That's a good point. I've spent a few nights out in dead of winter in Lower Northern MI. Temps dropped to around 10 below zero, maybe a little colder with wind chill. I was cold camping, just using a tarp, good sleeping bag and had a fire set-up to reflect heat under the tarp. I was comfortable for the most part, but I wasn't traveling either and there was no danger of getting wet and having to deal with that.

Setting up in your backyard/local park and seeing how all your gear works out would be the smart thing to do before getting too far into the Q/BWCA.

This "might" be a good year for going on a winter ice fishing trip. Talked to Q-Dave over Holidays and he said that unless something changed, it was shaping up to be a milder winter than they had last year.
Last winter was one of the worst they ever had.
Temps hit -40 below and stayed there for days.
Q-Dave told me that there were houses in town that had frozen underground water pipes up into JUNE!

Really? I don't know about everybody else but I have always liked to be outdoors in every imaginable type of weather. Sometimes it was uncomfortable but to be honest I think I liked it more.

In my trap line days I would be out for 4 months straight every day snow or sleet, rain or shine. Worst I had it was a week of below zero in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Then it dumped some 3ft of snow and I pulled stakes for the lower. Of course I had a good solid tar paper cabin to spend the nights and a propane stove to make breakfast on.

I would like to think I would be game for being out there but 25 years in Florida has me taking a fleece vest into the movies

When did using permanent shelters count as camping?
Not

And,
I really want to, but can't now, count as doing?

Pretty close to what I said, no?

Hey all I know if I lived in Florida  I would   have a lot of fun convincing  great white northerners  to stop being sissies and  get outside and cold camp!
Jon

Thanks for the kind words fellas. Just trying to encourage people to get out in the winter as opposed to discouraging them.......advice from a guy from Florida or advice from a guy who has spent more time in cold and adverse conditions than the average bear? (Geez share an aspect of your life that was deeply personal and meaningful and folk can't wait to to be snide and petty, I sort of get why folk move on).