Everyone Should Experience Winter in the Boundary Waters

Winter in the Boundary Waters is magnificent. The stillness, the silence, the utter calm is powerful, something everyone should experience.

However, only about 2 percent of BWCA visitors go there in the winter. This means, that if you go, you more or less have the place to yourself.

The obvious reason many people hesitate about going up here is the cold. The thought of stepping out into the subzero temperatures is enough to make most people stay indoors, or travel somewhere a little warmer, somewhere that requires less layers.

We get it. Kind of.

Okay, to be honest, we have no idea why anyone would prefer winter in Florida to winter in the BWCA.

We think that everyone should spend a few winter hours or a few winter days in the BWCA.

And there are plenty of ways to do this and still enjoy creature comforts like four walls and comfortable temperatures.

In fact, we made it easy for you to do just that.

Friends’ Winter Weekend in the Boundary Waters

Each year, Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness hosts an annual Winter Weekend at Camp Menogyn, off the Gunflint Trail. This year, the weekend will be held over the Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend, from January 18 -21.

NOTE: DUE TO OVERWHELMING INTEREST, WINTER WEEKEND IS FULL! CHECK BACK WITH US AROUND OCTOBER 2020 FOR THE NEXT WINTER WEEKEND

Participants will have the opportunity to snowshoe, ski, dogsled and experience all the glory of a Boundary Waters winter, while enjoying civilized comforts such as a warm lodge, hot food, hot drinks, beds, climate controlled rooms.

If you’ve ever wondered about exploring the Boundary Waters in the winter, but didn’t know where to start or got scared away by the thought of frostbitten toes, this is your ticket.

Best, of all, it’s affordable. For three nights lodging, including food, the cost for each adult is just $195, for kids ages 6-12 just $100 and children under 6 are free.

The basic winter clothing system

When headed out in winter trek, there are two big things you need to be cautious of 1) Don’t get too cold (obviously) and 2) don’t overheat.

When the thermometer reads -10, overheating might not be on your radar. But once you start moving, your body will do its thing and pretty soon, you’ll be amazed at how warm you can get.

Hot, even.

The worry isn’t merely discomfort. When you get warm you sweat and this sweat can freeze, causing chills and ultimately lowering your body temperature, a real danger.

Maintaining an even temperature is the secret sauce of enjoying winter. The best way to achieve this is by layering your clothing.

In general there are three types of layers: Base, insulating and outer or shell layer.

Let’s look at each.

Base layer

Often called long johns or long underwear, your base layer acts like a second skin and should fit snugly against your body, running the length of your arms and legs.

Typically made out of wool, merino wool (which has become incredibly popular in recent years) or synthetic polypro, the duty of the base layer is to 1) wick moisture off your skin 2) keep you warm 3) provide breathable comfort.

Depending on the temperature and your activity level, you might shed the insulating and shell layer. The base layer stays on. Like we said, it becomes a second skin.

InsulatinG Layer

If you’re out skiing or snow shoeing, you might generate enough heat so that you don’t need too much insulation.

But for those truly cold days, or for days you aren’t exerting yourself to the point where you need to shed layers, you might want to add a layer of insulation to your long johns.

This could be a wool shirt, a fleece or a heavier piece of polypro.

But hands down, to really stay warm, the best material for your insulating layer is goose down.

The reason everyone makes such a fuss over down is that it gives you maximum warmth for minimum weight. Air trapped between the down feathers warms up, creating a bubble of warmth. When you’re not wearing it, down garments compress to a ridiculous small size, making them both lightweight and easy to pack up.

However, down is also very expensive. And we want to be clear: You don’t need the most expensive garment out there to enjoy winter. There are plenty of lightweight synthetic options available and these will keep you nice and toasty, and for a fraction of the price.

Final note on why you should always have an insulating layer with you: Just like you heat up fast in winter, you cool down fast as well. To avoid cooling down when you break for hot cocoa or lunch, you should have an insulating layer ready to throw on.

The Shell Layer

Topping it all off is the shell layer, the frontline of defense against the wind and snow.

Your shell layer should be thin and breathable. Many shells are made out of Gore-Tex, or some variety of waterproof/ breathable membrane you can also use as rain pants and a raincoat when it comes time for you trade in your skis for paddles.

There are plenty of variations on this method and once you spend some time in the wilderness during winter, you’ll have your own modifications and find what works best for you. But in general, the three-layer system works in most conditions.

Other winter clothing considerations

Obviously, you don’t want to forget about covering your ears, fingers, toes in cold weather. The extremities need special attention.

Warm gloves suitable to the activity you will be engaged in, a hat or headband to cover your ears and warm pair of wool socks are all a must. You won’t get too far without these items!

Winter water bottles

Along with possibly getting overheated, one of the unexpected things to contend with when you’re outside during the winter is dehydration. Playing outside can make you thirsty, and just because it’s cold out there, doesn’t mean you won’t get parched!

Now, the last thing you want is to unscrew your water bottle only to find it’s turned into a solid chunk of ice. For this reason, you should either use an insulated thermos, or fill up with hot water before you go out.

Carry it all in a Winter Backpack

A day pack to carry water, food and extra layers is essential. You don’t need to go out and buy a new one, but if you are in the market for the ideal winter-time backpack, we recommend going with one like this Osprey Stratos 24. This pack is designed so the back panel stays off your back, allowing for more air flow and reducing the amount of sweat that can often result from carrying a daypack.

Other items to bring to Menogyn on the Winter Weekend

The family-oriented weekend includes dog sledding, backcountry skiing and snowshoeing in the wilderness, with a heated cabin to sleep in at night and all the hot cocoa you can drink! Food, lodging, and guide services are included. There’s even a great bookshelf in case you need something to read!

Be sure to bring enough changes of warm clothes, toiletries, and everything else you might need for a 3 night stay away from home, a pillow, and a sleeping bag.

NOTE: DUE TO OVERWHELMING INTEREST, WINTER WEEKEND IS FULL! CHECK BACK WITH US OCTOBER 2020 FOR THE NEXT WINTER WEEKEND