OK, Thanksgiving is past, I hope y’all had good times with family and friends. Back to the matter at hand. Winter camping in all it’s splendor, and how to make it the most enjoyable and survivable. If winter camping is something you already enjoy, I hope you find at least a few tidbits of information learned through my experiences and/or failures.
We have talked about clothing, shelter, water, food and food preparation so at this point you should be just about ready to get out there and give it a whirl. So let’s talk about the different ways you can get to where you want to be and how to elect your first destination.
The first time you go out in the winter, no matter how much you read or how well you prepare, you will learn something new. When selecting your first destination keep this in mind. You will be testing your gear and your resolve for the first time, make it somewhere easy to get in and out of, don’t over commit. You need to make sure you can get out safely should you experience distress or a catastrophic failure. Be safe, not sorry!
Now how do we get there? You have several options, one of which I prefer. Fresh snow is 
the best experience so I tend to base my biases on that. My preferred method of transportation in the winter wilderness is snowshoeing, there are other options e.g. cross country skis, Telemark or snowmobiles, etc. But I find the most cathartic experience comes from embracing the journey, it’s not a race to a destination, it’s an experience best viewed at a slow methodical pace.
Remember I mentioned that weight in the winter was not as important as it was in the summer? Here is why, in the winter, when you travel by snowshoe you can carry a large portion of your supplies on a sled, this reduces the load on your back and your snowshoes. A simple runner-less plastic sled is perfect for this application. Simply run two lines to the waist belt of the person if front and behind. Lines to the person behind keep the sled on track when you hit sloped areas without the need for rigid attachment poles. And I strongly recommend you travel with at least two people in your group, remember safety first.
There is so much more to talk about on this subject, I expect that you will do more research.
As Always,
Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared
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