Camping not just for summertime

With an expected forecast of rain and snow throughout the weekend, students and Bloomington residents can further the human tradition of huddling for body heat in the middle of the woods, just a few gallons of gas away from campus.\nLocated a few rolling hills further than Lake Monroe, still heading south along State Road 446, lies one entrance to the 200,000-acre Hoosier National Forest. Nature lovers are allowed to pitch a tent or build a fire pit anywhere set back from the beginning of a trail.\nWinter camping in southern Indiana takes some courage, as freezing temperatures provide a frost instead of warmer conditions ideal for sleeping underneath the stars. \n"Know where you are going, have a plan and realize that plans can change. You are just out there to have fun," said IU Outdoor Adventures Office Manager Skippy Baker said. Some suggestions offered for winter camping include "preparing for extreme weather," according to The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, a non-profit organization dedicated to responsible outdoor education. \nIU senior Peregrine Bosler, an employee at outdoor retailer J.L. Waters & Company Inc., 109 N. College Ave., said a quality wintertime sleeping bag can cost $80 to $280, depending on whether the material is down or synthetic. Bosler said campers can also acquire a durable three-season tent from her outdoor recreation shop for about $100. \nBaker said first-time winter campers should stay near a marked trail when deciding where to rest their heads for the evening. She suggested students bring plenty of water, a basic first-aid kit, a flashlight with extra batteries, snack food, a map and compass, a backpacking stove for longer trips and some form of shelter.\nStudents can rent a two-person tent for $8.40 and one sleeping bag with an accompanying pad for $5.60 for one night from IU Outdoor Adventures. Students can bill all these items to their bursar accounts.\nNature's furnace requires a little more effort than flipping on the thermostat. Nyle Johnson, owner of Traildust Army and Navy Surplus, 4700 W. State Rd. 45, offered campers some fire-sparking ideas.\n"Preparation of the timber before the match is struck makes or breaks the fire. That's the secret," he said.\nJohnson suggested students use only dry wood and that cotton is also a good kindling. Tee-pee style campfires offering a more controlled flame are better for cooking, he said, while cabin-log shaped campfires that gobble ricks of wood are better for group and party-like settings.\nBaker said feeling safe and in control while still frolicking in the great outdoors is often more important than water, fire and shelter combined.\n"Being comfortable while outdoors is part of a good camping experience," she said. "If you are not comfortable yet with camping in the woods, hang out with people from IU Outdoor Adventures on a camping trip and we can teach you how to enjoy your camping experience"