camping in deep snow in temperatures below zero F, this video is for you. We’ll be spending a lot of time at camp experimenting, demonstrating and discussing a lot of winter camping topics in detail, including –
Snowshoe types and usage
Campsite selection
Using the Outdoor Vitals Mummy Pod System
Snow melting for drinking water
Extensive testing using the Optimus Polaris Optifuel stove comparing several camping fuel types for winter cooking & snow melting – LPG canister fuel, white gas, and diesel fuel. Liquid fuel stove priming, inverted canister mode, fuel efficiency, etc.
Winter hammock camping tarp setup in the snow.
Trekking poles for winter hiking
Staying warm on winter camping trips – clothing layer management and strategy, sleeping bag choices, hot water bottle for supplemental warmth.
Traction & Traversal
MSR Denali Ascent Snowshoes *No longer in production, I got them on Ebay. A modern equivalent would be something like the MSR Evo Ascent Snowshoe. Kahtoola Micro Spikes *I didn’t end up using them, as I had my snowshoes on most of the time, but I always throw these in the pack for snow trips to deal with icy terrain. Trekking Poles – CNOC Outdoors Carbon Fiber Vertex Trekking Poles
Come along for 2 days of Winter Hammock Camping, Backpacking, & Camp cooking as we hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail near Port Clinton, PA.
For this winter camping adventure, I’ll be taking advantage of a couple of free days by heading up to Port Clinton, Pennsylvania for a spur of the moment solo backpacking trip. Along the way, we’ll see some sections of the Appalachian Trail that PA has to offer, go over my winter backpacking gear, setup a winter hammock camping rig, build a campfire, and do a a decent amount of camp cooking on my trusty, old-school canister stove.
Trailhead Parking
Appalachian Trailhead, Port Clinton, Pennsylvania, Rt 61 Note: Parking at the actual trailhead is no longer allowed / possible. I parked in the town of Port Clinton near the Fire Station and proceeded down Penn St to the dead end. This small detour allows you to hike directly under the highway bridge and link up with the Appalachian Trail on the other side.
This was a relatively simple ‘in and out’ hike with a total one way distance of just under 3 miles and an elevation gain of 1,284′.
Port Clinton Winter Hammock Camping Elevation Profile for Hike In – Sintax77
Notable Gear Used / Seen on this Backpacking Trip: For a more detailed account, check out my full Winter Ultralight Backpacking Gear List Blog Post / Video.
Hammock Gear Burrow 0° Top Quilt Wide, 26.4 oz (I went with the wide version for better coverage on tent trips where I may sleep on the ground. If you only plan to use yours in a hammock, you can probably do a standard width model)
Climbing Grade Carabiners Rated 1,000lb+, 1.5 oz for the pair (In the video I’m using Dutchware biners that came with my Chameleon Hammock, but I also use Black Diamond Neutrino carabiners
Total Hammock System Weight: 1.75 lbs (793 grams) Total Insulation System Weight: 3.25 lbs (1.47 kilos) Shelter System Weight (tarp plus all lines & adjustment hardware): 8.75 oz
Deep Winter Hammock Camping System Grand Total Weight: 5.55 lbs (2.52 kilos)
Join Mike and I for for a “Train to Trail” Winter Camping, Backpacking, Campfire cooking, & Hiking adventure in Harpers Ferry, WV.
We tried something a bit different for fun on this winter camping trip – instead of driving, we decided to take an Amtrak train directly to the trailhead. This is actually and idea that Mike and I had been kicking around for a while now. The first challenge was finding an interesting trail that was actually close to a train station, without a need for secondary transportation or an excessive walk. After a bit of research, we determined that Harpers Ferry, West Virginia fit the criteria quite well. The train practically dumps you right on the Appalachian Trail. We booked our tickets, packed our bags, and hit the trail, er, I mean, train station.
With 4 days and 3 nights off, we had a decent amount of time to play with on this trip. The challenge however, would be that we needed to plan an out and back trip that didn’t put us to far away from the train station on our final morning, rather than doing a loop like we normally prefer. Fortunately, we quickly realized that to be a perfect excuse to do a a laid back, more camping, less hiking kind of trip.
The plan? After leaving the train behind,we would hop on the Appalachian trail for a few miles – just long enough to feel the seclusion of the deep winter woods, and set up a base camp for the duration of the trip. Other than that, we really had no hard set plans, other than relaxing, having a good time, and brushing up on our campfire cooking skills. Did we succeed? I guess you’ll just have to watch and see…
Trails Used
Leave Harpers Ferry via Appalachian Trail South After around 3 miles, bushwack West to unofficial campsite.
Return via Appalachian Trail North
Three days of Winter Hammock Camping and backpacking in the Adirondacks High Peaks Region.
GPS track data for the full trip was recorded using my new Garmin 650 gps unit, and can be found on the Trip Data page, for download in GPX format. (All photos in this post are geo-tagged as well)
Parking Location: At the end of Upperworks Road 44°05’20.6″N 74°03’22.7″W
The Upperworks Trailhead Parking Area
Trails Used in Order:
Day 1 (Hike In)
Begin at Upperworks Trailhead
Calamity Brook Trail
Cross frozen Lake Colden towards the Ranger Station
(If lake is not frozen, the Algonquin Peak Trail can be taken instead)
Take Avalanche Pass Trail to visit Avalanche Lake
Reverse course on Avalanche Pass Trail back towards Lake Colden
Camp near intersection of Ranger Station Spur Trail and Cold Brook Trail
Campsite coordinates N44 07.494 W73 58.912
Mileage Total: 9.16 miles
Elevation Profile for Day 1
Day 2 (Above Treeline Excursion)
Avalanche Pass Trail
Algonquin Trail via Lake Colden
Enjoy the views (or summit fog) and head back down towards campsite Mileage Total: 4.16 miles
Elevation Profile for Day 2 (Ouch)
Day 3 (Hike Out)
Head out across frozen Lake Colden back towards car
Calamity Brook Trail
End back at Upperworks Trailhead
Mileage Total: 6.38 miles
Elevation Profile for Day 3
Returning to the Upperworks Parking area, via Calamity Brook Trail
Mileage & Elevation Profile for Full 3 Day Trip
For a look at my winter gear, check out my Winter Gear List Video. Notable changes: Hammock instead of Kelty Salida 2 Tent, MSR Rapidfire Stove instead of generic upright canister stove, and I picked up another pair of fleece lined hiking pants as an alternative to the backup sleeping pants I used to pack.
The Upperworks Trailhead Parking Area
Hiking in from the Upperworks Trailhead
View of Calamity Pond
Memorial marker for David Henderson at Calamity Pond
One of several Lean-to’s in the Lake Colden area
Heading across Lake Colden towards the MacIntyre Range
View from atop the frozen Lake Colden (Mount Colden to the Left)
Another view from atop the frozen Lake Colden (Mount Colden to the Left)
View seen while standing on frozen Avalanche Lake.
Trail Junction near Campsite that was chosen.
Fog on the Algonquin Trail
Ice flow along the upper portion of the Algonquin Trail
Returning to the Upperworks Parking area, via Calamity Brook Trail
All video content, photos and music are original works by myself, Sintax77.
Alpha
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*No longer in production, I got them on Ebay. A modern equivalent would be something like the 
.
*I didn’t end up using them, as I had my snowshoes on most of the time, but I always throw these in the pack for snow trips to deal with icy terrain.
*I’m not sure my model is in production anymore. The closest current version seems to be the 
.
(came with my Sawyer S3 system)
carabiners
Sleeping Pad
Sleeping Pad
backpack
stove
with fancy lightshow
.
/ Plate
tanto blade pocket knife
