Ontario BS Thread

I'm off at 3ish so I should be ready to drive up by 4.

 

Dude, if it wasn't so expensive, I would have one for sure. I don't do winter camping so it's hard to justify that kind of money.

Always better to get something rated a bit lower than what you need. I have a 10C bag and last time we went with two layers on, I was cold all night.
Like Joe said, you can always add a blanket over top for extra warmth.

 

Hey guys, if anyone is interested we're going to have a BS session at Mister Steaks, Drumbo Rd n 401, exit 250
Next Sunday, Oct 16th @ 7:30pm.

 

it was 3C overnight where we were the last weekend.

You might not think you will be doing a lot of negative camping but if you were to go now you will be at negative temps overnight.
As with early spring could get down to -3 to -5 overnight.

I'm not 100% sure with how the coleman/woods stuff is at the temps for their ratings as I've only tried the one so I could say that was somewhat accurate. But I do know they don't actually have a proper EN recognized temp test (which is what the higher end bags are tested to)

Not saying they aren't good, they just don't have the paper work behind them to back up how good they are. But then again I've even seen reviews for higher end Marmot bags that were EN tested by very reputable youtube channels dedicated to bushcraft etc saying that a -10rated bag was garbage and not even warm at -2C. Only seen it for Marmot though.

Sleeping bag/Sleeping pad are two of the most important parts when it comes to colder temps.
I have a woods sleeping pad and when I was trying to find the R value emailed both Canadian Tire and Woods (which is owned by Canadian tire now) asking what the R rating of the pad was and they had no info on it, they never tested them to know what the R value is. Although its identical to a MEC pad that is tested I wouldn't doubt they were all made in the same factory in China lol.

Just dont try and push the bags as they might not be that warm. and a 0C bag is still considered a spring/summer/early fall 3 season bag. Once you get into October late september given our climate and that most of where we go is further north, usually need to start getting into the -5 to -12C bags which are still considered 3 season bags. And once you get into the 10C or lower a warm bag could mean the difference of sleeping or not, and if its even colder could truthfully mean life or death. Probably more with the -15 and below temps but still. And you'd be amazed how big of a difference a good sleeping pad could make.

MEC actually has some useful info on their site. Same with REI. If you're looking.
https://www.mec.ca/en/article/camping-gear-where-to-splurge-vs-save
https://www.mec.ca/en/explore/choose-your-sleeping-bag

Think the big difference of the Canadian tire/Walmart brands and stuff from MEC/Sail/REI etc would be the testing then packability and durability.

 

Ya last time we went I had a 5C rated down bag and around 4am when it dropped to 3-4C is when I started feeling the cold a bit and all I did was keep a wool blanket with me ready since I expected it. Once I pulled the wool blanket up I was fine. You can get them relatively cheap off Amazon ($40-60) and they make a big difference.

I was using this one

$20 Stansport Wool Blend Camp Blankets - O.D. Green (1244)

https://www.amazon.ca/Stansport-Blend-Blanket-Olive-Green/dp/B00AD6KDVC/ref=sr_1_4?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1539013055&sr=1-4&keywords=wool+blanket&dpID=41LhrwSbQLL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch&th=1

And like I mentioned above a good sleeping pad will make a hell of a difference. Given I was on a Thermarest all season pad 4.9R value I didn't feel the ground at all. The ground is really where you loose a lot of heat.
Granted I don't expect everyone to buy a $200+ sleeping pad, I only have it because of early spring and late fall camping and it works amazing with my hammock.
And majority of the gear I have is backpacking gear because I go canoe camping too.

Granted I also have a -40C sleeping bag my uncle gave me that packs down almost as small as a nalgene water bottle. some Thermarest bag i think he got from when he used to do a lot of winter back packing/hunting. Its a $600 bag mind you and my uncle is fucked cause he always buys crazy expensive gear.

 

I have a Hotcore -10 and I know it by itself does not keep me warm at -10, I learned this.. haha

 

Installed the roof rack finally so now I can carry those long ass Maxsa boards and spare tire. Next year I'll make one for the front.

 

Went and played in the rain today, made everything more fun

Fall colors are just setting in here. From the lookout we went to it was still lots of green.

 

Rain always makes it interesting.

 

What the? ... Old Packard or sumthin behind your jalopy?

 

Heading to Kingston manana, gonna tour the old Kingston Pen. Any other haunts worth checking out there?

 

That's the neighbours. Our driveways are next to each other. It's a 1929 Chrysler sedan. Don't know the exact model. He restored or and has left it in that spot for about 3yrs now. It's rotting away.

 

So this is the only spot I know on Black Lake, is there another spot you guys camped at last time?

La lista:

@Norilsk
@Joe23
@tacoma16
@Tridet167
@llamasmurf

¡Añadirte, ir!

 

Different secret spot. Will show you.



Also temps went up for night time. Now calling for 1C overnight. Better than the -4- before

 

I will be there 1st, and need to know secret location.

We plan on leaving around 2PM be in Ardbeg around 4PM and wheel for a bit before we do anything, while we wait for you guys.

My wife will not want to setup in the dark

 

But it's a secret...

We'll be there before dark... At least we should be

Better not take my spot right by the water

 

^Better get to the spot before the Honda Pilot overlanding people take it.

 

I’ll send you a pm

 

Anyone got info on Ganaraska trails? Can I just show up there, register for a day and run around for a bit?

 

Yep, it's like $30 a vehicle and $10 for any passenger.

They'll give you a map