Masters of Warmth 2022

Masters

warm

Get the most of winter—and never go inside again—with tips from the experts

Presents

There’s a well-kept secret among cold-weather adventurers: winter is the best season outdoors. National parks are free of crowds. Mosquitoes are a distant memory. And from the Northern Lights to frozen waterfalls, winter serves up a myriad of fleeting spectacles you won’t see any other time of year. What else do these winter devotees all have in common? They know the key to enjoying winter’s bounty is staying warm, and they’ve dialed in all the cold-weather tricks, layering strategies, and outdoor skills to do it right. They are Masters of Warmth, and we’ve brought six of them together to share their passion, advice, and favorite winter destinations.

Meet the Masters of WarmTH

Dorn Van Dommelen

Geologist, snow skills instructor, and Alaskan adventure dad

Audra Kae

Montana ski patroller and backcountry skier

Tres Barbatelli

Ice climber and ice farmer for Colorado’s Ouray Ice Park

John Wingfield

Pro photographer and Alaskan Northern Lights guide

Brooke Weeber

Brody Leven

Professional skier and adventurer

Winter adventurer and roaming artist behind @LittleCanoe

Winter Trails

Get the most of winter—and never get cold again—with tips from the experts

Explore snowy terrain with tips on getting equipped, finding trails, and staying warm.

Winter Fuel and Hydration

Eat and drink to stay warm and energized. Here's how.

Watch Now

It’s not always as easy as it looks. Heed Wingfield and Weeber’s tips for smoother snowshoe travel.

Snowshoeing 101

When extremities get chilled, you need to get the blood flowing fast.

3 Ways to Warm Fingers and Toes

Unless you’re under 10 years old, slipping on an icy trail is no fun. Here’s how to stay on your feet.

How to Choose Traction for Every Type of Terrain

“This may sound counterintuitive, but follow the crowds. While you might seek out solitude in the summer, if you’re new to winter adventure, it’s best to start with places that are popular. These spots will have well-marked trails, safer terrain, and easier access—plus other trail users who can answer questions or offer support. You can see trail use and user reports in apps like AllTrails or Gaia GPS, or look for winter recreation centers with maintained snowshoe and Nordic trails. You can also look for trails along the edges of rivers or lakes. These tend to be flatter, which means they’re easier to navigate if they’re snowy.” – Brooke Weeber

Not all trails are winter-friendly. Here’s how to find the ones that are.

How to Find Great Winter Trails

How to Pack for a Winter Day Hike

Not all trails are winter-friendly. Here’s how to find the ones that are.

How to Find Great Winter Trails

Batteries die faster in the cold—a phenomena John Wingfield is all too familiar with after years of leading Northern Lights photography trips in Alaska. Here are his tricks for helping his electronics go the distance.

Full Charge

Down, synthetic, reflective—what’s the difference? Take this glossary with you the next time you shop for winter layers.

Winter Tech: Your Gear Shopping Cheat Sheet

A few inches of snow can hide footprints, bury trails, and render almost any landscape unrecognizable. Keep your bearings with these three tips.

Get Whiteout-Ready

Some trails just have way more personality when the mercury drops. Here are our faves.

3 National Park Hikes that are Better in Winter

Myth: Only skiers need to worry about avalanches. Fact: Anyone who ventures through snowy slopes needs some avy savvy. Here are Leven’s top 6 tips.

The 6 Rules of Avalanche Safety

Never break your teeth on a frozen energy bar again.

3 Best Winter Snacks

Rely on these three mountaineering steps for more secure footing in steep terrain.

Walk the Walk

Share now

With the right gear and know-how, you’re winter adventures don’t have to stop at sunset.

Winter Camping

Winter adventure can be gear-intensive. Use this list to stay organized.

Weeber’s dog Huxley is a four-season companion. Here’s how she keeps her best bud winter-ready.

Winterproof Your Dog

Watch Now

Stay warm in all conditions by packing the right layers and using them smartly.

Layering for Winter

Hydration is critical for circulation, which is key to keeping warm. Here’s how to keep the water flowing.

How to Keep Your Water From Freezing

When it’s snowing and you’re hiking hard, it’s easy to get cold from damp clothes. But it’s easy to stay warm if you plan ahead. Here’s how Weeber manages her layers in a storm.

How to Stay Dry (and Warm) in a Winter Storm

Less is more when it comes to keeping feet warm.

Wear Thin Socks

Columbia’s Omni-Heat Infinity amplifies your own body heat to keep you warmer.

The Gold Standard of Warmth

After a decade of ski patrolling in Montana’s harsh winter climate, Kae is a skincare pro. Here are her tips for preventing sunburn and windburn.

Protect Your Skin

Watch Now

Snooze through the coldest nights with these tips.

Sleep Warm

A campfire in winter will take the chill off, but fire-making is a challenge. Here are John Wingfield’s Alaska-tested tips for making it happen (where fires are permitted and safe).

Build a Campfire in the Snow

Normal tent stakes won’t hold in snow. A deadman anchor—an item attached to your tent’s guy lines and buried in the snow—keeps your tent from blowing away.

How to Build Deadman Anchors

Stay warm with tips and tricks from the experts.

4 Winter Camping Hacks

No one wants to lug a full toboggan into the backcountry. Consider these alternatives, ranked from best to worst. Just avoid sledding on hard, icy snow, which can damage your gear.

Ranked Outdoor Equipment That Can Be Used as a Sled

Snuggle up in any weather with these expert tips.

4 Ways to Sleep Warm

Pitch a tent amid winter wonders at these expert-recommended campsites.

America’s Best Places for Winter Camping

The golden rule of winter? Don’t wear wet clothes. Here’s Barbatelli’s timeless trick for drying socks and other damp layers.

Dry Wet Layers

Pop quiz: A pot cozy can (A) help you save fuel by insulating your meal while it rehydrates, (B) keep your dinner warm for longer, or (C) keep your pot from burning your hands. Answer? All of the above.

Make a DIY Pot Cozy

Watch Now

Not all trails are winter-friendly. Here’s how to find the ones that are.

Pitch a Winter Camp

With advanced thermal-reflective technology and insulation, these tops help you stay out longer.

Jackets Built for Warmth

HGTV has nothing on winter campers. Here are Leven’s tips for sculpting the snow kitchen of your dreams.

Build the Ultimate Camp Kitchen

It’s true, even Masters of Warmth sometimes feels the chill. But they don’t let it show.

Learn to Complain About Being Cold Without Actually Complaining

Come winter, those sandals aren’t going to cut it. Warm your feet (and inspire jealousy among your tentmates) with these winter camp shoes.

Toasty Toes

No Dutch oven? No problem. Bust out a batch of these crowd-pleasers. Serves 6.

Grandma’s Snow-Chilled Chocolate Oat Cookies

Hit these hot spots to see winter's best wildlife.

The Best Places to Spot Winter Wildlife

While the Northern Lights are easiest to see in Alaska and Canada, sharp-eyed hikers can catch hints of aurora in these Lower-48 hot spots.

Lightshow

Boot skiing is often the fastest—and funnest—way to get down a snowy slope. Here’s how to do it safely.

Try Glissading—On Your Feet

As an ice farmer, Barbetelli spends all winter directing hoses and monitoring temperatures to build up the walls of the Ouray Ice Park for ice climbers. As such, he knows all about the conditions that foster a good freeze.

Chase Frozen Waterfalls

What, you haven’t had a snowball fight recently? Time to embrace this winter tradition—and winning is as much about strategy as ammunition. Here are five tips to bring to the war room.

Win a Snowball Fight

These three parks are always pretty, but they get really sublime come wintertime.

3 Coolest Winter Phenomena in our National Parks

Watch Now

Respect for nature is just as important in winter as any other season.

Leave No Trace

Van Dommelen doesn’t just teach winter survival skills in Alaska; he’s also raised four outdoor-loving kids of his own there. His advice for keeping morale high in both groups? Build a comfy snow shelter.

Build a Perfect Snow Shelter

Plan your next winter road trip around the U.S.’s best ice and snow festivals.

Get Festive

Winter is hands-down the best time to throw a camp costume party. Here’s why.

Host a Masquerade Ball

Watch Now

How to keep your batteries warm, your lens fog-free, and other essential tips for winter photography.

Shoot Like a Pro

These 10 bird species live most of the year in Canada and Alaska and only trickle into the Lower 48 come winter.

The Birder’s Winter Ticklist

Ready to expand your winter sports repertoire? Here’s how to get some open-air exercise and experience winter’s most peaceful scenery from center stage.

Pond Skating 101

Nothing reinvigorates like a jump into icy water—that is, if you know what you’re doing.

Take the Polar Plunge

The Western U.S. is covered with hot springs—the perfect destination on chilly winter days. Here are a few of our experts’ favorite hike-in, natural pools.

Your Winter Hot Spring Bucket List

What makes winter so special? It’s full of natural phenomena and fun you can only experience in the fourth season.

Winter's Bounty

Slipping on an icy trail is no fun. Here’s how to stay on your feet.

How to Choose Traction for Every Type of Terrain

1) Check the weather. “If it’s a popular trail and it hasn’t snowed recently, I’ll often bring mini spikes or chains, since popular trails tend to get packed down and icy,” says Weeber. 2) Level-up for tricky terrain. “If I’m slipping around or I’m near a cliff edge, it’s time to reassess the traction,” says Barbatelli. “That usually means throwing on crampons even if it’s just to cross a sketchy, 10-meter section.” 3) Act early. “It’s better to put traction on too early than to wait until you’re in a zone where it’s too dangerous to mess with your gear,” says Leven.

It’s not always as easy as it looks. Heed Wingfield and Weeber’s tips for smoother snowshoe travel.

Snowshoeing 101

Look for wide trails. Snowshoes can be cumbersome, especially when you’re just starting out. Weeber suggests starting with snow-covered Forest Service roads where you’ll have room to maneuver. Check the conditions. Snowshoes work best with six inches to two feet of fresh powder. Wear the right gear. Pick an insulated, waterproof boot. Wingfield says, and make sure your snowshoe binding fits snugly around it. The better the compatibility the more control and security you’ll have. Stay Dry. If it’s snowing, wear a waterproof jacket (like Columbia’s Payton Pass Interchange, a 3-in-1 jacket equipped with both an insulated liner and thermal-reflective Omni-Heat Infinity technology). Gaiters can also help keep snow out of your boots if you’re breaking trail. Stride wide. Keep a wider-than-normal gait to avoid tripping over your feet, Weeber recommends. Find your balance. Going uphill, stomp out steps and keep your weight over your toes. Going down, sit your weight back into your heels. Use ski poles. Not only do they take some strain off your legs, Wingfield says, but they help you balance in deep snow, too.

When extremities get chilled, you need to get the blood flowing fast. Here’s how

3 Ways to Warm Fingers and Toes

The Boot Dance: “If you’re cold, someone else is usually cold, too. And the great thing about the boot dance is that if you start doing it, at least two other people will try, too. Basically you tap the insides of your boots to the insides of the other person’s boots. Then you tap the outsides, in a rhythmic pattern, alternating feet. It can get going pretty fast. Pretty soon, everybody’s warm.” – Tres Barbatelli The Penguin: “This is a trick from my friend Kt Miller. She sticks her hands out from her sides, keeps her arms straight, and bounces her shoulders up and down. It pushes warm blood down into your hands.” – Brody Leven The Windmill: “If you swing your arms in big circles, it gets the blood flowing down to the tips of your fingers.” – Brooke Weeber

Winter adventure can be gear-intensive. Use this list to stay organized.

How to Pack for a Winter Day Hike

[] Waterproof boots, like Columbia’s Bugaboot Celsius Plus Omni-Heat Infinity Boot [] Thin wool socks [] Wool or synthetic base layers (both bottoms and top) [] Water-repellent pants [] Fleece midlayer (like this heat-trapping, half-zip pullover) [] Puffy jacket, like Columbia’s thermal-reflective Platinum Peak Hooded Jacket, which is both ultra-warm and breathable—perfect for active pursuits.) [] Waterproof jacket (Like this lightweight shell) [] Gloves (for moderate conditions) [] Mittens (for sub-freezing temperatures) [] Ear coverage (like a neck gaiter or balaclava) [] Warm hat (like the Bugaboo Beanie, which uses Columbia’s Omni-Heat technology to reflect warmth) [] Headlamp [] Extra batteries [] Pack (look for one that’s at least 30 liters in volume) [] GPS navigation [] Insulated water bottle (filled with hot cocoa or hot tea) [] Extra water (at least 1 liter) Terrain-specific [] Traction (chains, mini-spikes, or crampons for steep or icy slopes) [] Flotation (skis or snowshoes if there are 6 or more inches of snow)

Full Charge

• Put batteries in a chest pocket when not in use. • Always carry spare batteries. • Keep your phone and other electronics close to your core. • Use lithium batteries if you can (they’re more cold-resistant than alkaline) • In really cold weather, rubberband a hand warmer to your camera’s battery.

Weeber’s dog Huxley is a four-season companion. Here’s how she keeps her best bud winter-ready.

Winterproof Your Dog

Booties: Soft, fluffy snow can pack between a dog’s toes, forming sharp ice crystals. Weeber uses dog booties to keep Huxley from injuring her paws. Dog jacket: For short-haired breeds, doggie sweaters are a must. But even Weeber’s long-haired pup gets a fleece if it’s actively snowing, or if it’s below 32°F and they’re not exercising hard. Camp towel: Dogs have a hard time regulating their body temperature if they’re wet. Carry a small, quick-dry towel to pat down damp fur. Baggies: It can be tempting to leave your dog’s business in the snow, but that turns spring melt-out into a hiker’s nightmare. Pick up after your pup. Extra treats: Just like you, your dog uses more energy tromping through the snow. Weeber always packs high-calorie treats and extra water.

A few inches of snow can hide footprints, bury trails, and render almost any landscape unrecognizable. Keep your bearings with these three tips.

Get Whiteout-Ready

“Never hike alone,” says Weeber. “In the winter, there’s so much more complexity—it’s good to have an extra pair of eyes.” “Use a GPS unit for sure,” Leven recommends. “The best ones today allow two-way satellite texting and have topo maps with full GPS functionality, and are half the size of my phone.” “Practice navigating in a safer environment,” Kae adds. “I use a GPS app like Gaia GPS or OnX. Practice near your house to get the hang of it first.”

Down, synthetic, reflective—what’s the difference? Take this glossary with you the next time you shop for winter layers.

Winter Tech: Your Gear Shopping Cheat Sheet

Down: Duck or goose feathers. Packable, lightweight, and ultra warm. Doesn’t retain warmth when wet. Synthetic: Human-made fibers or insulation. Usually heavier and bulkier, but more affordable and warm even when wet. Water-repellent down: Down insulation with a waterproof chemical coating that makes it more moisture-resistant. Omni-Heat: A cutting-edge, heat-reflective technology from Columbia. Uses a dense pattern of gold foil dots to reflect body heat, dramatically boosting warmth without adding weight.

With advanced thermal-reflective technology and insulation, these tops help you stay out longer.

Jackets Built for Warmth

Omni-Heat Infinity thermal-reflective lining retains body heat

Recycled synthetic down provides packable insulation and still insulates even when wet

Zippered pockets outside and inside

Drop tail for added protection in back

Drawcord hem for a secure seal against wind and snow

Hood for instant warmth

Men’s Platinum Peak Hooded Jacket A lightweight puffy that packs unbelievable warmth

See Women's

Women's Payton Pass Interchange Jacket An all-conditions jacket with waterproof/breathable outer, thermal-reflective inner, and zip-together versatility

Omni-Heat Infinity thermal-reflective liner retains body heat

Omni-Tech waterproof/breathable shell fabric for all-conditions protection

3-in-1 versatility: Wear both jackets separately or zip them together for maximum waterproof warmth

Zippered chest pockets and hand pockets

2-way zipper adds versatile venting

Adjustable hood with faux fur for cozy warmth

See Men's

After a decade of ski patrolling in Montana’s harsh winter climate, Kae is a skincare pro. Here are her tips for preventing sunburn and windburn.

Protect Your Skin

1. Wear sunscreen, even on cloudy days, to protect against reflected sunlight. (Kae opts for SPF 70 at high altitudes.) 2. On gusty days, add a wind balm, or a thicker sunscreen with windproofing elements, to any exposed skin. 3. Keep ears and chin covered with a neck gaiter or balaclava, especially on sub-freezing days. 4. Use a lip balm with at least SPF 15. 5. Wear thin gloves even on mild days to protect the backs of your hands.

Some trails just have way more personality when the mercury drops. Here are our faves.

3 National Park Hikes that are Better in Winter

Bryce Canyon National Park This lesser-known Utah park is famous for its otherworldly hoodoos—orange and pink striped pinnacles of rock that look like ice cream cones in the snow. And thanks to the park’s desert latitude, it’s rarely too cold or too snowy to hike the classics. Do: The 2.9-mile Queen’s/Navajo Combination Loop, which passes some of the park’s most scenic spots. — Weeber Olympic National Park Mist-shrouded rainforests and moody coastal weather make Washington’s Olympic National Park a must-do for photographers and hikers alike. Do: An out-and-back along the Hoh River Trail, which winds through evergreen forest. — Wingfield Grand Teton National Park Come November, the hordes of summer tourists vanish, and deep snows cover the range—making it perfect for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country and backcountry skiing alike. Do: Snowshoe the Teton Park Road, which closes to cars in winter. — Leven

Myth: Only skiers need to worry about avalanches. Fact: Anyone who ventures through snowy slopes needs some avy savvy. Here are Leven’s top 6 tips.

The 6 Rules of Avalanche Safety

1. Research your route. Avalanches are most common on slopes between 30° and 45°–that means whether you’re on, under, or adjacent to one of these slopes, you’re in the line of fire. 2. Check the forecast. A slope’s avalanche risk depends on complex, overlapping factors like wind direction, sun exposure, and underlying weaknesses in the snow. Always check your local avalanche forecast before you head out. If you don’t know how to read it, enjoy some non-avalanche terrain. 3. Keep your guard up. Avalanches can have very sensitive trigger points; just because five people crossed a slope safely doesn’t mean the sixth will. Previous tracks are not an indication of strength. 4. Know thyself. Group dynamics play a big role in avalanche safety. Make sure you and your partners have similar goals and risk tolerance levels before you leave the trailhead, and be aware of common psychological traps. 5. Carry the right safety gear. To bust some myths: You can’t “swim” out of an avalanche, dig yourself out, or use your cell phone after being buried. If your route crosses avy terrain, you’ll need a beacon, shovel, and probe and the knowledge of how to use them. 6. Get educated. Take an avalanche safety class before you enter avy terrain for the first time. (Sign up online.)

Never break your teeth on a frozen energy bar again.

3 Best Winter Snacks

“Sesame sticks. The salt is really helpful when you’re hiking and sweating a lot, and they’re delicious.” – Brooke Weeber “Peanut butter and jelly. Everyone loves it, it’s cheap, and it’s easy to make.” – Tres Barbatelli “Trail mix. There’s a reason this hiker staple has been around so long. It’s easy to keep in a pocket where it won’t get too cold, and nuts and chocolate provide great fuel.” – John Wingfield

Rely on these three mountaineering steps for more secure footing in steep terrain.

Walk the Walk

Duck Walk: When the going gets steep, swivel your toes outward and press up the slope with your insteps for better purchase. Cross step: This is a technique for angling across extra steep slopes. Kick the outer edge of one foot into the slope. Then, lift your downhill foot up and across your first foot. Kick into the slope with the inner edge of this new foot, shift your weight onto it, then repeat. Hybrid step: On moderate slopes, do a little of each: Kick straight into the slope with one foot, and press the other flat against the slope. Switch when one leg gets tired. Rest step: Hard ascent? When kicking steps straight into a slope (or using the hybrid step), take a moment at the top of each motion to fully straighten your knee and pause. It’ll allow your muscles to briefly relax, staving off fatigue in the long run.

Columbia’s Omni-Heat Infinity amplifies your own body heat to keep you warmer.

The Gold Standard of Warmth

If space blankets are so good at keeping you warm in an emergency, why not use them all the time? That’s the epiphany Columbia had a decade ago when its innovation team invented the first generation of Omni-Heat, a metal-infused liner that reflects radiant heat. And since humans emit radiant heat in the form of infrared radiation, the liner helps you stay warm. The latest iteration, Omni-Heat Infinity, advances the technology by increasing the foil coverage, so more body heat is reflected without losing breathability. How does it work? “Metal is integrated in a discontinuous pattern into the liner, so thousands of tiny gold dots reflect and retain heat while the spaces in between the dots breathe,” says Haskell Beckham, Ph.D., Columbia’s Senior Director of Innovation. Result: Your body heats the jacket, which heats your body, which heats the jacket, and so on—and you stay warmer longer. You’ll find Omni-Heat Infinity in more than 80 jackets, boots, and accessories this season. Check out the Women's Payton Pass Interchange Jacket, with two layers that zip together for maximum storm- and cold-fighting power. For men, the Platinum Peak Hooded Jacket combines Omni-Heat Infinity with Omni-Heat recycled synthetic down insulation, creating a cocoon of lightweight, comfy warmth.

Hydration is critical for circulation, which is key to keeping warm. Here’s how to keep the water flowing.

Keep Your Water From Freezing

Water bottle: Store it upside-down in your pack. Water freezes from the top down, so upside-down storage means ice will form at the base of the bottle—preventing the lid from freezing shut. Reservoir: Hydration hoses are freeze-prone, so choose one with an insulated sleeve, and keep the reservoir close to your back. When you’re done taking a sip, blow the water through the hose and back into the reservoir where it’s less likely to freeze. Water filter: Ice crystals can ruin a water filter. Always keep yours in a chest pocket or sleeping bag where your body heat will keep the membrane from freezing.

When it’s snowing and you’re hiking hard, it’s easy to get cold from damp clothes. But it’s easy to stay warm if you plan ahead. Here’s how Weeber manages her layers in a storm.

How to Stay Dry (and Warm) in a Winter Storm

The best way to stay warm is to stay dry—which means preventing getting wet from both the outside and the inside. Wear waterproof/breathable outerlayers and avoid sweating, even if you have to slow down to moderate your effort. “I like to carry a few extras—an extra hat and a balaclava in case my first one gets damp,” Weeber says. Extra socks and gloves are also must-haves in serious snowfall.

Less is more when it comes to keeping feet warm.

Wear Thin Socks

“People think that when it’s really cold, you need to wear thick socks or two pairs. But really, the layer of air between your foot and the boot actually works as an insulator. If your socks are too thick, your boots will fit tight and they’ll cut off your circulation and make your feet colder.” – John Wingfield

Most Treacherous

Least Treacherous

Steep, icy slopes

Steep, snowy slopes

Hilly terrain with ice

Hilly terrain with snow

Flat terrain with ice

Flat terrain with light snow

Steel crampons

Aluminum crampons

Chains or mini spikes

Mini spikes

Winter hiking boots

Chains or mini spikes (or ice skates!)

HGTV has nothing on winter campers. Here are Leven’s tips for sculpting the snow kitchen of your dreams.

Build the Ultimate Camp Kitchen

Wind Wall: For a weekend trip, Leven recommends building a wall that’s at least three-quarters the height of your tent and on its windward side. Staying longer? Build it as tall as your tent’s apex for maximum in-camp comfort. Kitchen table: Dig a rectangular trench into the snow to isolate a platform. The trench is for walking around the kitchen table, which is at snow level. You’re building down, not up. Your trench should be at least a foot wide and three to four feet deep. Tamp down the table’s surface when you’re done. Wraparound bench: Now sculpt the trench to create seating. The backrest should be high enough to hold foam sit pads in place. (Note: If you’re erecting a tarp or pyramid shelter, make sure your desired floor plan will fit beneath it.) Always account for melting snow! Shelving: As a final touch, carve shelves into one side of your kitchen table. They’ll keep your beers chilled as you cook and provide valuable storage.

It’s true, even Masters of Warmth sometimes feels the chill. But they don’t let it show.

Learn to Complain About Being Cold Without Actually Complaining

Try sarcasm: “Wow, I’m so warm right now.” Pass the blame: “I’m not cold, you’re cold.” Disguise it as poetry: ”What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen! —Oh, me? No, I’m good, just practicing my Shakespeare.” Use positive pessimism: “My fingers are freezing, but at least my gloves are wet!” Lean into your feelings: “I could really use a long hug right about now. And maybe your jacket.”

Come winter, those sandals aren’t going to cut it. Warm your feet (and inspire jealousy among your tentmates) with these winter camp shoes.

Toasty Toes

Down booties: Look for thick insulation (synthetic is more water-resistant but down is more packable) and heat-reflective technologies, like in Columbia’s Omni-Heat Lazy Ben Moc Slipper. Wool slippers: Wool provides excellent warmth, even when it’s a little damp. Opt for a rubber sole with lugs for grip. Wool slippers are good for hut trips. Muck boots: All rubber and neoprene, muck boots are easy to slip on, warm, and waterproof. They’re too bulky and heavy for backpacking, but they’re ideal for winter car camping.

Snuggle up in any weather with these expert tips.

4 Ways to Sleep Warm

1. “Eat a good meal, especially one with lots of fats, and properly hydrate,” says Van Dommelen. “That way your body has the blood flow to move all that heat to your extremities.” 2. Weeber’s tip for instant warmth: Before bed, fill two (uninsulated) bottles with hot water and stash one near your feet and one near your stomach. Wrap them in a T-shirt if they’re too hot. 3. “I always use a sleeping bag liner, no matter what the weather’s going to be,” says Barbatelli. He recommends bringing a liner that adds 10 to 15°F, even if you have a really warm sleeping bag. It’s a great emergency measure, and the liner will keep moisture and skin oils out of your bag’s insulation, which will help it maintain loft. 4. “Whenever you can, sleep in the snow, not on the snow,” Van Dommelen says. “Even if the air outside is -10°F, the snow will still be around 30°F. So if you can build a snow shelter, or even just a trench to put your tent in, you’re literally changing the weather around you.”

No Dutch oven? No problem. Bust out a batch of these crowd-pleasers. Serves 6.

Grandma’s Snow-Chilled Chocolate Oat Cookies

Ingredients ½ cup peanut butter ¼ cup coconut oil ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa ¼ cup maple syrup 2 cups quick-cooking oats Optional: Shredded coconut, semisweet chocolate chips Ingredients Add peanut butter and oil to a cookpot. Warm on low, stirring constantly, until peanut butter is runny and ingredients have melded. Take off heat and stir in syrup and cocoa. Then add oats until you have a thick, sticky consistency. Spoon portions onto a cookie sheet or plate. Lightly flatten, then set the sheet on a snowy surface to cool (15 to 30 minutes, or until set). Serve.

Pitch a tent amid winter wonders at these expert-recommended campsites.

America’s Best Places for Winter Camping

Red Canyon State Park, Utah “There’s great dispersed camping just outside the park near the Casto Canyon trailhead. It’s free, it’s often snow-free in the winter, and you can ride your mountain bike straight from your campsite to the mountain biking trails.” – Brooke Weeber Upper Peninsula, Michigan Michigan’s northern reaches are home to some of the best winter adventure in the country. Try Porcupine Mountains State Park for solitude among old-growth trees, or Wells State Park for nearby snowshoe and cross-country ski trails. —Tres Barbatelli Mt. Baker, Washington One of the Pacific Northwest’s more classic volcanoes, Washington’s Mt. Baker is one of the best places to winter camp in the region. Wingfield particularly recommends Artist Point for stellar nearby snowshoeing. —John Wingfield

The golden rule of winter? Don’t wear wet clothes. Here’s Barbatelli’s timeless trick for drying socks and other damp layers.

Dry Wet Layers

If I have wet socks, I’ll stick those socks in between my baselayer and my midlayer, where my body heat can dry them,” says Barbatelli. “Or, if I’m sleeping, I’ll put them between my liner and my sleeping bag. Sometimes it stinks and it’s not fun, but you end up with dry socks within a couple hours.”

Make a DIY Pot Cozy

1. Find an old closed-cell foam pad or purchase a roll of Reflectix insulation from your local hardware store. 2. Set your pot bottom-down on the foam. Trace a circle around it with a permanent marker, making it slightly bigger than the pot bottom. 3. Use a tape measure to determine both the circumference and height of your pot. Cut out a rectangle to these dimensions. This will be the collar of your cozy. 4. Wrap the collar in a ring and duct-tape it in place. Then set it on top of the circle. Tape this in place. 5. Follow a similar procedure to make a lid. Your lid should be about two inches deep, and its circumference should be slightly larger than that of the collar so it can nest on top.

A campfire in winter will take the chill off, but fire-making is a challenge. Here are John Wingfield’s Alaska-tested tips for making it happen (where fires are permitted and safe).

Build a Campfire in the Snow

1. Find dry wood: Look for dead wood suspended above the snow, on downed trees and caught in branches. Never break branches off of standing trees. 2. Dry your kindling: Dry slightly damp grasses or wood shavings by stuffing them in a chest pocket while you hunt for larger logs. And if you’re up north, look for birch bark, which lights easily. 3. Build a windbreak: If it’s breezy, consider building a two- to three-foot wall of snow on the windward side of your fire to protect it. 4. Create a platform: If you can, dig down to the ground first. Then lay a platform of tightly parallel logs or flat stones. Your coals will stay dry atop the platform even as melting snow saturates the ground beneath. 5. Be patient: In cold weather, it takes longer for kindling to heat up and tinder to dry. Add little bits of wood at a time, and increase the size of the sticks slowly.

Normal tent stakes won’t hold in snow. A deadman anchor—an item attached to your tent’s guy lines and buried in the snow—keeps your tent from blowing away.

How to Build Deadman Anchors

1. Pick an item. Trekking poles and ice axes work well, but only if you’re moving camp every day. For extended base camping, Leven has used everything from plastic trash bags filled with snow to chunky snowballs, which leave the rest of his gear free for travel. 2. Tie a guyline around the item with a knot of your choice. 3. Dig a hole just larger than the object to be buried. In wet, compact snow, just a few inches is often deep enough. In more powdery snow, you may need to bury it a foot or more deep. 4. Drop the object in, pushing it deeper or adjusting the knot as needed to achieve a taut line. Then, pack snow firmly around it. (Keep a shovel accessible for digging out deadmen.) 5. Yank to test. If your deadman busts out of the snow, bury it deeper.

Stay warm with tips and tricks from the experts.

4 Winter Camping Hacks

“Store dehydrated meals in your jacket while they’re ‘cooking.’ After pouring hot water into the bag, seal it well and stash it inside your jacket, where it simultaneously stays warm while rehtdrating and warms your core.” — Tres Barbatelli “Use a heated blanket. I have one I can plug into my van’s 12-volt outlet. It keeps me super warm. That way, I can keep the door open, enjoy the views, and draw all at the same time.” – Brooke Weeber “Plan a nighttime activity. Otherwise you just spend too much time in the tent. Usually, we’ll eat dinner and then go for a moonlight snowshoe. Plus, the exercise warms you up before you get in your sleeping bag.” – Dorn Van Dommelen “Carry a Seat. Always carry a square of closed-cell foam to sit on. It insulates you from the snow, so you’ll stay warmer on rest breaks and while sitting in camp.” — Audra Kea

No one wants to lug a full toboggan into the backcountry. Consider these alternatives, ranked from best to worst. Just avoid sledding on hard, icy snow, which can damage your gear.

Ranked Outdoor Equipment That Can Be Used as a Sled

1. Heavy-duty trash bag (bonus if you wear it as a skirt) 2. Plastic cutting board 3. Snow shovel 4. Tarp 5. Inflatable sleeping pad 6. Sleeping bag 7. Backpack, with or without a with a rain cover 8. Nothing. (Penguin sledding might be chilly, but it’s dog-approved)

Ready to expand your winter sports repertoire? Here’s how to get some open-air exercise and experience winter’s most peaceful scenery from center stage.

Pond Skating 101

1. Get the gear. You’ll need ice skates, plenty of layers, and a warm hat and insulated gloves. Some authorities recommend wearing a life jacket in case of a splashdown. Consider a helmet as well. 2. Find a buddy. Because natural ice is never 100-percent safe, avoid pond skating alone. Both you and your buddy should know what to do if someone falls in. 3. Pick a pond. Ponds that are cleared and managed by park or city authorities are usually safest. Before checking out backcountry ice, read recent trip reports and speak to an experienced local about current conditions and hazards. 4. Test the ice. Look for fresh, new ice that’s clear or blueish and at least 5 inches thick. Avoid old ice, black ice, white or aerated ice, and ice with running water beneath it. 5. Take it slow. Even within a small pond, ice thickness can vary considerably. On your first couple laps, proceed with caution and inspect as you go.

Nothing reinvigorates like a jump into icy water—that is, if you know what you’re doing.

Take the Polar Plunge

1. “First, make sure you have a warming method for when you get out. Have warm clothes, a cozy blanket, hand warmers, a fire—whatever you need to warm yourself up fast,” Weeber says. 2. Scout out the jump: Make sure the water’s deep enough, that there’s no current that could sweep you under any ice, and that you’ve got an easy exit. 3. “Before you go in, there are breathing exercises you can do to keep your blood flowing,” says Weeber. Try the classic Wim Hof method: Between regular exhales, inhale deeply 30 times, then hold your breath for 10 seconds. Repeat four rounds of this. (By the end, your fingers and toes should feel warm.) 4. Give yourself a good pep talk, then grab a friend to supervise as you prepare to make your jump. (You can both go; just take turns.) 5. “Then, I would say just rip the bandaid off and go for it,” Weeber says. “If you try to just inch your way in, it’s probably not going to get the job done.”

The Western U.S. is covered with hot springs—the perfect destination on chilly winter days. Here are a few of our experts’ favorite hike-in, natural pools.

Your Winter Hot Spring Bucket List

• Conundrum Hot Springs. Aspen, CO • Travertine Hot Springs, Bridgeport, CA • Kirkham Hot Springs, Lowman, ID • Fifth Water Hot Springs, Salt Lake City, UT • San Antonio Hot Springs, Jemez Springs, NM

These 10 bird species live most of the year in Canada and Alaska and only trickle into the Lower 48 come winter.

The Birder’s Winter Ticklist

1. Snow Bunting: Northern Rockies, Great Lakes, New England 2. Lapland Longspur: KS, NE, OK 3. Ross’s Goose: Central CA 4. Snow Goose: Central CA, Central NM, Eastern TX, LA, AK, Coastal NC, Coastal VA 5. Rough-legged Hawk: Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, Midwest, Great Lakes, New England 6. Bohemian Waxwing: Eastern OR, Eastern WA, Northeastern UT, ID, WY, MT, Northwestern CO 7. Snowy Owl: Northern New England, Great Lakes, Far Northern Rockies 8. Common Redpoll: ND, MN 9. American Tree Sparrow: Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, Midwest, Great Lakes, New England 10. Northern Shrike: Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, Great Lakes, New England

These three parks are always pretty, but they get really sublime come wintertime.

3 Coolest Winter Phenomena in our National Parks

Golden Cliffs, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Every winter, Lake Superior’s sandstone cliffs freeze over. Thanks to the mineral content of the water in this part of Michigan, the ice varies from pale gold to brazen orange in color. Other wonders: freestanding ice pillars, icebergs, and icicle-filled caves line the lakeshore. Crystal Ice Cave, Lava Beds National Monument This California cave is stunning all year round, but come winter, it really shines. Plated in glassy panels and chandeliers of ice, it forms a crystalline palace—one of the few ice caves in the Lower 48 that visitors can wander through. Aurora Borealis, Denali National Park When the rest of the Denali Park Road closes for the winter, the Savage River Trailhead stays open, which offers a convenient place to park and go for a nighttime aurora walk. This far from light pollution—and the population centers that cause it—you’ll have the rippling green ribbons of aurora all to yourself.

Build a Perfect Snow Shelter

1. Build a mound of snow. Your “quinzee,” a traditional dome-shaped snow shelter, starts as a snow mound. It should be at least five feet high and about 10 feet wide. 2. Let it settle. Pack down the mound as much as you can, or leave the snow about an hour to consolidate. 3. Add sticks (or a probe). Traditionally at this stage, you gather as many 12-inch sections of wood as you can. Then stick them throughout the top of the mound, spaced about a foot apart, until just the ends are showing. This gives you a clear indication of wall thickness when you start digging out the mound (it should be at least a foot thick). Van Dommelen, however, takes a shortcut: stick an avalanche probe down through the top of the mound, all the way to the ground. 4. Dig in. Tunnel into the downhill side of the mound at ground level. Make sure the tunnel is wide enough to excavate excess snow. 5. Hollow it out. Now that you’re in, carve out your dome-shaped shelter from inside. If you’re using a probe, use it to estimate the thickness of the walls and carve until they’re about a foot thick all the way around. (If you do the stick method, dig until you hit the end of a stick, which indicates that the wall is 12 inches thick in that spot, your minimum.) 6. Add ventilation. Poke three to four holes near the top and sides of the dome to encourage air flow. 7. Carve platforms. Cut a trench down the middle of your quinzee’s interior (at least a foot deep), leaving raised platforms for sleeping.

Nothing reinvigorates like a jump into icy water—that is, if you know what you’re doing.

Get Festive

Mid Dec: Bozeman Ice Festival, a weekend of climbing clinics and events in Montana Jan 19–22: Ouray Ice Festival, Colorado’s longest-running ice-climbing fest Late Jan: Stowe Winter Carnival, a family-fun event in Vermont Jan 26–Feb 5: St. Paul Winter Carnival, one of Minnesota’s oldest winter celebrations Feb 8–12: Steamboat Winter Carnival, featuring horse-drawn ski racing in the Rockies Feb 8–12: Michigan Ice Fest, a home-grown ice-climbing event with beginner clinics Early Feb: Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, New York’s longest-running winter fest Feb 25–Mar 6: Snowfest, a community event in North Lake Tahoe about to celebrate its 40th anniversary

Winter is hands-down the best time to throw a camp costume party. Here’s why.

Host a Masquerade Ball

1. All the Halloween stuff is on sale. Best time to buy a costume? November 1. 2. Costumes are warm. Try a unicorn onesie. Or that gorilla suit you bought in college. 3. Snow is soft. You’re less likely to puncture your inflatable T-Rex outfit on a powder day. 4. Nights are long. When the sun sets at 4:30 p.m., you’ve got that much more time for a party.

Hit these hot spots to see winter's best wildlife.

The Best Places to Spot Winter Wildlife

Wolves: Yellowstone National Park, MT Bison: Custer State Park, ND Bald Eagles: Skagit River, WA Elk: Elk National Refuge, WY Elephant Seals: Point Reyes National Seashore, CA Snowy Owls: Acadia National Park, ME

While the Northern Lights are easiest to see in Alaska and Canada, sharp-eyed hikers can catch hints of aurora in these Lower-48 hot spots.

Lightshow

Priest Lake, Idaho Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness, Maine Theodore Roosevelt National Park, South Dakota Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin Pro Tip: “You can use online aurora forecasts to track solar activity. They show where the strongest aurora will be on a given day,” says Wingfield.

Boot skiing is often the fastest—and funnest—way to get down a snowy slope. Here’s how to do it safely.

Try Glissading—On Your Feet

1. Start slow. “Boot skiing should come naturally to any skier,” Leven says, but if you don’t have a strong skiing background, it can take a few attempts to master. Find a mellow slope to practice on first. 2. Check the runout. If the slope has a bad “runout”—i.e., ends in rocks, a steep drop-off, or another hazard—don’t attempt to boot-ski it. Instead, descend carefully, carry an ice axe, and make sure you know how to self-arrest. 3. Look for soft snow. Boot skiing works best in soft or slushy slow. Don’t attempt this on icy or crusty slopes. 4. Nose over your toes. Don’t lean back unless you want to end up on your backside. Instead, Leven says, “Find a balance point where you’re pushing your shins into the front of your boots.” Keep your hips slightly forward but your weight balanced over your feet. It’s like skiing, only harder. 5. Find a rhythm. In some conditions, glissading on your feet will feel like water skiing. In others, it’ll be more like a gliding walk. Take a few moments to calibrate to the conditions, find a safe, controlled pace, and have some fun.

Chase Frozen Waterfalls

“To find frozen waterfalls, get out a topo map and look for drainages—areas where a stream crosses steep sections of terrain on the map,” Barbatelli says. “Those are the most obvious places where ice can grow.” Of course, you also want it to be consistently cold enough for ice, he adds. High elevations, deep gullies, shaded walls, and north- and west-facing slopes are all good indicators that a drainage will hold ice.

What, you haven’t had a snowball fight recently? Time to embrace this winter tradition—and winning is as much about strategy as ammunition. Here are five tips to bring to the war room.

Win a Snowball Fight

• Seek higher ground. A good vantage point is key, says Barbatelli, who prefers to launch surprise attacks from the Ouray Ice Park’s gorge-spanning bridge. • Take stock of your resources. When choosing a place to make your stand, prioritize a good source of nearby snow. “You want something with a little UV exposure that you can pack down really tight,” Barbatelli explains. • Build a barricade. Fortify your base with a sturdy snow wall, or drag logs and other barriers into place. • Hit them with a pincer maneuver. If you have the numbers, send two groups of snowballers out at once. Have one approach the enemy’s right flank, and another approach the left. The double-whammy will collapse their defenses

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“I love seeing some of my favorite summer trails in the winter. It changes them, making them entirely new. The snow creates a magical feeling.” — Brooke Weeber

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