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I
picked up Holly after school on Friday, and we drove up to the White
Mountain National Forest (WMNF) Hancock Campground on the Kancamagus Highway a few miles east of Loon
Mountain Ski Resort where we had gone winter camping a couple of years
ago. This is one of only two WMNF campgrounds in the White Mountains that
are officially open in the winter. We soon found a nice site, and began setting up camp.
In
back of our site was a huge mound of compacted snow and ice left by the
plows
where someone had carved out a nice ice cave. The cave was large enough
for three or four people, and would have been great in a serious storm, but we stayed in our tent
anyway.
After setting up camp, we made supper in the vestibule of the
tent. We both had soup; Holly
had chicken noodle and I had bean. We also had some soft
tortilla shells which make a good camping and backpacking bread substitute,
hot chocolate, and granola bars for dessert. Muffin had a little soup, but
ate too fast and threw a little of it up on the floor of the tent. I
had to use the backpacking towel to clean it up and we weren't very happy
with her.
As
usual when camping in the winter, we went to bed fairly early, around
8:30. Holly and I got cozy in our sleeping bags, and Muffin wore
her sweater. Just before going to sleep, we put Muffin into the bottom of
Holly’s sleeping bag so she could keep warm. |
Our
campsite. It didn't take long to set up camp. The ground was relatively
flat, although my side of the tent sloped slightly toward the middle, so I ended up sliding away from the edge of the tent during the night. |
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Looking
out of the snow cave. The cave was about 5-6 ft wide at the back, 7 ft
deep, and 2-1/2 ft high. The cave was large enough
for three or four people, and would have been a great shelter in a serious
storm. |
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Muffin
in the tent. Muffin kept warm in her sweater at night, and enjoyed being
in the tent. The first night, she slept in the bottom of Holly’s
sleeping bag, but preferred a corner of the tent on Saturday. |
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