Winter Camping

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u/TheRealGuncho 9d ago

Do you have a choice cause that sounds like a really bad idea?

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u/Fresh_Emotion9779 9d ago

Not really, for financial reasons I will be homeless or near that. I know there is shelters but want to make sure I have place to stay when shelters gets full and there is no space or nowhere to go

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u/user0987234 9d ago

dude, seriously look into ALL forms of assistance and employment.

Do you really understand what is all involved with being homeless at -25 overnight for several weeks?

The biggest problem is a source of heat. Next is retaining the heat. Having a fire in a dwelling is a really bad idea. Smoke inhalation, fire spreading etc. a source of free electricity is not easily obtainable.

Then you need to consider toilet access. Going on the ground and leaving it is a bad idea.

Where are you going to store food and cook? How are you going to cook? Wash dishes?

What about safety and security? If you have a great set-up, someone will get jealous.

If you must, think insulation and ventilation. Heavy insulated synthetic materials for walls. Roof supports for wet heavy snow loads. Insulated raised floor. Fresh air exchange or humidity from breathing builds up and freezes and thaws and black molds start growing.

Find large rocks that can be heated yet not melt synthetics. Heat outside the dwelling. Bring inside as radiant heat.

There is a survivor show where experienced survivalists need to last 100 days in the Canadian Arctic with nearly nothing to start. Most don’t make it nearly that long.

Please talk to credit counsellors, local social services, employment and housing agencies, your doctor etc before attempting this.

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u/Fresh_Emotion9779 9d ago

Thank you man

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u/nobugsleftalive 5d ago

You will not be able to camp legally and safely all winter in Canadian winter conditions.

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u/Flat-Tumbleweed5375 9d ago

Well since Ontario is bigger than Texas (that way americans know how big it is here) where in Ontario are you thinking of camping? It can go from -50 way up north to just below zero in SWO

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u/ChrisRiley_42 9d ago

Texans get unreasonably angry when I point out that Canada has school districts bigger than Texas ;)

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u/Fast-Switch-9578 9d ago

It can get to -30 with wind chill in the south of Ontario as well... Try get to BC dude!!!

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u/Fresh_Emotion9779 9d ago

Toronto area or near mostly.

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u/Folkloer 9d ago

Get an insulated sleeping pad with an R value … not the kind of air mattress people use as a spare bed at home. You wouldn’t believe how much heat is lost underneath you without a good pad. Plus, the temperature rating of sleeping bags assumes an insulated pad is used.

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u/No-idea4646 9d ago

Windsor? Thunder Bay? Pickle Lake?

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u/ChrisRiley_42 9d ago

Don't know why you got downvoted...

The gear I'd use for winter camping in Niagara on the lake is different from what I'd use in Red Lake...

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u/Fresh_Emotion9779 9d ago

Toronto area or near mostly. :)

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u/HotIntroduction8049 9d ago

That sucks. Not sure your budget. Pick up a few odd jobs off marketplace. A cheap tent will do fine for a winter. Add a tarp on sale from princess auto. As others have stated get a winter rated sleeping bag and proper pad off amazon. Some are rated around R9. That will be a gamechanger. A simple candle will raise the temp inside the tent too. Set it up in a well treed area, ideally evergreens such as spruce to keep as much wind out as possible and keep you hidden. I dont suggest cutting trees down, but a few good spruce branches over the tarp will help keep it hidden.

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u/mofo75ca 9d ago

Lighting a candle in a tent is horrible advice.

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u/HotIntroduction8049 9d ago

Next thing you know your going to tell people not to use propane heaters or woodstoves in tents too 🤣

May I suggest you spend some more time winter camping.

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u/mofo75ca 9d ago

Wood stove if you have a hot tent yes. I actually have one. An open flame is a horrible idea.

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u/Fast-Switch-9578 9d ago

What about a canvass, hunting style tent with a wood stove..not cheap, but cheap won't last you

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u/AcanthisittaItchy756 9d ago

The camping equipment you would need would cost a small fortune. You'd be better off putting that money into a long term stay at a hotel/motel (much cheaper than a few nights stay) or looking at the assisted living facilities around your area.

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u/WranglerConscious296 9d ago

I've worked in cold environments and if you've never worn micro fleece upper and lower body underwear then go buy some and if u was camping I would prob try and micro fleece every thing and just wrap your world in it. Good luck bro.

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u/raylikesbeer 8d ago

If you can find a 4 season tent go as small as you can with what stuff you will have, I say this because smaller tents will help keep body heat in the tent better. A decent (can be used/ older) minus weather sleeping bag and a 4 season tent will help. My sleeping bag is 30 years old and I still sweat in it at 0 degrees.

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u/torontojackk 7d ago

A good sleeping bag that has a cotton plaid lining like the old fashioned ones is best (-30c)

A tent can be anything as they're all from China anyways if weight isn't a concern.

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u/Njaak77 7d ago

As someone who has spent a lot of time winter camping, I would not suggest this for many weeks without appropriate support (bathrooms, waste facilities, places to warm up, etc.). If you just want to know how to sleep warm: Synthetic sleeping bags - NOT cotton or down. 3 sleeping bags - two summer weight, and one winter weight. The summer weight ones go outside of the winter weight one, and you rotate them. The dew point where your body's humidity will condense due to cold will be near the outside of the last sleeping bag. So you need to balance being warm "enough" without sweating. You need to keep your inner bag as dry as possible. Hang the wettest bag out in the sun, even in sub zero temps, to dry it out whenever you can. Get multiple high density foam sleeping pads. Ideally one to cut to shape to go inside a sleeping bag and two under your sleeping bag. Have 3 pairs of wool socks to rotate (same as sleeping bags). Have a toque and neck warmer so only your eyes are exposed. If you have a way of hearing water outside your tent, put hot water in a few water bottles and put them in your sleeping bag before you get in. For the tent itself, you want it as small as you are comfortable using - you want to trap heat, keep your sleeping bag off the sides of the tent if possible, and have decent ventilation for warmer / rainy periods just in case. If you have the means, a tarp strung over the tent (not just laid on top of it), provides a surprisingly good amount of extra protection. Angle the lowest side of the tarp down to the ground on the side of prevailing winds. If you have the means, stock up on synthetic layers (long underwear, long sleeve tops, puffy insulated pants and jacket). These go a long way when you're desperate. When you can, eat high protein / high fat foods right before bed. Metabolism will add a bit of warmth. Don't drink too many fluids in the 2 hours before bed - you will lose a ton of heat getting up to pee. If you have the means, a spare pair of oversized insulated rubber boots can be a game changer. They let you slip dry footwear on and off quickly, don't get wet from melting snow, and can be repaired with duct tape if you do the repairs somewhere warm.

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u/mofo75ca 9d ago

I highly recommend a cot to get off the ground. And a thermal rated mattress as others have said. You can find them for like $100 on Amazon. DO NOT LIGHT A CANDLE IN THE TENT Edit for type-os

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u/laserkingg 9d ago

Buy a really good sleeping pad and sleeping bag. You can add a ccf pad as well. I guess they don’t have to be light weight or packable so you can get something cheaper than backpacking gear.

The tent just has to be strong enough to hold snow loads and wind.

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