Winter Camping - 10 tips to making it enjoyable

Winter camping on a motorcycle has a few extra considerations to take into account or your time in the elements can be uncomfortable at best and flat out dangerous at worst.  Motorcycle camping in any season tends to take a great deal of gear but adding the cold element add to the load.  The potential for snow, short days, damp wood, bitter winds and more all are set to put a cramp in your camping style.
Fair weather camping sets you up for certain conveniences that allow you to skimp on gear or ignore it entirely.  Winter camping can be far more brutal should you find yourself lacking in critical items.  In the warmer months if you have less quality gear it might be uncomfortable but it certainly isn't going to be dangerous.  Consider these as must haves for a comfortable winter camp.
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1.  4 season tent.  Most tents are not made for 4 seasons.  Even when they say they are.  If you find a tent that is comfortable in the winter most often that means you will burn up in the heat of the summer.  My snugpak Scorpion 3 tent was an example of such a tent.  It was comfortable in Fall, Winter, and Spring but there was simply no way to get enough ventilation to keep from getting hot in the summer.  I upgraded last fall to the Hilleberg Nammatj 3GT and of course had to test it in cold camping as soon as possible.  After camping in low 20's on the crest of a mountain with relatively high wind I can say this tent fit the bill for what I was looking for.  The front of the tent has a large vestibule allowing me to store my gear and even due to the wind and cold and lack of decent firewood get in from the elements while still having the ability to cook hot tea and food.  (precautions much be taken when cooking inside a tent but out of the scope of this article).  Again motorcycle camping lends you to having more equipment especially in the winter so having a dry place to store your suit, helmet and other gear without having to crawl around it is welcomed.

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