See?
Sorry to hear you weren’t feeling well enough to go camping. You should consider it in the future, though; it’s a lot of fun!
Here’s my experience: I’ve been a Boy Scout leader for the past 12 years (plus I was a Boy Scout many years ago), and our troop camps out at least monthly year-round here in New England. I figured recently that I’ve been on more than a hundred overnight campouts in all weather, including pouring rain, subzero (Fahrenheit) temps, and up to three feet of snow. I’ve done several week-long hiking and canoeing trips in the backcountry of New England and Minnesota as well.
Anyway, even with car camping (meaning you’re camping within a short distance of your car), I would never actually sleep in the car or SUV. That doesn’t sound very comfortable to me at all, either jammed in the back or squished into a car seat, plus you’re basically sleeping in a parking lot. Instead, I would pick up a decent 3-person tent for the two of you. (A 2-person tent will only fit exactly two people jammed together with no room for gear.)
Also, even with very cold weather, you don’t need electric heaters. In very cold weather, I will break out hand and toe warmers to help prevent frostbite, though.
Here are some other cold-weather tips:
[ul]
[li]Cotton kills! Cotton loses most of its insulating ability when it gets wet, whether from weather or perspiration, and it takes forever to dry. Do not wear cotton, including cotton socks and blue jeans. Wear synthetics or wool instead.[/li][li]Dress in layers. Layers should consist of a inner wicking layer made of a synthetic like polyester, a warmth layer of fleece or wool, and a wind/water outer layer (like a raincoat). You also need wool socks and hiking boots, gloves, and a synthetic stocking cap.[/li][li]You perspire in the day, even on cold days. Therefore, change into clean, dry clothes before bed. Your wicking layer with wool socks and a stocking cap should be sufficient.[/li][li]Use a mummy sleeping bag. You can lower the temperature rating of the bag by adding a cheap fleece bag.[/li][li]Don’t sleep directly on the ground. Use a closed-cell foam pad or self-inflating mattress.[/li][li]Pee before going to bed. Having to go in the middle of the night chills your entire body.[/li][/ul]
If you’re not dressed properly, you find that you either have to huddle around the campfire (which means the side facing the fire gets too hot and your other side freezes), or you huddle in your vehicle, or you have to go home.
If you are dressed properly, it’s no big deal at all. I’ve functioned perfectly fine in positively frigid conditions.
Once you master tent camping within a short distance of your car, the next step is backpacking (where you’re carrying everything with you), and ultimately extended multi-day backpacking or canoeing trips.
Oh, I have camped. Spent about half of my childhood in tents, mostly in coastal and inland south Georgia, USA. When I got old enough to opt out, I did. I love indoor plumbing and central heating and air. I don’t like peeing on my sneakers and sleeping outdoors. My outdoorsy urges are satisfied with having a beer on the back porch.
As for sleeping in a self-contained tent today (versus in the truck,) that decision is because the Fellow is mostly disabled and literally twice my size. I can’t get him up from ground level, but could probably “rescue” him at waist level if he couldn’t get up from the air mattress in the back of the SUV. Leverage is a beautiful thing! And I have a nice touch of Reynaud’s syndrome, so I really don’t tolerate cold! (Plus, the’Burb is large enough to put a queen air mattress in the back. I can sleep anywhere if I’m not frozen. A cushy leather bench seat is a step up from a sleeping bag in a tent!)
At least I have the non-perishables all ready for the next time I lose my damned mind and agree to go camping!
You are wise Lacunae Matata. Very wise. You were prepared to make a mistake, but you made the right decision in the end.
well then nevermind I won’t chip in with the advice to get an airmattress, an airpump that plugs into your car and a polypro bed roll to go under (and help insulate) the air mattress
and that’s what I get for not reading the whole thread:smack:…suburban, the perfect camp vehicle
Yeah, to be honest when I go with the Scouts I usually sleep in the back of my truck. I hate dealing with a wet tent that you must dry out when you get back home.
On that note, I’m thinking of my most memorable camping experience. Well, I did ok. I remembered everything, including Advil for the post-campfire story hangover. My SO, on the other hand…
–lost his glasses due to an “evil tree branch” :rolleyes:. Bring backup contacts or glasses, if you wear any. (Luckily, a friend had a “close enough” pair of disposable contacts for him to wear.)
–lost the car keys when we decided to skinny dip. Bring a carabiner and attach your keys to the tent zipper, or a backpack, or something. (Luckily, somebody found them in the sand, and I spotted them on a high shelf at the campstore before we left).
–brought only sneakers, even though we were going to do some canoeing. Bring some rubber sandals. Even if your trip probably won’t involve a water event, they’re nice for slipping on to go pee, or if it rains, etc.