With a permit in hand, campers can experience winter backcountry camping at its finest – including miles of peaceful trails specifically groomed for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Over 100 acres of DEC land are open for winter recreation activities, with ten campsites offering heated shelters.
Data collected over two monitoring seasons at two experimental test sites revealed no clear distinction between cold and warm glide-snow avalanche events.
Campsites
Cross country skiing offers many distinct cold-weather advantages and is also an incredibly social activity. While differing slightly from downhill skiing which requires motorized equipment, cross country skiing provides a similar challenge and lets people interact with snow in an authentic, peaceful and exciting manner that appeals to people of all ages – children as well as adults alike!
If this is your first time skiing, it is recommended that you find someone to teach you in an environment designed specifically for this activity. When learning proper trail etiquette (for instance yielding to uphill skiers and keeping your tracks intact) as well as equipment (down booties and overboots can help keep feet warm when the day ends and when nature calls). Simply pack these into a stuff bag to prevent them from freezing!
Trails
Cross-country skiers offer another form of winter snowsport, but alpine skiing may get more attention for its flashiness. Cross-country skiers traverse much longer trails on groomed and tracked routes; their technique consists of either classic cross-country (shuffle and glide) or shifting weight diagonally from side to side along groomed tracks to advance forward along groomed tracks. Both methods work effectively but developing graceful stride requires practice to achieve great distances on snow.
As well as groomed trails provided by DEC lands and State Parks, there are also private ski resorts with miles of beginner to expert-level trails that span novice to expert level terrain. Stowe’s Trapp Family Lodge brings Austria into the United States by featuring an expansive trail system perfect for families with young children.
As you traverse trails, try your best to minimize trampling of vegetation as much as possible if possible; repeate d trampling can take several years for plants to recover and it encourages other travellers to follow in your path.
Equipment
Winter camping requires not only a tent and sleeping bag, but specialized gear like down booties and overboots as well. They will keep snow from seeping into your shoes when taking off boots at camp and keep feet warm and dry while moving around setting up things or cooking meals at camp.
If you’re new to cross country skiing, depending on where you reside you may need a pair of skis and poles as well as an insulated sleeping bag and appropriate cold weather clothing.
To maximize the pleasure and experience of your trip, select a location with optimal snow conditions and an established campsite in an avalanche-safe zone. Make sure that water is available as well as having all Ten Essentials such as stove, fuel, food and cooking utensils – choose one with natural windblocks such as trees or hills for additional warmth and comfort.
Safety
Snow avalanches occur when free water accumulates in a snowpack and acts as a lubricant, reducing friction between its surface and the ground. Occasionally this leads to the formation of glide cracks that deform and flow downhill or, as in this study’s two locations analyzed here, full-depth glide-snow avalanches.
Gliding and skiing through the wilderness is an enjoyable activity, but it’s essential to remain aware of other users on the trail. If people come up behind you, make sure you give them plenty of space by moving over a bit when necessary or moving off-path if possible.
Ski camping can be an incredible winter adventure for hikers with the necessary skills and equipment, providing them with an opportunity to discover wild terrain that would otherwise remain out of reach by foot or other non-ski means. Ski campers must abide by certain wilderness regulations when camping out – for more information contact the park or forest where you plan on camping out.https://www.youtube.com/embed/0SyCCmeQ4yc