As Christmas drew near and the mercury fell, most people huddled inside with a warm mug of cocoa. Not us.
Get the blog before anyone else…subscribe!
On Tuesday, my friend Tom and I cruised down the highway, headed to the wilderness. Already by 3pm, the sun hung low in the sky.
I couldn’t wait to spend time around friends free of distractions. But I also wondered if we could stay warm.
“Land really is the best art.”
Andy Warhol
We pulled up to the little lean-to that would be our home for the next two days. We were utterly alone, every other site deserted.
Surrounding us was Stokes State Forest, a wonderful natural spot in northwestern New Jersey. We settled and in Tom whipped up a Brunswick stew as I warmed myself by the stove.
This delicious dish is easy to make and great for a campsite. Just empty some cans of beans and corn into a pot along with onion and pre-cooked pulled pork, and you’ve got yourself a beautiful hot meal!
Our little woodstove didn’t look like much, but it threw incredible heat! Soon, I was shedding layers down to a light sweater.
The next day, our friend Paulie joined us for a lively hike. We took in streams, a frozen pond, and even an abandoned silver mine!
Winter is a great time to hike. You have the trails to yourself, letting you really focus on nature’s beauty.
We wrapped up the day eating Beyond Meat burgers by the fire — our one nod to healthy eating on this trip!
If you go camping this time of year, be sure to get a cabin with a woodstove. Bring lighter fluid and a mix of kiln-dried and regular wood.
The kiln-dried wood and lighter fluid make it easy to get the fire started. Once it’s blazing, the regular wood can burn more slowly, providing lasting heat.
You’ll also want good sleeping pads and a 0 degree sleeping bag. This is the one I own — it’s amazing!.
Don’t be afraid to enjoy the woods even in winter!
Nature has a special, spare beauty this time of year. And with the right equipment, you’ll be snug as a bug in a rug.
Would you go camping in winter? Why or why not?
Leave a comment at the bottom and let me know.
There will be no blog on Monday for the holiday. See you on Tuesday.
Merry Christmas everyone! 🎅❄️☃️
More on nature:
A Hidden Castle…In New Jersey?
North Jersey’s Secret Campground
Get the blog before anyone else…subscribe!
If you found this post interesting, please share it on Twitter/Reddit/etc. This helps more people find the blog!
Save Money on Stuff I Use:
This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.
More on Fundrise in this post.
If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!
I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!
I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.
Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order.
Tremendous 