Hot Tent Woodstove Set-up: Solo Hot Tent Trip, Part 2, Mid Feb, 2016

Part 2 of my first solo hot tent trip of 2016. I show how I set up the woodstove with using skids, heat shields, and pipe bipod, and discuss some tent stove safety tips. With the slush layer on the lake ice still very deep, I show the easy way to gather water by kicking a hole into the slush layer.
Link to Part 1 in this series: • Toboggan Haul-in and W...
Link to previous campsite scouting trip video: • Successful Snowshoe Sc...
One of my most frequent questions is about the cook pot sets I use, so here is the info from this video:
Evernew Titanium 1.9 L deep pot.
Evernew 1.4L Titanium deep pot.
Primus LiTech 900 ml anodized aluminum.
All three above I drilled and pop riveted an offset tab, and installed a wire bail handle.
Mors pot, 1.8L, anodized aluminum

[@MichiganHiker]

The sunset and the deep blue sky with the trees silhouetted, beautiful! You could hear the snow crunching under your boots. Fantastic!

[@Wintertrekker]

+Lawrence DiVizio Thanks Lawrence! The sound of the snow under the boots changes as it gets colder. I really miss the super cold nights we used to get years ago. I did get down to -30C by early next morning, so that was really nice to hear the trees cracking in the cold as the woodstove fired up in the morning!

[@hellbent1567]

Thanks for taking us along :) The peace & quiet must be awesome!

[@Wintertrekker]

+Iniquity Thanks Iniquity! Yes that peace and quiet is one of the main reasons I go. If the wind is howling outside, and falling snow is blowing around, its so so nice to be inside the hot tent in the stillness, beeswax candle glowing, wood stove cranking the heat, and having completely dry clothes, and not being chased around by smoke from an open fire. Its so nice!

[@seoulkidd1]

+Wintertrekker what type of tent is that and size?

[@Wintertrekker]

seoulkidd1 Hi Seoulkidd1! That tent is made by Snowtrekker tents, and is an older model, 8x9 feet "expedition" with the steep side walls. It is a 2-man, so its luxuriously big for solo. Check out Snowtrekker Tents website for the latest models: www.snowtrekkertents.com/

[@michaelharris1486]

That is such a joy to first light the fire you look out and you see that smoke, pure joy. Thanks again for the video. Have to learn to get those heat shields.

[@Wintertrekker]

+Michael Harris Thanks again Michael! I always look at the top of the pipe when I light the stove! Its a ritual. I am also amazed at how fast it draws with no smoke belching out the door. The birch bark plus spruce twig combo helps to get that roaring blaze drawing very fast.

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

Enjoyed the two part series. Always good to tag along on your trips with you

[@Wintertrekker]

+Far North Bushcraft And Survival Thanks Lonnie! I am behind on watching your adventures, I need to catch up on what you have been up to, and to learn new things from you!

[@jimhanson7476]

Hi Wintertrekker , thx for sharing. The sound of the snow when you walk tells me how cold it is there . Great two videos. Thx Jim

[@Wintertrekker]

+jim hanson Thanks Jim! The colder it gets at night, the better I like it! Freezes up the slush on the lake!

[@KevinDufflev]

Great vid tks. My area is not good this year. Snow almost gone . Way to wet etc. I don't think I'll even get a trip in this winter. You know your set up will work but yes, it is so nice to see the first smoke and know hot coffee is happening soon. tks for all the work and sharing.

[@Wintertrekker]

+KevinDufflev Thanks Kevin! With the wetness, its good to move to hammock camping. One of these days I may get into those hammock hot tents. I always doubt myself (bad habit of mine), so its a relief and a thrill to see the stove working so well. I never get tired of fussing with the woodstove to get it just right!

[@wawhiker]

You are capturing some beautiful sunsets. Another well made camp. Lots of work there. Convenience (using a lighter to light your stove) at the end of a long day can easily be forgiven. Enjoyed visiting your camp Hoop, thanks for bringing us along.

[@Wintertrekker]

+Waw Hiker Thanks again WH! Glad to have my fellow hot tenters along! I need to make some ferro rod fires to redeem myself! :o)

[@Naughtz]

Not sure what I liked better that first sip of Hot coffee or the smoke bellowing from chimney!! Magical. Nothing wrong with a lighter when you are tired at the end of the day either. Winter camping isn't for the faint of heart it's good hard work that's for sure. I eat like a horse as well after walking around in the snow all day. Can't wait to see what you made for dinner in the coming video!!!

[@Wintertrekker]

+Scott Matthews Thanks Scott! I clipped out the dinner scene just to keep the video time down. But I can add it in later. I always look for that first draw to see how fast it draws. That gives me a clue to how well the stove is set up. If it draws instantaneously with a good fire lay, its good to go! That first hot drink is a relief, because you know it can get -40 or colder, and all will be well.

[@ADKHillyMan]

I think winter camping is for folks who enjoy working! My own perspective is that I enjoy both the intellectual and physical aspect of winter camping (cold camping for me)- the deliberate seriousness of every decision, the triage approach of what needs to be done next, the attention that one needs to give to environmental conditions as well as being fully aware of how our own bodies are performing (heat, perspiration, fatigue, hydration), and most of all the beautiful scenery of daybreak and evening sunsets. You mentioned in past videos about being a teacher (professor?). I hope that you are able, at some point, to pass on your skills to your students first-hand so that they will be able to experience the same joy in winter camping as you do.

[@Wintertrekker]

+ADK.HillyMan Thanks ADKHM for those great thoughts based on experience! Solo especially requires the attention to detail, being cautious and deliberate, and being adaptable. No one there to help you or get you out of trouble but yourself. I am not a formal teacher or professor, but I do like to teach informally, and in winter camping workshops and exhibitions. This new series in these two videos so far, I am making an attempt to display my system for camp set up, so that its available to beginners. Not THE way, just my way of doing things.

[@RandomButtonPusher]

Lots of winter lake events canceled in these parts because of soft ice conditions. But that snow-slush combo you encountered sure beats having to hand drill through a foot or more of ice to get lake water. With all those boughs, it looked like hot-tent heaven.

[@Wintertrekker]

+Random Button Pusher Thanks RBP! The water gathering is easy with the slush layer. But it spoils the ice travel for sure. The boughs really make the experience for me, floating on top of a packed snow floor. Its very aromatic, and very functional, as any snow off clothing, and all spilled water from pouring the pots just trickles away. I never take the privilege of boughs for granted, way back in the bush here.

[@homerboy2u]

I have to say Camping in the Snow and with temperatures that low , has to be real hard work. All the preparations just to set up camp is incredible. Tha fatigue, the sweating and low temperatures can take a beat on any one who camps like you do. The surroundings are amazing and the landscape, with the snow, is breath taking. However every time I see your videos. You camp all alone, this works best for you?. Oh and by the way, using a lighter at the end of the day is not cheating as a bush craft camper. You deserve every little perk you can get your way. Congratulations from Piedras Negras, Mexico.

[@Wintertrekker]

+Homero Jimenez Thanks again Homero! My clothing system is designed for venting steam and staying reasonably dry all day. I shot some video of my clothing system on this trip, which I plan to upload later as a stand-alone clothing discussion. Cooking on the stove at night also forces one to spend quiet time in the heat of the tent, and all my clothing dries just by wearing it, except the boot liners which I hang to dry and insert a dry pair. The hot tent makes everything really practical for living in deep cold indefinitely. I do camp with buddies sometimes, but I am a natural solo trekker, so although its more work, solo is worth it for me (although its painful now as I get older!). Doing advanced scouts to do advanced camp prep is well worth the time also. Hello to Piedras Negras, Mexico! Greetings from the Boreal Forest in northwestern Ontario, Canada!

[@PumpkinVillage]

Absolutely fantastic. Man and nature. Hard to beat that any day. Take care, Al

[@Wintertrekker]

+Pumpkin Village Maple Thanks Al! In the city at work, its what I think of all the time!

[@jsrcamper]

Thanks for taking the time to video your adventures.

[@Wintertrekker]

+jsrcamper Thanks JSRC!

[@Boutchers]

What at blast to be sourounded by so much beauty. Winter this years in Quebec near Montréal is weird. One day -25 c and the next + 10 c. I did'nt get out yet because of the bad weather we have. Anyway...nice one again my friend, i'm glad that you have some good time off :)

[@Wintertrekker]

+Sebastien Boucher Thanks Sebastien! We have had that same weird weather. One day -20, the next day rain. This winter will be a short one, unfortunately. Oh well, get the canoe gear ready!

[@Barbarossa4U]

Beautiful sunset! perfect way to end the day

[@Wintertrekker]

+Barbarossa4U Thanks B4U! I really like those calm starry nights where it gets nice and cold to make better lake ice. All is well with the hot tent no matter how cold it gets.

[@steinwaygoat]

Boy I always learn a lot each vid. Thanks. Jules

[@Wintertrekker]

+steinwaygoat Thanks again Jules!

[@nwomoe6713]

Northwestern ontario boy here myself..just got a new stove and tent! Was -1C this morning ! Bring on winter !

[@maplehouseknives]

Efficiency, meticulous..... it's always a pleasure watching one of your videos. Thanks for sharing! Greetings from Germany!

[@Wintertrekker]

+Maplehouse Knives and Bushcraft Thanks MHK&B! Greetings from the Boreal Forest in northwestern Ontario, Canada!

[@ajtaylor560]

Gorgeous shots of the sunset and the lake.. Love your trips. Great adventures.

[@Wintertrekker]

+A J Taylor Thanks again AJT!

[@ThePastorPiper]

I really enjoyed watching this. It looks like you have a blast during the winter

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks again TW! Its easy to stay pumped out there, if there is wood to collect and cache for next time, and if there are chains of lakes to explore on skis and snowshoes, or if the ice fishing is good. So much to do to keep active, its never boring. Also I can sleep in, take my time, eat well, relax, read a book, etc. With the stove heat its wonderful.

[@phrayzar]

Great to see you hot tenting again. Loved it. Frazer.

[@Wintertrekker]

+phrayzar Thanks Frazer! Its good to be back out there!

[@johnnyyukon7887]

Thanks Hoop, a great vid. I can smell the smoke, and taste that first coffee. Awesome!

[@Wintertrekker]

+Johnny Yukon Thanks JY! Wood smoke and coffee, and aromatic black spruce boughs!

[@Erated78]

Great video as always. You are very good at explaining camp set ups and things you see in nature as well. You are very well organized and your vids get me thinking about a spring trip to the Timmins area with my son. Watching your videos always helps me get organized for that trip and they remind me and encourage us to enjoy nature. I loved the sunset shots too, beauty! Thank you, Cheers.

[@Wintertrekker]

+Erated78 Thanks for those kind words Erated78!

[@mikemorton0]

enjoy your videos as always, thank you for taking the time to film your adventures, I know it can be a real pain during but always worth it after!

[@Wintertrekker]

+Mike Morton Thanks Mike! It takes extra time, but I enjoy the filming, because it allows me to share the experience on screen. :o)

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

Fantastic...thanks for taking us along!

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks GH!

[@thenextpoetician6328]

Lars from Survival Russia gave a shout out. Cool channel.

[@dadgad68]

Great job W.T. Awesome footage. Many thanks as always. Take care.

[@Wintertrekker]

+dadgad68 Thanks again Dadgad68!

[@paganoutdoors3193]

Great as always, watching you do hot tenting etc inspires, even if to just walk in my local woods, dreaming of one day being able to do hot tenting, cheers for that , craig

[@Wintertrekker]

+Craig Twiner Thanks Craig! Wherever you live, just get out there. There are a few outfitters around who are getting into hot tent rentals and outfitting trips for winter "vacations". Might be a good option to get into it without a gear purchase, just to test out some gear and get some experience. For a fully outfitted and guided hot tent trip where you just show up with some basic gear and they supply everything else, plus skills training, check out Lure of the North, lureofthenorth.com/ Red Lake Outfitters also has tents and stoves for rental, redlakeoutfitters.com/

[@paganoutdoors3193]

+Wintertrekker thanks for info, if or hopefully when I get to come over to your side of the pond I will check them out, the use of heavy canvas tents is getting popular again over here, and people are using them with wood stoves, most times of year, so there is a option but it looks better for when there's some good snow around, cheers craig

[@wyopobo5339]

Great videos. Pt 1 & Pt 2. you are lucky to have that much snow...

[@Wintertrekker]

+Wyomin' Po Boy Thanks WPB! It was good, but its melting very fast. Warmest and shortest winter on record here. Scary!

[@kevinbungles]

Superb, only just found your channel but I really do like your technique of delivery. The voice is clear and smooth. Looking forward to me vids

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks Kevin! I have not produced a video series lately, but I have several series in the catalogue. Hope you enjoy them! :o)

[@belgianoutdoors5829]

Love these videos man, i'm always looking forward to the next part! All the best from belgium! -Anton

[@Wintertrekker]

+BelgianOutdoors Thanks Anton! Greetings from the boreal forest of northwestern Ontario, Canada!

[@brianspencer4220]

Thanks for bringing me along Brian nearing 76

[@Wintertrekker]

+Brian Spencer Good to have you along Brian!

[@RaymondLesher]

That was a ton of water on top of the ice. Amazing!!

[@Wintertrekker]

+Raymond Lesher Thanks Raymond! Its amazing the ice can support it and not melt down. Once that snow get settled by a rain, or by wind, or melt and freeze, then the insulation value will decrease, and that slush can start to freeze up, and then the traveling season is good!

[@cookingfun6245]

great setup. love your passion to have fun outdoors. thanks for documenting/sharing

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks CF!

[@kennethworde862]

kudos you are the 1st guy I have seen use the reflectors correctly! means much less wood/time

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks Kenneth! The heat shields also are essential for safety in those tight quarters where the canvas is close to the stove.

[@kennethworde862]

Sir I say this truly as I am a 30yr military vet, who has more than than the T-shirt! Back in the day we burned all fuels, yes gas, I still do, or lp in my shit, ytoubers don't ACTUALLY know how much it takes to live, and FIGHT/WIN in WINTER, ie Finn's vs Russian, it's brutal, a thing like TV is critical! Just check how many people show their blanket with no coverage! Dead in a couple days! Before they could eat their carry food, check out FR, vs RS, on retreat from Mosscow, Winter kills, and I have been everwere in winter, you cannot make a mistake it kills, As I said kudos to you!!! First I have even seen a reflection used, so much B's out there, just a note Empire Canvas products are good! Good vids I sub!

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks again Kenneth, and thanks for the sub! ( I watched a documentary of the Winter War of the Finns vs Soviets. Wow that was enlightening. Finns were very smart, very tough, very brave heroes. And man did they ever excel in winter! Still do. We never learned about that in school when I was a kid).

[@TrumpDesantis-zm3kg]

Always worth watching your vids

[@Wintertrekker]

+Mario Cohenno Thank you Mario!

[@SwampDonkey530]

WOW, no wonder you didn't go fishing, that ice is gross! That tent set-up of yours is perfect, easy to heat, lots of room, well thought out. Hell, i could spend the winter there, prolly do me the world of good, get away from the damn rat race! Nice video Win-Trek

[@Wintertrekker]

+SwampDonkey530 Thanks again SD530! I have been out for a week base camping in that rig several times, and I could stay 2-3 weeks easy. The day job gets in the way....and hockey. I play alot of hockey and so its tough to fit it all in! Winter is way too short. 6 months of deep freeze would suit me fine. I would need an extra long extension on the auger for a 6 month winter!

[@woodsmanadventuretv2604]

I love hot tent and a good working wood stove. Thanks the tips. I think i will build a tent wood stove.

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks WA-TV! Best wishes for making your own gear! Getting out in winter with a tent and woodstove is very rewarding.

[@dseednorwayn47]

another great video, wow some real nice scenery there

[@Wintertrekker]

+dseed norway Thanks again DN! I am lucky to live in the south of the Boreal Forest here. I wish I lived farther north to have longer winters and bigger lakes!

[@paparomesoutdoors711]

enjoyed this video man great work

[@rickgreen9936]

Wow, just wow. Thank you!

[@Wintertrekker]

+Rick Green Thanks Rick!

[@Joe_Sant]

I think how hard you work to get out in the wilderness no Bushcraft folk would mind you using a lighter. Looks another amazing camping spot. Thanks for sharing the trip. Atb SJB...

[@Wintertrekker]

+Stokie Joe Bushcraft Thanks Stokie Joe! The site worked out very well, and I have enough wood cached for an easy going return trip. I figure most people watching have seen many videos of ferro rod use! :-) I always have one on me on a lanyard so I would never loose it. I never depend on a lighter in winter, its only a convenience.

[@TheWoodedBeardsman]

Wow that slush is terrible. We had a about the same on our trip but not nearly as remote! Nice trip! btw I use a lighter 90% of the time with no shame!

[@Wintertrekker]

+The Wooded Beardsman Thanks WB! I won't tell anyone you use a shameful lighter! ;-)

[@TheWoodedBeardsman]

Wintertrekker Yeah, between you and me :) lol Looking forward to your next adventure!

[@Rikkiziggy70]

As my teenage daughter would say, "I'm jelly(jealous) of the good time you're having". Man what I wouldn't give to be doing that right now. Barely any snow here this year(NE PA). Well, there's always next winter. At least I can still watch your vids. Thanks for the vids. Catcha later.Rikki

[@Wintertrekker]

+Rikkiziggy70 Thanks Rikki! We finally did get a "real" winter", but our meltdown started today with +10C (50F), and forecast rain and high daytime temps from here on in. One of our shortest winters on record.

[@MattVanZeeland]

What end of season maintenance do you usually do on your Kni Co stoves? Any advice of a new Kni Co stove owner?

[@_dave4460]

didn’t know sealtest made camping stools... nice repurpose, i’m sure it holds some necessary things too

[@Taromovies]

Great, a heated tent in a crystal clear night, what else do you need:-) thanks again for sharing!!! Taro

[@Wintertrekker]

+Taromovies Swiss Bushcraft & Survival Thanks as always Taro! It got down to -30C that night, and it was so nice. Hardly noticed. I let the stove go out anyways when I sleep (pine and spruce only burn for an hour, then it gets cold). But my sleeping system keeps me nice and warm, and in the morning at -30, I fire up the stove and in minutes the tent is heated again. So nice!

[@Taromovies]

+Wintertrekker Thanks for your response, minus 30C is cold i know and it needs experience, i also now that filming under those conditions in quite a effort, thanks for that!!! take care, Taro

[@JustinMcKinneyhiker]

thanks for the vid, what a great place to be !!! Cheers !!!

[@Wintertrekker]

+Justin McKinney Thanks Justin! It is a great place to be for sure! Back in the conifer forest on a lake, its the place to be for me in winter!

[@mmrtactical7764]

Great vid as always WT. I really need to invest in a hot tent...

[@Wintertrekker]

+MMR Tactical Thanks MMRT! Its a steep investment to start with tent and stove, maybe a tent fly for the rainy weather (which I don't have for it yet), but when you are out there year after year with the gear that lasts, to me it was worth the investment.

[@customknife1]

Hoop is the bomb.

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks Richard!

[@LarryHyett]

Hi Hoop. I bought the small Kni-Co from Snowtrekker last year. I've read in several places that sand or a false bottom should be used. I wondered if you do one of these and if so is there one that's better than the other.Thanks for all your great videos. You're such a great resource! I hear you're going to be at the Winter Camping Symposium this year. I'm hoping to make it and hear from you. Regards, Larry

[@Rossjordan]

Nice Video!

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks Ross!

[@canesser1]

Simply awesome place, awesome camp and awesome weather! First camp of the season!? Maybe the last the way the weather is supposed to change this weekend :-/ +10C on Sunday!? Winter is too short this year.

[@Wintertrekker]

+Canesser Thanks C! I just lived that +10C! I was on a second 3-day camp to that same spot and came out today in the soggy snow. The meltdown has started, sad to say, with spring temps and rain in the forecast. Pity, because the lakes were just now fantastic with the slush frozen over on a hard cap, no spider holes, all fantastic traveling crust. No sooner did we get the slush crusted over when now its going to collapse fast. :o(

[@canesser1]

+Wintertrekker Well said, brother! Painfully but well said. Don't like El Nino years!

[@rodney12310]

Great set up there buddy!

[@Wintertrekker]

+rodney newbury Thanks as always Rodney!

[@mikegarrison1218]

Another great little series Hoop...any ice fishing on the lake coming up? Lakers or Pickerel in that lake?

[@Wintertrekker]

+Novacraft Thanks NC! Not on that trip, since the lake was entirely covered in deep slush, and I did not bring my high top wellies! Its also just a pike lake, which is why "no one" but us strange winter campers go there. I like eating pike in the winter. I hope to return when the slush is consolidated and do some pike fishing. El Nino is bad this year, and I may not get back to my favourite lake trout lake before the ice is no good. The ice is not good even now, it never froze up well and then got covered in too deep of snow.

[@Sammy_316]

So peaceful there. I would love to be out there with a telescope, it would be amazing. Great video, thanks!

[@Wintertrekker]

+Sam L. Thanks Sam! That area gets some good night sky views.

[@chiefamylee]

Nifty - wish I was there!

[@Wintertrekker]

+chiefamylee Thanks Chiefamylee!

[@RS.Outdoors]

Great film, really enjoyed it. Subbed.

[@Wintertrekker]

+Renegade Scot Thanks RS, and thanks for the sub! :o)

[@wellsgb1957]

Thanks for posting!

[@Wintertrekker]

+Andy Wells Thanks again Andy!

[@NLGhostWolf]

well done my friend. I'm in the market for a hot-tent/wall-tent now. I'm looking for a small one that I can use on my kayaking adventures.

[@Wintertrekker]

+NLGhostWolf Thanks NLGW! Check out the Snowtrekker Minimalist, 7x8. I bought one this winter, but have not yet got it out on a trip. I need a smaller stove which is on order.

[@NLGhostWolf]

Nice looking little tent. I just love the wood stoves in the wall tents. My grandfather had an 8x10 wall tent that we use to use moose hunting and salmon fishing. It was nice on the rainy days to go back to the tent, fire-up the stove and dry out our gear for the next outing. Your videos take me back to my youth. Thanks for sharing.

[@azxc1391]

Your job is wonderful and beautiful

[@Wintertrekker]

Thank you! :-)

[@fustratedfisher]

great video hoop,, I would love to be up there with ya... but I am preparing for my trip to Canada this ay, Going for ten days this year last year was 13 days,, anyway I am sure it will be a great trip as always rain or shine ,and even black flies I know I will have a great time in the bush,, Oh and I should have great fishing this time as I will be there not that far from ice out,, so hopefully I will have trout for dinner a few nights,, Take care from Shane here in Chelsea, Maine

[@Wintertrekker]

+Shane Aubuchon Hey Shane, the meltdown has started here already (El Nino year, its bad!). Black flies will be waiting for you! :o) Bring your bug dope, apply to face and neck, long sleeves, wear a hat, and all is good!

[@stevenfoleary]

Interested to hear your thoughts on backpacking wood stove baffles, if you care to share? Please. ~stu

[@backcountryagenda5507]

I use a backpacking stove for a hot tent. The stove weighs about a pound.

[@paulbacallo4759]

Nice set up!!

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks Paul!

[@t.w.milburn8264]

'mornin, Hoop; Dang You're liv'n large my friend. Glad we set a spell & had that 1st. cup with ya. Never tire of following along. Question ? a few vid's back you mentioned your snow goggles ? any way you could provide a link 2 where ever you found these ? Thanks in advance, Friend. Have a safe journey & Keep Us Posted. ATB Terry God Bless

[@Wintertrekker]

+T.W. Milburn (skillet210) Thanks again Terry! Those Rx sunglasses are an old pair of "glacier glasses" with the leather side shields. They are flat enough to take an Rx lens. The modern wrap-arounds are too curved for an Rx. The brand is Aiguilla, made in France, and I bought them at MEC. Unfortunately MEC does not carry them any more, and I cannot find the brand online. However there are glaciers glasses being made out there. A search online will find several makes and models. The Aiguillas fit me perfect and have adjustable temples. Its hard to find the adjustable temple models.

[@t.w.milburn8264]

Wintertrekker Thanks 4 the info, Hoop, WIll git a goin & C what I kin find !

[@jasonheiser9770]

what stove is that and where can I get one???

[@kanukster]

Great place to do some long exposer night sky photography Hoop! hint, hint...

[@Wintertrekker]

+kanukster Good idea Knukster! But I have a crappy little point and shoot. I would need my old DLSR to do that photography justice, but I cannot handle all that camera gear, and all the battery hassles in the cold! :o)

[@angrybuck1]

just beautiful ! thanks:)

[@Wintertrekker]

+buck009 Thanks Buck009!

[@Hockeyfan9884]

Good Setup. Good Video.

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks Steve!

[@seandognevius4873]

nice vids 1 and 2 thanks for sharing!

[@Wintertrekker]

+seandog nevius Thanks SN!

[@davidpedder9048]

Looks nice !!! would it not be safer to have rocks under the stove

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks David! No rocks needed. There is a welding cloth heat shield suspended underneath the stove. Snowtrekker sells it as an accessory for their stoves. That works remarkably well and there is no melt down underneath the stove. The stove still throws some heat down and to the sides, so sometimes after a day or two I add some snow around the stove perimeter onto the drying out spruce boughs to keep them moist. The floor of the tent stays quite humid and cold, except for the immediate perimeter of the stove. Also where I go in mid winter, no rocks are available - the snow may be 3 feet deep! :o)

[@OldSchoolDo]

great video ! Cheers

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks Timo BH Cyklar!

[@Haphagurd]

Hoop can you tell me about your stove? I am looking at getting one for hot tenting. The tent I am planning on getting is a teepee style nylon very light. But the stove weight is a concern as the knico small packer is still 12LBS. I shopped light folding style titanium stoves but they are $400 or more. Do you regret at all the weight and pack size of your stove? What is your advice for me on this if you could please let me know. Your videos inspired me to start winter camping years ago and I appreciate and value your wisdom. Thanks!!!!

[@KevinOutdoors]

Dude, your stove is starting to look a bit 'used'! I am sure yours gets more use than most. Nice video!

[@Wintertrekker]

+Kevin Outdoors Thanks KO! I neglected it over the years. It needs to be painted with stove paint, and I forgot to oil the insides these past two summers for storage. But its 22 gauge, so the rust is just surficial (I hope!). It has a false bottom too, so the bottom is not going to burn out anytime soon. Remind me this spring to paint and oil my stove!

[@fustratedfisher]

Meant totype going up in May the 8th to the 19th head home on the 20th .

[@Wintertrekker]

+Shane Aubuchon It "should" be ice free, but call ahead just in case, and monitor the ice out using MODIS imagery. I say "should", because last winter the northern lakes still had ice at that time. The forecast is for an early spring. NOTE: Around here in this fisheries zone, walleye and lake trout seasons are closed at that time. Are you going for brookies? Further north the lake trout is open Jan 1 through to Sept. Check the fish regs to be sure.

[@gspriggs]

Is that a kni-co stove?

[@mudtoa]

Nice vid, I would like see how you attach your bail tabs and bails? Thanks

[@Wintertrekker]

+Mudtoa Outdoors Thanks MO! On a canoeing discussion forum, I posted a 2-part photo series on my first install. Part 1 here: www.myccr.com/phpbbforum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=38215. Part 2 here: www.myccr.com/phpbbforum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=38216&start=0

[@ericvilleneuve8144]

Where did you purchase the evernew products ? Did you buy them in canada

[@neohubris]

Do you put sand on the bottom of the kni-co stove?

[@RobFarrowATV]

Ice thickness is about half of what it usually is! Lots of slush! How much does your sled weigh when loaded, can't remember if you mentioned it? Nice setup!

[@Wintertrekker]

+Rob Farrow Thanks again Rob! I never drilled a hole this winter yet - got all my liquid drinking water from slush. never did any fishing sad to say, but I guessed based on early winter temps, and the snow load and slush fest, that the ice is about half, like what you say. I have never weighed my sled and don't know what it weighs. Its not as "big" as it looks, because nothing is compression packed like gear in a backpack. Its all loose in duffles, and there is a milk crate and the woodstove with alot of air spaces around. The top Black River Sled Bag floats on top uncompressed. However a solo hot tent load is is very heavy, and its at the limit of what I can haul. I am guessing about 100 pounds or so. On steep hills, I have to do two trips.

[@RobFarrowATV]

+Wintertrekker Thanks!

[@mikegarrison1218]

Yes we hardly have snow further south, bit of a storm yesterday. Does anyone use the tent like ice huts for a winter hot tent if you installed a stove jack? They fold up nice and the price is right, just wonder what your thoughts are . Looks like an early spring can't wait to get back in the canoe. Thanks

[@Wintertrekker]

+Novacraft Thanks NC! Our winter here is fading fast. Not sure if I will get back out before the meltdown and rain. I have seen in the interweb, people modifying ice hut shelters with a stove jack for hot tenting. It would need to have roof vents installed as well, if not already. They are very heavy, so its only a short man haul kit, or hauling via snowmobile.

[@phorisc]

Got a question Hoop, is there a reason you don't just melt snow? does it just take longer to boil so you get the lake water?

[@Wintertrekker]

+Live The Adventure Hi LTA! Yes, I will go for liquid lake or river water every time. Its way faster to boil, and it tastes better IMO, because it has many dissolved minerals. Melted snow sometimes scorches and has an acid flavour (I think its carbonic acid formed by the CO2?). I only melt snow when absolutely necessary. If I have to melt snow, I first melt a small quantity in the pot to make water and get it very hot, then add snow to it and it seems to melt faster that way.

[@phorisc]

+Wintertrekker oh nice. Makes sense. I need to try that method boil small amount then add snow. Thanks for sharing seeya

[@hobbexp]

good to see, you use lighters, really nice stove you have,

[@Wintertrekker]

+hobbexp Thanks Fredde! Ya the lighter got me negative points from the "bushcraft police"! ;-) The stove has been really good to me. I let it rust, I should paint it, but its 22 guage and seems to keep going without any problems. Maybe I will paint it after this winter....

[@hobbexp]

its good the bushcraft police dont know, i use matches a lot, im a little curious about your sleigh, i have never use one, i see you have a soft one? ( it can bend )

[@Wintertrekker]

hobbexp Yes I see you make the "one stick fire" quite often! ;-) I made my toboggan out of UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene). UHMWPE is very slippery on snow, and is soft, yet very tough. Similar to HDPE, but its supposed to be stronger in the cold. But more expensive than HDPE. The sheets come in english measures over here. I cut it from a 10 foot sheet, 16 inches wide, and its 1/4 inch thick stock, so its very strong, and takes a counter sunk screw head. The material specs say it will not crack in the cold. It can be hauled over a log without any risk of cracking. Its flexible and can be rolled to pack in a car trunk.

[@hobbexp]

thanks, if i think i need one i make my own next winter, ahahah one stick fire, that was a good one :)

[@Naughtz]

Hoop I tried to look at your bipod setup for stove pipe. Do you use wire around the two poles to hold them together or do you go around the pipe as well?! Hard to see from far away. Setting up tomorrow for test run of new tent. Thanks

[@Wintertrekker]

Hi Scott! The wire I use is originally about 6-8 feet or so (I never measured it). It gets shorter with use as permanent kinks and bends form in it, so longer is better when cutting the wire originally. It has two wooden dowel handles at each end. I go around the bipod poles several times first to secure them. Deep snow helps to anchor the ends, and then I bank up snow around the bases with shovel, and the snow will sinter and form a strong base so they are not likely to move. Then I wrap once loosely around the pipe. Gravity basically holds it there, so one loose wrap is all that is needed. Its essential to make the wrap loose, in case the tent/pipe is shaken with intense wind, or a snow bomb from a tree above, or a big branch breaks off and comes down on the tent or pipe and shakes it The pipe needs to slip back and forth in such an event, so that's why its a loose wire wrap. If its wired tight to the bipod, it can pull apart anywhere at the loosest joint. If that joint is inside the tent, that could cause a catastrophic pipe separation with red hot gasses filling the tent instantly. Not good! :o) The way my pipe comes up first vertical from the stove, then into an elbow which I now make sure is in the stove jack hole, means a pipe separation is unlikely inside. If it happened, it would likely be outside on the 4 pipe sections that are straight. But at the elbow would be bad. Its one of the reasons I try and tuck inside the bush out of the wind, so the tent won't shake in the wind. I let my stove go out, stone cold out, at night when I sleep, so I don't have to worry about a pipe separation as I sleep

[@bendacanay7717]

why did you put your boot in the water before you drink it?

[@Wintertrekker]

Hi Ben. I needed to stomp through the frozen slush crust layer, to allow the liquid water in the slush layer, perched on top of the ice, to be able to flow upwards. I could have also cleared the top snow, and chopped through the upper slush crust layer with my axe. But the boot does the job easily and faster. Boots are clean, just used in the bush on snow anyway, and I am boiling the water before drinking.

[@indigodragon7129]

Could you take a huge copper pipe drill holes in one side of it roll up carbon felt stuff it in the pipe sweat caps onto pipe make a stand fill it with alcohol and use it has an insert for an alternative way to heat the stove?

[@Wintertrekker]

In theory I think that would work. But the bulk and weight of the pipe, plus hauling all that alcohol, would be too much for man-hauling a sled. The wood supply where I go is there for the using, but it does of course take time and alot of work to gather and cut it. But wood harvest and cutting and splitting is one of the reasons I go - its satisfying work, and to roast by the stove and feed wood into it, is just wonderful.

[@bluejeans8001]

Great vid and thanks for all of your other informative videos. Have you set up the tent and stove in deep snow, in 2 or more feet? Thanks

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks Bill! Yes, I have set up hot tents in snows as deep as almost 4 feet. Our forest snow here is deep and soft, and not wind packed like it is in the open alpine. First requirement here is to thoroughly pack down a pad with snowshoes. The floor will sinter and harden. We still have to line the floor with balsam and black spruce boughs to form a lattice work of support so that we don't post hole the floor. Without boughs, people dig a well for the stove and entrance area, then make a snow bench behind for sitting and sleeping on, and run a support log across the edge of the bench to prevent it from crumbling. I prefer the flat floor and bough design. But for big wall tents with several people, the stove and entrance well provides a good stand up place and a wide bench to sit on facing the woodstove.

[@StamNorth71]

And another question, your titanium pots do you know the brand or where to buy them. I am from Sweden, so I wonder if it's available in Sweden. Thanks again for the education how to be in the outdoors./ Stamnorth

[@Wintertrekker]

Hi Matz! In this video, the Ti pots I use are: Evernew Ti 1.9L "deep"; Evernew Ti 1.4L "deep", and Primus LiTech 900ml anodized aluminum. I drilled then, pop riveted on an offset tab (bent in two 90 degree angles) of aluminum stock about 2mm thick, and installed the wire bail handles. The offset tab fits outside the pot rim and allows the lids to seal. Note that for these non-locking wire bail handles, the pot has to be at least as tall as it is wide, otherwise it will tip over when lifted. For sure you can find the Primus! ;-) Evernew is available online if not sold in Sweden. Unfortunately I don't think Evernew makes their 1.9L Ti deep any longer? I actually prefer pots that are wider than tall for the larger surface area of the bottom, but these need locking handles, and I do not know of this design being available. I have stainless steel wide pots with locking handles, but at my older age now, I like saving weight with the light titanium pots.

[@labarbovent]

Love your videos. I was wondering how warm does it get inside the tent with the stove? And do you have to put more wood in during the night? Thanks!

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks Steve! It can get very hot in the tent. At the top it can be over 100 degrees F. At floor level it will still be frozen because the stove draws cold air in, and the spruce and balsam bough insulate the floor.....until the temperature outside gets above freezing, and then the frozen floor will start to melt. On a normal cold day or night when I am cooking and hanging out in the tent, I have to shed my outer upper layers down to my sweater. And often I have to prop open the door with a stick to vent the hot air. The top of the gable ends have two vents, one at each end, that can be opened and closed, and usually they are wide open, it gets that hot. The air flow from bottom to top really dries stuff out fast, with visible steam that can be seen exiting the top vents. I do not run the stove overnight, so the tent drops to ambient temperature in about an hour when the stove is going out. I burn softwood in the Boreal here, and it burns up fast within an hour or so, and I can't be getting up all night to stoke the stove. Also I don't want the safety worry of a tent fire while I am asleep, so I am happy to rely on a robust sleeping system with no stove fire at night. My sleeping system is very good and I don't need to run the stove while I sleep.

[@kendon81]

just a quick question, are you not worried about the spruce boughs drying out and then catching or smoldering during the night with the stove going?? i get using the spruce as a base insulation level in a tent but with a stove isn't that a bit dangerous???

[@Wintertrekker]

+Kenneth Donnelly Hi Kenneth, that is a common question I get. The tent floor is protected directly under the stove by a suspended heat shield welder's cloth. The floor under this is cool to the touch. The stove will radiate heat out sideways, so yes the boughs can slowly dry around the sides. But the floor is generally quite cold. The stove is drawing air in from a low level, so that keeps a draft of cold air flowing along the floor to the stove. The hot air is rising fast and exiting the tent at the roof vents and via the stove jack gap around the pipe. The floor is cold and damp and high humidity. Its frozen solid when its really cold outside, so that also slows the boughs drying. When its mild out and maybe above freezing, the snow floor slowly melts, so again the boughs are loaded with moisture because they are on a packed snow floor. The longest I would stay in one place is a week. On disassembling the stove after a week, I have seen some slightly browned or faded green boughs in a few areas around the stove, and that is an indication that things are starting to dry out. For just a few days, its never been an issue that I have noticed. The thicker the boughs get the higher humidity they keep because they are on the snow, and have snow trickling down from what falls off my boots, staying interspersed with the boughs or melting and then evaporating out.

[@kendon81]

+Wintertrekker i live on Ireland so we never have weather cold enough to freez the groud that much, when i was in the scout we would use army surplus canvas tents the classic 1950 style prisim shaped ones all year round canvas floor directly on the ground no insulation thats why i like the winter camping videos so much its something i have never experienced, camping in those conditions the worse i have ever experienced is a 8 man tent sliding down an incline because of server rain.

[@Wintertrekker]

***** Wow, sliding down a hill inside a tent! :o) That bough bed in my vid is on a packed snow floor that started with about 2-3 feet of snow, stomped down to hard pack with snowshoes to about a foot or so. The lattice of boughs floats me on the snow and prevents post holing, and insulates the floor from melting. The boughs also float the stove skid logs. If I was not on packed snow, and on the bare ground forest floor, I would not put boughs around or under the stove skids, because I think they would dry out too fast. We are lucky here we have immense back country on public land where "no one" goes, where we can use a few boughs.

[@kendon81]

yeah....... early morning 10 scouts all under 16 in a 8 man surplus tent sliding down a small hill it was chaos, but it was in a CBSI scout camping area so there were Storage Shed/Wet Weather shelters there so we spent the rest of the night there and fished out our bags and dried everything out the next day.

[@barb5472]

hello are you afraid of the bowels on the floor catching on fire from a spark from the wood stove?

[@Wintertrekker]

Hi Barb! You mean "boughs" ? :-) Its a good question and many folks ask the same question. The boughs are collected from lower tree branches and are alive and have their full living moisture component. They are less likely to burn than dead, dried branches would. The boughs are set into a packed snow floor, and its a cold, a high humidity micro climate down on the floor, and when embers do pop out of the open stove door, they don't ignite the boughs, it just smolders and is easy to snuff out. It is a risk though, so I let the fire go out as I go to sleep at night, and the stove is cold within 2 hours. Fire management is job one when in the tent for sure.

[@outdoorKeith.]

can I ask with all that water on the boil how do you go on with condensation ?

[@Wintertrekker]

Hi Keith! The Snowtrekker tent is made of treated cotton (water repellancy and mildew). Even though its treated the cotton has an almost magical ability to pass water through it. But I think the main water gas and vapor movement is through the gable end roof vents, one on each end. When the stove is running, outside you can see the steam pouring out through each roof vent. Cold dry air is drawn into the tent along the floor, through a partially opened door, and the hot moist air at the roof is shunted out efficiently through the roof vents. So there is a constant flow of air through the system from floor to roof, carrying moisture out. I do not run my stove at night when I sleep, and in the morning there is a layer of frost on the walls and roof. Once the stove is fired up, that frost sublimates, or is driven right through the cotton to the outside, in a matter of minutes, its truly amazing how fast it is gone. On the outside of the tent on a cold morning, you can see the frost flowers forming on the cotton, and that I think is proof of the ability of the cotton to pass moisture through it from the heat within. On warm days and nights, like warmer than 10C, it gets so hot when cooking and boiling, that I am often propping open the door wide open with a stick because it gets too hot in the tent. On really cold days and nights while running the stove, I will have to door zipped shut except for a small opening at the floor for stove air, and the roof vents and cotton material handle the moisture beautifully.

[@SouthernPatriot1]

Ima ask a dumb af question...but do you pack all that out? So I take it you’re not trying to do UL lol ok I’m gonna wait for that reply! Have a great day and thx so much for showing your hot tent setup, something I have wanted to do for a long time but not really experienced enough to go out in the bush like that. ✌️🤘

[@SouthernPatriot1]

Ok nvm so you drive up before it gets to bad in the start of the season and leave tent setup for the remainder of the season and then pack it out at the end of season? Lol I’m just gonna wait and see if you reply hahaha later tfs again ✌️🤘

[@fradaw6013]

Great video, man. Where is this? It's beautiful country there beside that little lake.

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks Fra Daw! This is on a little lake off a highway not too far, one of thousands of lakes we have in the Boreal in northwestern Ontario, Canada public land. Most of the land here in northern Ontario is public, free to anyone to travel on. The geology here is a big slab of "Shield" rock which provides all that water holding capacity, so we get all the lakes and rivers.

[@fradaw6013]

Wintertrekker Great stuff. I'm in Newfoundland, so I know a lot about water and lakes. (HaHa) My brother trucks long haul through the very country you are camping in on his way out west. Says it's beautiful country up there.

[@Wintertrekker]

Fra Daw Thanks FD! Newfoundland is magnificent from what I have seen on film. Brook trout lakes everywhere, caribou, open terrain with great skiing and snowmobiling, boreal forest, moose, grouse, ptarmigan, salmon rivers, etc. And then there is the bounty of the sea. Sounds like a beautiful place.

[@Fooxx24]

Is there a worry of co2 in a tent like that??

[@Wintertrekker]

Hi F00xx24. Not using wood. The stove needs air so it draws from inside the tent, and pumps heated air up the pipe. Its quite a powerful air pump. I let the stove go out at night when I retire to sleep. Its possible it could smoulder and as its cooling down to the last of its coals, some CO or CO2 could leak out. But the top of the tent has two big gable vents, and I leave the door open a little bit at the bottom. So there is ventilation top and bottom. Similar to teepee design which has a bottom draw and top vent, its a constant circulation from floor level to roof level, so it ventilates very safely.

[@jayhyland4023]

What size tent do you use?

[@Wintertrekker]

Hi Jay! This tent is an old Snowtrekker Expedition model 8x9, which they marketed as a 2-man, but I use it for solo. It would be tight for 2 due to the stove space needed. The EXP models do not have side-walls, but there are generous pull-outs that make partial side walls. Snowtrekker tents now makes their 2-man EXP in 8x10, which is a nice size for 2.

[@deanfromtrapline53-colwell61]

What size stove are you using Hoop ?

[@Wintertrekker]

Hi Dean! That one is the Snowtrekker "small", 9x10x19, link here: www.snowtrekkertents.com/portablewoodstoves.html

[@unbekanntunknown5266]

Wintertrekker Thanks 😀

[@tysonjnr7849]

a would love a night fishing there brilliant place you got mate 👍

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks TJ7! Its a nice, and very quiet lake. Its only got pike, and the locals avoid it, going for walleye elsewhere, so I have always had the lake to myself. :-)

[@tysonjnr7849]

That's the same here in Scotland mostly pike and trout , great channel Aswell mate subbed

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks for the sub!

[@RexOrwell]

Surely you're not lugging that stuff about on your back, I tek it you're on a snowski aye?

[@Dalexanderism]

Dude I enjoyed the video but having all that spruce or pine or whatever that is in your tent next to that stove is a terrible idea. One spark on that when it dries will go up in seconds.

[@Wintertrekker]

Thanks Alexander. No the black spruce and balsam boughs are fine. Its a cold and high humidity micro environment with those boughs on snow. During very cold weather the floor is well below freezing. As the outside weather warms, the heat from the stove inside will sublimate and vaporize snow that I track in, and snow from the floor, making the boughs very humid. They stay green, and embers that spit out from the open stove door just sit on the green boughs. Our ancestors field tested this method for about 100,000 years with open fire, and in North American here, about 400 years with metal woodstoves. We are OK. :-) Around the stove, even with the heat shields, yes the boughs will dry and after a week in one base camp, they will dry out and start to turn orange. At that point yes you change them out around the stove for the hazards you have recognized. I have base camped many times for a week in one place and never had to change out overly dry boughs. Note that under the stove is a silver welding cloth suspended heat shield, so it stays cold and high humidity under the stove. The drying occurs around the edges of the stove where its easy to see the drying boughs after a week. Another method to prevent drying of the boughs near the stove, is to daily bring in a few shovels full of snow and add snow on top of the boughs around the stove and under the heat shields. This keeps them wet and green for much longer.