Most families put the tent away in October and do not take it out again until April. That is a mistake, at least in Tennessee. Our winters are cold enough to be a real challenge and mild enough to be manageable, the trails are empty, the bugs are gone, and a campfire on a frosty night is about as good as camping gets. For a father and son, winter camping in Tennessee may be the most rewarding trip of the year.
It does take preparation. Here is how to do it safely and well.
What to expect
Middle Tennessee winters are milder than many people imagine, but nights still go below freezing. In Nashville, the average January low is about 30 degrees and the average high about 48, according to climate data reported by WKRN. December and February are only slightly warmer. On the Cumberland Plateau and in the mountains to the east, nights run colder, and snow and ice are more likely.
The biggest danger in a Tennessee winter is often not deep cold but cold combined with wet. A rainy 38 degree night can be more dangerous than a dry 20 degree one, because wet clothing and gear lose their warmth quickly.
The sleep system is everything
Most of the cold you feel at night comes from the ground, not the air. REI’s winter camping guide recommends using two sleeping pads with a combined insulation rating, called R-value, of at least 4, and a sleeping bag rated about 10 degrees below the coldest temperature you expect.
A few more tips from the same guide and from experience:
- Eat before bed. Your body makes heat as it digests.
- Warm up before you get in the bag. Jumping jacks or a brisk walk around camp help.
- Use a hot water bottle. Fill a hard plastic bottle with hot water, seal it tightly, and put it in the foot of the sleeping bag.
- Change into dry clothes for sleep. Never sleep in the clothes you sweated in.
- Wear a warm hat. A surprising amount of comfort comes from keeping your head warm.
Clothing: layers, and no cotton
Dress in layers you can add and remove: a moisture wicking base layer, an insulating middle layer of fleece, wool, or down, and a waterproof shell. The most important rule is to avoid cotton, which loses its insulating value when wet. Teach your son the old saying: cotton kills. It is a little dramatic, but he will remember it.
Bring extra socks and gloves. Keep a dry set sealed in a bag that does not get opened until bedtime.
Where to go
For a first winter trip, stay close to the car. A drive in campsite at a state park or a short walk to a shelter lets you bail out if something goes wrong. Montgomery Bell State Park, which we describe in our guide to a father-son camping trip near Nashville, is a good choice. Check with the park before you go, since some facilities and campgrounds reduce services in winter.
Once you have done a night or two close to the car, you can consider a winter backpacking trip on the Cumberland Plateau, following our guide to backpacking near Nashville.
Safety rules
- Check the forecast carefully, including wind chill and precipitation.
- Know the signs of hypothermia: shivering, clumsiness, confusion, and slurred speech. If your son starts shivering hard and cannot stop, get him warm and dry immediately, and head home if needed.
- Keep electronics warm. Cold drains batteries fast. Keep your phone in an inside pocket and bring spares.
- Have a bail out plan. Know the fastest way back to the car and a warm building.
- Never use a stove or heater inside a closed tent. Carbon monoxide can kill.
Why it is worth it
A boy who has slept through a freezing night in a tent, and woken to frost on the fly and a fire to rebuild, knows something about himself that he did not know before. He knows he can be cold and uncomfortable and still be fine. That knowledge is a kind of freedom.
It also makes for the best conversations. Long winter nights mean long hours by the fire. Bring a good book to read aloud, as we suggest in our piece on reading aloud to boys, and a thermos of hot chocolate. For the larger case for this kind of challenge, read our essay on why boys need difficult things.