Now’s the time for winter camping

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/02/2015 (4101 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Given all the griping about lousy snow conditions early this season, it’s nice to see sufficient white stuff on the ground in time for the peak period for winter camping.

The first two or three weeks of March are optimal, because you can enjoy 11 to 12 hours of daylight and milder overnight temperatures but little danger of early ice breakup on larger lakes and rivers.

Many people who are curious about winter camping say they’re put off by the logistics or worry they lack experience or gear. This is a legitimate concern, given the most important winter-camping skill — how to remain dry and therefore warm while engaging in sometimes strenuous activity — is anything but intuitive.

The best way to get a taste of winter camping is to go on an overnight trip with someone more experienced. But that isn’t always possible.

For the next best thing, reserve a wilderness cabin. Skiing or snowshoeing to a rustic shack offers a chance to put a few kilometres between yourself and other people and commune with nature without the need to erect a four-season tent or spend most of your mental energy avoiding getting wet.

At this stage of the winter, you won’t be able to snag weekend cabin access in the four Manitoba parks that maintain wilderness cabins. But if you can get away mid-week, consider the following options:

 

Cairns Cabin

Where: Riding Mountain National Park

What it involves: A 28.8-kilometre (return) ski trip along the usually unmaintained, there-and-back Ochre River trail to Cairns Cabin, which has a wood stove, sleeping platforms and an outdoor firepit. There’s no running water; pack it in or filter or boil water from a nearby stream.

Cost: $73.50 per night. Minimum of three people, maximum of 10. Park entry fees of $7.80 per person also apply.

Availability: Weekends in March are booked up, but weekdays are available. Call the park office at 204-848-7275.

How to get there: The trailhead is within the park on Highway 10, 49 kilometres north of Wasagaming.

 

James Lake Cabin

Where: Turtle Mountain Provincial Park

What it involves: A 15-kilometre ski along the James Lake trail. The cabin is located roughly halfway along the loop trail.

Cost: One Manitoba park admission fee per vehicle ($12 for three days or $40 for the year).

Availability: Weekends in March are toast, but most weekdays are available. Call Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship’s Boissevain office at 204-534-7204.

How to get there: The trailhead is located at the Adam Lake recreation area, west of Highway 10 and 20 kilometres south of Boissevain.

 

Jackfish Cabin

Where: Spruce Woods Provincial Park

What it involves: A 42-kilometre (return) trek along the Epinette/Newfoundland Creek trail system.

Cost: One Manitoba park admission fee per vehicle ($12 for three days or $40 for the year).

Availability: Weekend stays are usually booked up months in advance. For weekday availability, call Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship’s Carberry office at 204-834-8800.

How to get there: The trailhead is on the east side of Highway 5, 21 kilometres south of the Trans-Canada Highway.

 

Mantario Cabin

Where: Whiteshell Provincial Park

What it involves: A 40-kilometre (return) ski along lakes and portages to the Mantario Wilderness Education Centre’s Mantario Cabin, which sleeps 16. Rentals are open to skiers who’ve paid a previous visit to the centre, either in the summer or winter, under an organized program run by Nature Manitoba. An orientation is required to familiarize visitors with some of the equipment.

Cost: $35 per person, per night, plus park admission fees.

Availability: Provided you’ve made the prerequisite prior visit, much of March is open. Call Nature Manitoba at 204-939-9029 or visit naturemanitoba.ca.

How to get there: The least onerous way to ski to the cabin is from Big Whiteshell Lake, off PR 309. The use of lakes and portages cuts the distance off the Mantario Trail hiking route by roughly one third.

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca