If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you are either a seasoned backpacker or an aspiring one eager to take on the vast, beautiful expanse of nature that the world has to offer. As thrilling and liberating as backpacking can be, it also comes with its own set of challenges. It demands you to be resilient, resourceful and prepared. But don’t worry – whether you’re gearing up for your first adventure or you’re a veteran looking to brush up on some essential skills, we’ve got you covered.
As the seasons’ change and winter brings its cold and howling winds and snow down upon us, it’s time to switch gears, pun intended, and swap out our day packs for a more winter focus.
Today, another Average Flatlander shows us what gear items he keeps in his winter day pack to make sure every trip to the woods is a success.
Winter is almost here, there is snow on the ground and the weather is getting cold and cool. When most folks are staying inside, for Average Flatlanders this is the time to go exploring! It’s quiet, people aren’t around, water levels are lower, and we are able to explore places that are hard to get to in the summer and spring.
So that’s what we did. Bushwacked out into the middle of nowhere. Started a bushcraft fire, and cooked some good food, while we laughed and had a good time.
Want to do something difficult, something most people will do? I have one for you. Combine a few of the most difficult things you can do as an adventurous outdoors person. Fastpacking (ultralight), camping, the cold dark woods of the North along Lake Superior, and running.
This will test the metal of any person. Wolves howling at night, running in the dark. Doing 20+ miles in a single day.
This is what the Average Flatlander’s decided to do. Arriving late a night, we ran miles into the dark to our first camp spot, which I missed and had to backtrack.
Eventually, we settled into the night with a fire and the sound of wolves howling all around. The next day we ran and fastpacked 22 miles, a brutal and hard overland hike that left us exhausted. Endless forests and trees, a lack of clean water, and 14lb backpacks made for an interesting trip. Enjoy!
There aren’t too many things harder in life than pushing yourself to do something uncomfortable. Cold-weather camping and bush-crafting are one of those things. There is not that much room for error, everything is more difficult in the cold and the stakes are much higher.
In this video the Average Flatlander setups up a minimal shelter with a bivy on the banks of a wooded river in 30-degree weather, while it spits snow.
Starting a fire with flint is the next order of business for anyone who is into cold-weather bush crafting. It not only keeps a person warm but is essential for the mental win as well, to help your body and mind deal with the cold.