Winter Golden Rd / NMW trip

Figured we should get a new tread going for this rather than pages on pages of stuff in the NE wheeling plans thread haha

See post #2 below for details

Golden Rd / Telos Rd / North Maine Woods trip sometime last week of Nov or early Dec

Confirmed:
@m603holden
@jmferg

Tentative:
@Darth_Yota
@MurderedTacoV2 working
@micwillia
@Sloth
@Sig45 working
@Bruce988jl probably working

This is what I had come up with off the top of my head last week: link
Endless options for exploring side tracks while we're there too

Yeah so on that note we could always make the trip up via one of those routes, grab a hotel somewhere like Houlton, and then either cruise back down I95, or take a different route back out through the woods back down to Millinocket. If its too cold or we dont want to camp for whatever reason.. That kinda just depends on how much time we got..

So anyway, lets get some plans going and ill try to keep this bad larry updated

 

Dates:
Weekend of December 15-16

 

Also mine

 

Awesome. Btw any limit on how many people ?

I'll be ready to rock whenever. Getting my full size spare replaced (don't want to talk about it), ordered another plug kit, and my camping gear is good to go.

Snow shoes. Can't forget snowshoes

 

As an FYI, you can reasonably expect overnight lows in that area to be in the single digits for that time of year. So you'll want to make sure you're properly equipped for it; a 35 degree bag won't cut it if you expect to get any sleep.

 

^ this. If anyone has never winter camped, the trip is not the place to test gear.

Btw LL Bean outlet stores normally run smoking deals on sleeping bags and blankets.

 

Best way that I've found to test winter gear is to do it in your back yard. That way if you can't take it you can throw in the towel, retreat indoors, and regroup for another attempt with a different/better setup.

 

Yeah, kinda what Im trying to get people to realize haha

 

in for updates; if I can I will

 

As far as I know that area is kind of unmanned for the winter season - so only size limit is what we want to self regulate at (under 10 trucks probably..)

 

I'm down - I guess its time to drop 300-500$ for a bag...

For gear here's what I have (I haven't tested it yet...)
- UCO Triple Candle Lantern (Apparently helps keep moisture down and last 9+ hours in colder temps)
- Emergency blankets to line the inside of the RTT but still allow for air to vent
- Mr Buddy Heater - however propane bottles (large and small) tend to freeze and lockup in the cold...
- Therm-A-Rest Heat Reflective Sleeping Air Pad - https://www.rei.com/product/881575/therm-a-rest-neoair-xtherm-sleeping-pad

I plan on buying
- Therm-A-Rest Heat Reflective Sleeping Pad (airless) to put under the air pad - this was suggested by a few backpackers I ran into last month (

$58 Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Camping and Backpacking Sleeping Pad, Limon/Silver, Regular - 20 x 72"es

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005I6R0WC/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1)
- New below zero rated sleeping bag...

 

Tenative. Once a date is finalized I'll have a better idea. Dec 8th is out for me.

Pro tip: sleep in the nude to keep warm. Then when you wake up you can greet everyone with the helicopter D, which will also invigorate you for the day ahead.

 

Alright, Seth's out. Even if he's free and wants to go, he's out.

 

Guys it's #science...just saying. Pretty sure Bear Grylls also recommend it right after drinking his own piss from the decaying deer stomach he was using as a water bottle.


On a serious note a decent bag liner also goes a long way. I've got an old(15+ years) -20deg F bag I use with a sea to summit bag liner and don't have issues keeping warm. Along with a good reflective ground pad that should keep you warm. I was pretty damn toasy when my daughter and I camped (not glamped in a fancy RTT...) for the fall crawl, and so was she. I've also used the setup multiple times doing winter backpacking/snowshoeing trips to the Whites and not had issues. They are pretty compact and help quite a bit.

 

Does the weekend of Nov 24-25 work for people? Right after Thanksgiving. Im assuming most people have some time off for that but not sure about family plans..

Dec 8-9 or 15-16 looks like the next options for me

@Noelie84 should I add you and the land barge to the list?

 

Afraid not. This time of year we've always got a bunch of family stuff going on. The 24th we're doing Thanksgiving with the GF's family, and my 'extended family' Christmas party is the evening of the 8th. I might be able to stop by for a day visit, but even that'd probably be questionable.

 

I think I'm free for either weekend - is two days long enough?

 

Well I did roughly this last Dec by myself in one day. Ended up being 12+ hrs by the time I stopped at Pittston Farm and explored a few side roads and all that.
Figure a weekend should be enough time for the scope of what we are planning..? Of course will be ~4 hrs on top of that for you So. NE guys having to drive up from MA area

 

Guys, just so everyone knows I believe I'm going to do the Toys for Tots run on Dec 9th.

More details coming up soon. Keep an eye out on the N.E. Wheeling thread