A tiny flame lit the small teepee of pine needles and twigs, crackling upwards until it finally set the larger sticks alight. I held my numb fingers to the heat, and sighed gratefully as the growing fire warmed my hands and the small pot of coffee on the
grill. Falling snow sputtered and melted in the flames, while

more fortunate flakes settled quietly on my tent. It would be a
long, cold night, and I was loving every minute of it.
Winter camping is becoming more and more popular. Although hunters are long familiar with sleeping in snow drifts, more
and more people are venturing into the wilderness during the coldest months of the year simply for the fun of it. Advances in
recreational gear make staying warm and dry a breeze, even in the fiercest blizzard.