MIKE HALL: Adventure Motorcycle,Travel, Motorcycle, Overlanding, Backcountry, Avalanche, Snowmobile, Snowboard, Snowboard, Sledboarding, Winter Fat Tire Mountain Bike, Mountain Bike, Ski Patrol @ Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon, Utah, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Jackman, Maine

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

-31 Degrees Camping on 2022 New Years Eve

Happ Happy New Year!
I headed the F-350 north in the midst of a bitter cold snap on December 30th. Drove 190 miles north and arrived in the State Forest about 11:00pm.

Temperature was about -20F. This was the same location that I camped at 10 days earlier. Since the previous trip, when there was about 6-7 inches of snow on the ground, it had snowed an additional 13-15 inches. The night was beautiful with the fresh snow and crisp temperature.
The initial challenge was to get into the dispersed campsite. The Forest road is plowed occasionally to the trailhead a half mile further up the road, so with the truck locked into 4 wheel drive it wasn’t an issue. So to get into the campsite, I unloaded the RZR to punch through the deep snow and test the ability to get traction.

Was able to bust through the snow bank and make a loop in the campsite. Then, my decision was to clear the site with a shovel… the alternative choice was to just park off the road. Since I was going to be there for 3 days, I pulled out my shovel and 2 1/2 hours later I was cleared out enough to pull the F-350 and trailer straight into the site. I proceeded to pack down the remaining snow with the truck. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do… worth it.


Packed in a track for the RZR.
The new snow since 10 days ago when I camped here. 16oz PBR was good after 2 1/2 hours of shoveling.


Crisp the first night…
Went for a night RZR drive the 2nd night. About -22 early in the evening.

A bit of an adventure as I got hung up in the deep snow with the RZR. It was a job for the winch. The challenge was getting the winch cord plugged in. With the bitter cold the rubber plug was very stiff, I actually had to trim around the edge of the plug-in with my knife to fit. The winch extracted me with hardly any effort.
Back to camp after exploring with the RZR.

Perfect winter night for a roaring campfire. As the temperature started to drop, the beer was cold/frozen in about 2 minutes, got keep it liquid by the fire.
Spent about 3 1/2 hours stoking the fire on New Year’s Eve @ -26F.

It is amazing the beauty of the subzero forest at midnight with the heat of the fire.


On the 3rd day, cold and sunny, got out in the RZR.
Crispier the 2nd night… haha! 
It was a sunny -31F.
The final challenge on the New Year Trip… 

I slept in on New Years Day, after spending over 12 hours outside the day and night before in temperatures from -10 to -31 it was cozy in my Four Wheel Camper at 68 degrees.

My final chapter for the trip was to pack up and head out.



 

Monday, December 13, 2021

Part 2 of 5 Day Camping Adventure in Northern Minnesota / Winter in the Four Wheel Camper

Good trip with dispersed camping in the State Forest. My Ford F-350 is becoming the adventure vehicle that I’ve envisioned. With a Warn Winch mounted in a cradle off the front connected into the new receiver hitch. With the Four Wheel Camper, set up with a propane forced air furnace, 160 watts of solar panel on the roof, a duel battery setup and 2 burner stove. This is a true Adventure Truck for off the grid travel and camping.
Leaving base camp in the afternoon for a night drive on the Forest Roads.


A good little snow overnight to give a wintery feel.

A bit of late night supper after exploring a couple hours in the dark.

Base camp.

This was a good full day of exploring the ATV trails along with miles of Forest Roads. Was able to get onto some smaller spur trails.

Final night of a good time campfire, listening to the owls and enjoying the solitude of the dispersed camping.

Ride on!

 

Thursday, December 02, 2021

Late Season BMW 1250GSA Ride / Four Wheel Camper Dispersed Camping / Past 48 Hours




Exploring the Mississippi River Bluffs along the Wisconsin border on my BMW 1250GSA.
After riding the Moto all day, pointed the truck north towards Lake Mille Lacs. Drove into a brief snow storm, pulled over at 1:30am climbed in the camper, fired up the furnace and got a good sleep. That morning, stopped and had a breakfast with the Mille Lacs Walleye...



Traveled north another 70 miles north and dispersed camped off a Forest Road. Beautiful night under the stars, temps not too cold, about 35 overnight. Furnace in my FWCamper keeps me warm at 70 degrees. Good walk in the woods in the morning, 
Adventure on!