Many long years ago my Explorer Scout post went on an early spring camping trip and visited the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn, MI. One night was so cold (I know, vs Antarctica a totally vile sound accompanied by middle finger salute) that the post’s adult advisor attached a string to his member so he could find “himself” underneath all his heavy clothes.
My -7 was in Michigan about 50 miles from the Henry Ford Museum. I now live in Maryland near Baltimore where the all time low temp is a pansy 7 above zero. Winter camping isn’t nearly as challenging here.
I lead a scouting type group. I’m not sure, actually I am sure that if I ever did something as stupid as the string thing, none of the kids would ever find that out.
We just and a camp last weekend. The kids (as young as five all stayed in unheated cabins. It got a bit colder than forecast, maybe 28 or 29 one night. They didn’t seem to notice.
Winter camping is really fun. It adds a layer of complexity and you have to do it to understand that everything is slower and more methodical.
My first time winter camping was with my son. He was 12 or so. My wife dropped us off at some state game land in Michigan in 6” of snow. We hefted or backpacks on and headed back into the woods. What a blast. She was late picking us up the next day so we started hiking. Got some wild looks from drivers. Two guys with backpacks on a snowy winter day.
My kid had quite the swagger