On this trip I brought an almost 4 pound -5 down winter sleeping bag, a 3 1/2 pound single wall mountain tent, a 3/4 thermarest guidelight, and a couple of sit pads that line my back panniers as additional insulation. Additionally layering clothes underneath for insulation from the frozen ground.

I brought my trangia stove, and next time, the alcohol stove will get left behind in snow weather; a white gas stove is much more efficient for melting snow for water. The tent picture shows a candle lantern in use as a clothes dryer/ tent heater. That's a hanging coffee cup holder in the right of the tent picture.

In the bike picture, here's the bike fully loaded. All gear is inside the panniers.
Front left: sleeping bag.
Front right: tent body, sleeping pad, first aid kid, ground cloth, TP and trowel.
Back left: clothes and some accessories.
Back right: food, cooking gear and accessories. I kept a water bladder in my panniers to keep it from freezing.

Handlebar bag, whatever.


I wore 2 thin wool LS undershirts, a wool SS bike jersey and my Ibex softshell jacket on top, and wool bike shorts under wool tights, a windstopper helmet liner.

Riding fast down the MTN Loop I put on the pertex windbreaker and some wool gloves, otherwise I was perfectly comfortable in subfreezing temps dressed like this. At camp I added a primoloft hooded parka, and a powerstretch union suit with dropseat underneath pertex pants.

And a picture of my winter camping secret weapon, Outdoor Research mukluks.

I've got my bike shoes on inside of them in the picture. You can wear them around camp with wool socks for booties as well, they have a closed cell foam insole that is also removable. I don't wear them on the bike, but could by simply cutting an SPD slot, or using toeclips.