I don’t like to be cold, but I do like camping and backpacking. I live in Michigan where the backpacking season is short. To fight off cabin fever, I decided to take a solo winter backpacking trip in the snow, using a pulk to haul my gear.
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Building a pulk – a sled for hauling backpacking gear in the snow
I have taken winter backpacking trips before, but it’s a struggle to carry enough gear to stay warm. I decided to construct a pulk – a sled for pulling my gear – allowing me to carry more gear than I could put in a backpack.
Eventually I’ll write a post and make a video about building the pulk, but it’s basically an ice fishing sled rigged with PVC pipes that attach to a belt on my waist. Since it’s connected to the waist belt, it follows behind me as I hike.
Waiting for snow to go to winter camping
I built the pulk and was anxious to use it, but it would not snow! I haven’t been excited about snow since probably sometime in the 1970s, so this was a big change for me. That was really the point of all of this. I live in Michigan where winters are long and cold. Cabin fever is real, and I often wish the backpacking season was longer. Adding (comfortable) winter camping to my activity list would go a long way toward making the long winters more enjoyable.
Winter camping at Nordhouse Dunes in Ludington, Michigan
Snow eventually came and I was ready for the hour drive north to Ludington, MI. Nordhouse Dunes wilderness is open year round and allows dispersed/wild camping. The unplowed road was my biggest concern since I have a very small car that can’t handle deep snow. A lot of snow was already on the ground and we were supposed to get several more inches of new snow overnight. I threw a shovel in my car just in case I got snowed in and drove up north to Ludington.
The road turned out to be no problem. The snow was well-packed from other cars driving on it. The parking spots had some deep snow, but the lot itself was packed down. There were a handful of cars there with other people out hiking, skiing, or camping.
Nordhouse Dunes winter camping is somewhat popular (for those willing to camp in snow anyway). Not all camping areas are open and accessible in winter months so if you’re planning to winter camp, Nordhouse Dunes is a great place for it.
Packing the pulk for winter camping
I laid a waterproof tarp in the bottom of the sled and put my gear on top of that. I had my large backpack with much of my gear in it which I placed near the back of the sled (heaviest items should go in the back). My tent and a bag with a wool coat and a heavy blanket went near the front of the sled. I brought a heater (yes, a heater!) which I put on top. The tarp wrapped around the gear like a big burrito and I used bungee cords to hold it closed and strap it to the sled. I attached the PVC pipes to my waist belt, grabbed my hiking poles, and hit the trail.
Winter hiking with a pulk
The sled pulled nicely across the snow. I had a LOT of gear in, but it didn’t feel heavy. I did notice I winded more easily than usual, especially on inclines. There weren’t any terribly steep inclines on the trail at Nordhouse Dunes, but enough that I noticed the weight of the sled. I wasn’t very familiar with the trails at Nordhouse and I ended up not hiking very far (.6 miles/ 1 km) before finding a spot to camp.
Nordhouse Dunes camping regulations
The regulations for Michigan’s Nordhouse Dunes are to camp at least 400 feet of the Lake Michigan shoreline, 100 feet from the trail, and 200 feet from Nordhouse Lake. I wasn’t close to either body of water so I only had the trail to worry about. When I saw an area that looked promising, I turned off the trail and hiked back into the woods.
I had no real issues pulling the pulk. I was wearing my daypack with only a few small things in it – most of the weight was on the sled – but it pulled easily. The ropes I used in the PVC had stretched a bit, though, and had more play in them than they should have. This made the sled give a small pull with every step, which was more tiring. I need to tighten the knots back up.
Setting up a winter campsite
I brought a folding shovel to clear snow before before setting up my tent but accidentally left it in the car. Stomping the snow down, I placed a tarp on top, then set my tent up on the tarp. I tied a second tarp up over my tent since it’s a 3-season tent, not build to withstand heavy snow.
The trees in front of my tent were a bit too far to string up the overhead tarp – I should have scoped out the area better before setting up. I made it work but it wasn’t as taut as it should have been, especially considering the amount of snow expected overnight.
Winter camping gear list
My goal for this trip was to have a warm, comfortable winter camping trip that was as luxurious as possible. I brought a LOT of gear.
Sleeping gear for winter camping
- Foam sleeping pad
- Air mattress
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping quilt
- Pillow
- Warm blanket
- Sleeping bag liner
- Foil emergency bivvy sack
Clothing list for winter camping
- Base layer/thermals
- Hiking pants (2)
- Camp pants
- Fleece leggings
- Long sleeve shirt
- Fleece jacket
- NanoPuff jacket
- Wool coat
- Hiking boots
- Winter boots (warm and comfortable for camp)
- Socks
- Glove liners
- Wool mittens/fingerless gloves
- Waterproof gloves
Other winter camping gear
- Heater and fuel
- Stove and fuel
- Lighter
- Hot cocoa
- Hot tea
- Hand warmers
Sleeping in a tent in cold weather
There are a steps you can take for a warmer, more comfortable night’s sleep in a tent during snow and cold weather. With the sled, I was able to bring a lot of gear to stay warm overnight.
Under the tent
I started with a tarp under my tent to keep any moisture from getting through.
Inside the tent
On the floor of my tent I placed a closed-cell foam sleeping pad. I put my Zenby air mattress (which is rated R-5 – good for cold weather) inside a foil emergency bivvy sack to keep cold air from seeping through. My Zenbivy quilt attaches to the air mattress, and I put a North Face Furnace sleeping bag inside of that.
Inside the sleeping bag
Inside of my sleeping bag was a sleeping bag liner for a little extra warmth. I also put two hand warmers in the foot of the sleeping bag before I went to bed. I laid my Nanopuff jacket across my neck to keep any drafts out.
Was I warm enough?
Yes – I was completely warm. I woke up in the morning feeling warm and comfortable. Usually I’m chilled overnight while cold weather camping but the sled made it possible to stay warm and comfortable all night long. When I start out chilled in the morning, I hate to get out of my sleeping bag. Being warm all night long made my morning so much better!
Solo winter camping
A few things to keep in mind if you’re going winter camping solo:
- Building a fire is a lot of work for one person. Well, gathering firewood is.
- If you don’t have enough gear to keep warm, there is no one you can borrow from. Make sure you have the right gear and a backup plan.
- If you are solo camping because you like solitude, solo winter camping is even more special – snow muffles sound and the stillness is magical!