Latest to tent camp

tentrus · 08-11-2011, 04:10 PM

When (time wise) do you stop camping in tents during the year? I guess I should ask where you live too. Do you think camping in early October in a tent would be ok if you lived in NY? We are thinking about doing this but I don’t want to freeze!

wvbreamfisherman · 08-11-2011, 07:45 PM

Well, I've tent camped with Boy Scouts when the temp was in the high teens, but that was a while back. Nowadays I generally shut things down except for maybe a hunting trip or two when it consistently is below freezing. That's mainly because I love to paddle and that's way too cold without a wetsuit.

I usually end up with at least one or two hunting trips in late october/early November, and managed a weekend float trip last year on the first weekend of November (in Northern Ohio).

I guess it depends on your comfort level, and the sort of weather you expect to encounter.

Judy Ann · 08-11-2011, 08:12 PM

I'm in NC and with the exception of December and January I camp all year. I plan to head to the Florida Keys this January, so maybe year round!!! OK, July was too hot this year and I didn't take any time off. ;-(

steves · 08-11-2011, 08:29 PM

I would rather camp in the cold than the heat, over here in New England I tend to camp less in July and August my season starts Labor Day.

Grandpa · 08-11-2011, 09:08 PM

I use the tent until the snow gets deep enough for a cave. Uhhh, make that used to....not enjoying winter camping in the snow like I used to. But still use the tent in all months if there isn't snow.

IndianaHiker · 08-11-2011, 10:10 PM

I live in southern Indiana so for the most part snow is not an issue. I go year round have been out in weather as cold as below zero. Staying warm is really not that big of a problem with the right gear. I would rather be out when it is single digits than triple digits on the thermometer.

Lamebeaver · 08-14-2011, 09:37 PM

September is usually the cutoff for me (Colorado)

**CozInCowtown** · 08-14-2011, 09:51 PM

generally we stay at it till it gets up to 100+.

ponderosa · 08-14-2011, 11:16 PM

Before we had kids, we tent camped year round (eastern Idaho). We loved to do x-country ski trips in Yellowstone. We haven't tented in winter since we had kids; it's just hard to keep them warm/dry, and entertained when it gets dark so early. We get our winter fix now by renting yurts or old forest service cabins. We can still ski or snowshoe in, but have a cozy place for sleeping, cooking, and spending the dark hours.

switchback · 08-15-2011, 06:25 PM

If you have a 4 season tent you can pretty much go year around. How pleasant of an experience it will be pretty much depends upon how well you are geared up for the conditions and how tolerant you are of cold temps. Winter camping definitely has its advantages, no bugs, solitude, amazing scenery, did I mention solitude. Just be very careful of quickly changing conditions when you are camping at higher elevations.