A photo essay about our snow camp until we get around to writing a ride report.

Checking the list

tipi loaded and packed

Andy is ready

Ultra-light camping

We were in fresh snow by the time we made Husky Road

Arriving at camp

We had to haul our gear in from the road

Andy excavated about two or three feet of snow before we could set up the tipi

poles up

canvas up

The only reason we made it this far, was they had plowed the road a week ago for a logging show. It had snowed since.

Modern logging, done by machine.

gathering firewood

Walter bringing the firewood back to camp.

Even though the slope was slight, it was hard moving the bikes up it.

Not wanting to risk getting snowed in, we parked the bikes at the top of the hill. This proved to be a good decision.

dinner

stoking the fire to heat some water

It snowed most of the night and was snowing still when we got up

The bikes weren’t quite snowed in, but they were covered.

thawing water

icicle on the tipi door

Hippie mojo

Andy making breakfast

Striking camp

Because there was so much snow on the road, I stashed the poles back in the trees, to retrieve later when the weather cleared.

Walter dragging the pulk up the hill to the bikes

fitting our ice encrusted gear on the bikes was a jigsaw puzzle

boot packing the road so we can get out

We bootpacked about a half-mile of road, down to the headwaters of Rock Creek.

Even so, Andy got stuck

Walter waiting for us to get unstuck again

I slipped sideways in the ruts and had to struggle to get back on top where I could get some traction

It took us over three hours to get less than two miles. When we reached Fir Mountain Road it was easier going and Walter hopped aboard for the rest of the trip home.

We finally reached bare pavement, just past Swyer’s Drive

Check List:

Tipi

12’ Tipi

1 door

1 door pole

liner 3 sections

13 poles (11 minimum)

19 pegs (15 minimum)

4 Pins

tarps – ground cloths and large outside tarp

Tools

2 shovels – snow shovel + e tool

1 plank (to cover shit hole)

1 bucket

rope and twine

hatchet

saw

draw knife

mallet

tape measure

Fire

Tinder/Firestarter/candles/steel wool

Matches/lighters/fero rod

blow tube

charcloth

Gear

G-bags

helmet bag

bike cover

chain & hook

bucket

kerosene lamp

snowshoes

first aid kit

fire starting kit

bayonet

sleeping bag

new pad

bivy sack

3 blankets

1 cot

1 chair

Hand soap, moist towlettes, towel, TP

change of socks, shorts, longjohns, wool jacket

bandanas

gaiters

rain gear

wool gloves and beany. broad brimmed hat

leather gloves

slippers

flashlight x2

headlamp

toothbrush

canteen x2

camp cup

tea pot

phone

camera with extra battery and phone

battery bank x2

charging cables

• wear: poly base layer, long johns, synth or wool shirt, sweater, wool pants, wool socks, gortex socks, new boots, gaiters, leathers

Provisions

water jugs x2

rum

irish cream

hot choc

tea

pepperoni

trail mix

pepcid

Dog

Walter Dog

doggles

harness and traces

Pulk

2 dog bowls

kibble

dog canteen

pulk

dog blanket