Question: Suggested locations to take a 12yr old winter camping on crown land with reasonable amount of deadfall / firewood?
 

Howdy Ya’ll

After putting my trailer to bed for the winter in a most undesirable manner, my thoughts have turned to my next fun trip.

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=333192

I'm planning on taking my 12yr old Nephew out winter camping around the end of December, and thinking of doing a traditional lean-to style shelter, with some tarps and a fire etc. Our lab Duke should finally be healed up enough to be able to enjoy this trip too.

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=319556

I know the Waiperous / Sundre / Cremona areas relatively well and they are getting pretty picked over for deadfall etc. Not looking for 'your spot' by any means (I see those questions all the time on here) but wondering if any have any suggestions for a crown land camping area that has maybe been recently logged, or has a decent amount of deadfall for shelter building / firewood?

With my Nephew being fairly young I would want to stay fairly close to the truck 'just in case'. He has an interest in hunting etc. so I’d like to get him out trying out my .22 and plink some targets while we’re out there (with parental permission).

He’s been backpacking with my wife and I before, so he should be tough enough to handle a bit of work dragging firewood and little ‘tasks’ I figure out for him to do.

I've got a 4x4 pickup and will finally have some decent off road tires by then. Would like to be within 2hrs of Calgary, or somewhere up near the Sherwood Park area (don't know that area very well at all).

I was thinking maybe down in the porcupines possibly, or just find a new cutblock out west of Sundre somewhere.

Anyhew, here’s a few photos of some of the backcountry and winter trips we’ve done in the past.

And another couple of pics...

Now that’s what being an outdoorsmen is all about right there! I’d recommend some spots but I’m sure you have got plenty of gooders pm’d already. Have a great trip!

Some very nice looking camp setups. Great pics.

That first picture is absolutely stunning! Wow!

You are a God among men.:scared0015:
Very impressive.
Wish I could offer you something...all my spots would be 3-4hrs from you.
Good luck in your search.

If your gonna go winter camping in a lean-to , do yourself and the kid a solid and study how to build the Mors Kochanski Super shelter. Not hard , and it can be plus 25 inside while minus 25 outside Bring a good folding saw.
Hope you have a good time. :)

Good on you for taking your nephew out on this adventure! What you're doing is awesome.
I would suggest checking the forestry road south of Calgary, anywhere along the Livingstone or Oldman river. Plenty of deadfall around there even close to the road. Just keep in mind a section of the road is closed after Dec. 15 I believe so may be limited access depending on when you go.

Have fun out there!

Yes, I've recently started looking into this type of shelter, and probably what we'll end up doing if there isn't enough snow for an igloo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=NGSC8iYhC7k

Just picked up a book tailored for our climate too. Has some good tips.

http://boreal.net/books/

I hear highwood might have some newly downed trees....

(too soon??)..

Kudos to you Albertadiver.. I need to get my son out to do this..

Nope! :lol:

The Forestry trunk road near Hummingbird has some great spots. You could go ice fishing at Peppers lake too. PM me and I can narrow down some better spots if you're interested.

Always LOVE driving corkscrew mountain in the winter! :scared0018:

Good suggestion, it's been quite a while since I've been out that far. Thx

I'd avoid corkscrew 😊
752 much easier this time of year

My folks have pictures from the mid 70's when their pickup jackknifed towing a skidoo trailer on that road. Trailer was hanging over the edge and all that saved them was my uncle bailed out of the truck and managed to jamb a big rock behind one of the back tires and it held!

Ya Ha Tinda - Eagle Lake Campground

Nice drive, plenty of spots too stay on the route there, fishing, lots of wildlife, off the beaten path, does have campsites with firepits if you stop at the camping area.



Wife and I went out there a few years ago in March for 5 days, we did bring in own firewood though. Awesome time, nobody around, lots of day hikes, nights were fairly cold, great time.

Gosh, I missed the thread on this but I sure as heck didn't miss that tree. Whoever that clown was could learn a thing or two about falling.

Now im going to go dig for it!

Re: OP, man oh man do I wish I had an uncle like you growing up! cudos to you, sir.

I would suggest the outfitter tent, gets plenty cold in a lean-to this time of year. You want to be comfortable not suffer.

No random camping allowed anywhere in there... you would have to go way south on 940 to the Livingston area, and that road is gated shut at Cataract on December 15th.

Been trying to source some clear plastic poly. Probably a heavier thickness like a 10 mil instead of 6. Rona has the big rolls, but wondering if a guy could get a 10x10 sheet somewhere else?

I know some good trails. LOL

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CsewzvPd6y...ay+12-6-13.jpg

Rona also has heavy duty plastic drop sheets 8'x12' for 5 bucks in painting supplies. Why not a 10 x 10 tarp?

The Butcher Creek natural area on the Red Deer River just a few miles upstream of Glennifer lake is a nice forested area. Would be a nice winter camp but the river is closed to fishing.

So went scouting west of Sundre and did a loop from Bearberry west to the trunk road and then looped back along the coal camp road. Super slick! Found a few spots that would work in a pinch, but not THE spot just yet.

You'll note I've started a thread on tire chains now... :)


Just wondering if anyone has been West of Range Road 74 along Township road 331 in the last little while? There's a few spots up that way that I am thinking about but if the roads are super slick I'm not sure If I want to bother scouting that for later.