Prepare for extreme weather.
Nothing can be quite as unpredictable as the weather. In the mountains of Montana, I have seen temperature variants of as much as 70 degrees Fahrenheit in one day. Especially in the high country. I have been caught in lighting storms on high plateaus with no shelter. Hailstorms on horseback and snowstorms every week of summer that lasted for days, taxing wood, water and food supplies.
As the camp cook, helping guest feel safe and secure often fell to me. Regardless of the situations, I needed to adapt, smile and make it look easy, even when scary and challenging.
On one multi day pack trip early in my career, a micro-burst of wind blew down standing dead trees left behind by a forest fire. Many had livestock tied to them. No injuries, fortunately, but my kitchen fly had also been tied to them and collapsed in the resulting downpour while I was underneath frying chicken in hot oil. Fortunately, the guest had set their tents in a meadow far away from the trees and were tucked inside, warm and dry.
The wranglers, on the other hand, stood in the rain and held up the corners of the kitchen fly so I could continue to cook until the storm passed, and dinner was done. The guest emerged as the sun came out and I called for dinner to be served.
Drenched to the bone, the wranglers had to take off on foot, chasing after the pack string and saddle horses that had pulled lose and run off during the storm. The guest, dry and happy, ate dinner under the newly erected kitchen fly around a cracking campfire, none the wiser to the drama that had enfolded our camp only an hour earlier.
Personal Protection from changing weather
Good sturdy rain gear
Clothes to layer up if the temperature drops.
Keep your raingear and layers handy in your day pack or tied to your horse. The saying in Montana, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait ten minutes” which applies to mountainous terrain anywhere. It can go from hot and sunny to cold and windy in a short time. Be prepared!
Adequate shelter is a must
A well-constructed, waterproof tent.
Sleeping pads that insulate you from the cold ground.
Sleeping bags that will keep you warm, even if they get wet.
Waterproof ground cloth for under your sleeping tent.
Waterproof nylon fly or tarp for over the kitchen and campfire.
Set your tent far away from any standing dead trees or drainages, away from trails and at least 200 steps from any water source. In bear country, keep your sleeping tents away from the cooking area as well.
Look for an existing campfire ring (or create a “Leave No Trace” fire pit) to position your kitchen area. If possible, find two trees on either side of the firepit, between which you can string a rope 8 – 10 feet above the campfire. For a cover, I have found that ripstop nylon works best. It’s lightweight, waterproof and fire resistant.
After draping the tarp over the rope, you will need to anchor your corners. Use sturdy sticks or bring lightweight collapsible poles for this. For guy lines, use a strong cord such as parachute cord to tie off using stakes or stumps.
The smoke from a small fire will travel up and out from under the fly without igniting it, but you will be warm and dry sitting and cooking around the campfire.
Warm dry clothes, extra camp shoes make all the difference
Have a set of sweatpants and warm tops that can be layered.
A pair of comfortable camp shoes and dry socks
A cozy coat, poncho or lightweight blanket for chili evenings sitting around the fire.
At the end of the day, even a hot, dry day, changing into clean clothes and dry, lightweight shoes helps your camp in the backcountry feel like home.
In bear country, be sure to use caution and change clothes after cooking, leaving those clothes well away from your sleeping area.
Bring an extra meal, just in case
One or two dehydrated meals for emergencies.
I am no fan of commercial prepackaged dehydrated meals. I find them to be high in carbohydrates and full of salt. Even the best of them, after a few days, start to taste the same. However, for emergencies they can really save the day.
I have had the stressful experience of running short of food because of weather. On one such trip in August, a blizzard occurred. We were with a group of ten people, and had to hunker around camp, staying close to the campfire for several days.
The sack lunches I had planned for the group to take with them each day exploring and fishing, were eaten up in record time. Due in part because two of the guest’s children turned out to be adults. One was a man in his twenties, and well over 200lbs. Suffice it to say, I had grossly underestimated quantities when it came to him. Also, it was bitterly cold, and people wanted a hot meal to warm them. Fortunately, I had packed some packets of Ramon and dehydrated soup mix just to have on hand and thank goodness I did. With the addition of bouillon cubes, I was able to create a sustainable, palatable and warming soup. The guests were happy, and I survived another pack trip without coming up short.
In conclusion, I would just like to stress the need to prepare for the unexpected. Staying warm, dry and well fed is key to enjoying the experience regardless of the weather.
