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How Cold is Too Cold For Camping?

By
Mortgage and Lending with CMG Home Loans NMLS 248937

 Question: How cold is too cold to go camping?

Answer: It is NEVER too cold!... (at least for the Boy Scouts). My sons troop is camping this weekend, and since I am one of the Scout Masters. I will be as well.  (BSA Troop 30 in Toms River NJ)

It has been warm most of this month so far, but I woke up this morning to snow, no accumulations but white stuff was coming down... Skies are bright and blue right now.... The problem with a clear sky this time of year?  It means COLD!  So I checked with the weather man. The good news is they say 0% chance of precipitation, The bad news: The next two nights have over night lows in the low 20s. 

Did I mention we will be in tents? Not cozy wimpy cabins... But tents..

So when you are snuggled up in your bed this weekend, you can laugh at the thought of me zipped up on a mummy bag trying to stay warm. 

It actually is not as bad as it may sound, if you have the right gear for the weather. The big probem is keeping the coffee pot from freezing.  One year we had to defrost the solid block of ice in the coffee pot to make coffee, That's the first thing on the agenda in the morning! Oh, the things we do for our kids!

Have a great weekend, and when you get the opportunity, Please Support your local Scout troop!

UPDATE: here is a link to the blog with photos of the actual trip http://activerain.com/blogsview/806048/Back-from-Camping-18-Degrees-with-a-lot-of-Photos-of-the-fun

Rob

Robert Rauf

(732)223-1630 x102

Real Estate Mortgage Network

REMN

Show All Comments
C Tann-Starr
Tann Starr & Associates, Inc. - Palm Bay, FL

Oh my word! Do not forget your camera. That last time you went camping I was soooooo entertained (LOL). Very cool!

Nov 21, 2008 04:08 AM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

Now I just have to pack... MANY LAYERS, and copious amounts of fleece! 

Nov 21, 2008 04:09 AM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

Thanks Carolyn, for laughing at With me!

Nov 21, 2008 04:10 AM
Sean Allen
International Financing Solutions - Fort Myers, FL
International Financing Solutions

I use to camp in January back when I lived in Kentucky. No tent, just a warm sleeping bag placed upon the ground. Cold weather makes for great sleeping, provided you don't spend the whole night shivering.

My form of camping was great provided .... It didn't rain and the cows were far off in a different section of the farm. I did wake up on one camping trip with cows standing all around me .... a bit un-nerving.

Sean Allen

Nov 21, 2008 04:12 AM
Marlene Pellegrini
Norwich, CT

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!  Dress warm, take a hat.  Make sure you have everything to build a fire!

Nov 21, 2008 04:13 AM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

Sean, I think the cows would be more than a bit un-nerving!

Marlene, Boy Scouts and fire??? Trust me, there will be a fire, and it will be HUGE if I know my boys! 

Nov 21, 2008 04:26 AM
John Walters
Frank Rubi Real Estate - Slidell, LA
Licensed in Louisiana

I know when it's to cold for fishing when the drinks in the ice chest freeze.

Nov 21, 2008 04:34 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Robert - I have been affiliated with the Scouts one way or another for 47 years.  Currently, as Scoutmaster (again) and Venturer Coach, we go camping once a month.  Our local winter Camporee is in January this year.  I too have some great winter camping stories!  It is a hard time to go, but a great time to learn!  Life experience is a cruel, but effective, teacher...!

Nov 21, 2008 04:35 AM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

Jay, The best part of winter camping is Monday morning back at the office, when people give you the strangest looks!  If it doesnt kill you it will make you stronger!    It does teach the kids a lot, we have something going on every month as well, I think our klondike is January or February this year.. (I have to check the schedule on that!)

Nov 21, 2008 04:38 AM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

John, it has to be pretty cold for the drinks to freeze in the ice chest!  We really did have to defrost a coffee pot one year. Takes long enough to get it ready when it isnt freezing!

Nov 21, 2008 04:39 AM
Kara Casamassina
International Property Management Group, LLC - Aiken, SC
Boomers and beyond

OMG Rob!    I'm cold just thinking about it..brrrrr.        Have a great time - stay warm.

Nov 21, 2008 05:11 AM
Kara Casamassina
International Property Management Group, LLC - Aiken, SC
Boomers and beyond

find rocks so you can put them in the fire...and then use them to warm up your sleeping bags!!

Nov 21, 2008 10:10 AM
Carl Stars
Sutton Group About Town Realty - Burlington, ON

I believe the rocks are in his head Kara !! Any how credit and cudos to you .. good luck with that & dont forget your business cards , you never know who you will run in  too!!

Nov 21, 2008 11:21 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Robert - well, I have had a couple of near-death experiences!

Nov 21, 2008 09:44 PM
Christopher Hallmark
The People's Home Mortgage Corp. - Matawan, NJ

Watch out for those bears..ever see The Great Outdoors ;)

 

CH

Nov 21, 2008 11:10 PM
Debbie Summers
Charles Rutenberg Realty - New Smyrna Beach, FL

My idea of camping is staying in a 5 star hotel with a fireplace and sleeping with the widow open...  Just Kidding! Ok, maybe...

Nov 23, 2008 03:25 AM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

Kara, Rocks are not comfortable!  You just need the right sleeping bag to be warm!

Carl, If it doesnt kill you, it makes you stronger!

Jay, The challange is half the fun, isnt it?

Chris... No bears, it was too cold for them, they were hibernating!

Debbie, NOTHING like a 5 star hotel!  but sleeping in a tent makes you appreciate the finer things that much more!

As for the weekend, I woke up Sunday morning to 18 degree weather, ice in the tent. I have some photos I will try to get posted this week. I even took a picture of the temp in the car as we were leaving .. Was a Balmy 24 degrees as we left Sunday morning!

Nov 24, 2008 02:00 AM
Lisa Friedman
Alliance Realtors - Bedminster, NJ
Central New Jersey Real Estate

Well, my coldest camping experience so far was 48 degrees and that was borderline cold enough for me.  I THINK I could tolerate 40.  18 is amazing.  I do think it would be kind of fun to camp in the snow though - maybe go snowshoeing during the day and carry the gear.

Nov 24, 2008 07:17 AM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

http://activerain.com/blogsview/806048/Back-from-Camping-18-Degrees-with-a-lot-of-Photos-of-the-fun

thats the link to the actual trip, photos and all.

 

Nov 24, 2008 07:21 AM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

http://activerain.com/blogsview/806048/Back-from-Camping-18-Degrees-with-a-lot-of-Photos-of-the-fun

thats the link to the actual trip, photos and all.

 

Nov 24, 2008 07:21 AM
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