A highlight of the design of VanDOit’s vehicles—the base model is the Ford Transit—is how they can be customized to fit purchaser needs. They can seat anywhere from two to eleven people, and all elements, from seats to kitchens to shelving, are removable. Beyond the base setup, customers choose their features—whether they need a kitchen or a bathroom, for instance, or what their electrical or solar system is like. Because a single company is providing both the van and the build-out, they’re able to keep costs well below industry average, Chapin says, with the cost of the van plus full customization starting around $55,000. Plus, as a family-run company with dealership roots, VanDOit is able to accept trade-ins, which can further alleviate costs. “We’re able to package the van and the build at an affordable price so the end user isn’t paying retail for anything.”

Customers have included everyone from a guy who lives in his van in Alaska six months out of the year (he needed features like a built-in desk, as well as heat and water) to a couple in their 70s who wanted a vehicle they could drive to the Bay Area to visit their kids and grandkids; they plan to occasionally sleep in it overnight and think it will work well for an occasional nap along the way. The vans are well equipped to haul everything from kayaks to mountain bikes to skis to surf boards; the option of a hydraulic rack eliminates some of the hindrance of getting things on and off the roof. The pull-out gear slide is another nice feature. Learn more about VanDoIt and check out pictures of the vehicles in action at Vandoit.com, and come check out one of their vans at the Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival July 13-14 at Camp Sekani Park in Spokane. 

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Wall Tents

Two of the most well-known wall tent glamps in Idaho are Huckleberry Tent and Breakfast in Clark Fork and River Dance Lodge in Syringa (Riverdancelodge.com). Situated just off the banks of the Clearwater River, River Dance is an adventure resort that has partnered with ROW Adventures to make “dreams come true and memories last forever.” In addition to hand-crafted log cabins, whitewater rafting, biking, fly fishing, and hiking, the resort has three glamping tents that sleep two people each. They are next to the creek and are decked out with a king-sized bed, back porch, claw foot tub heated by a propane burner, chairs, table, and wood stove. Charcoal grills, picnic tables, a self-composting toilet, a shared bathhouse (with flushing toilet and shower), and the resort’s restaurant are within easy access.

Both Huckleberry and River Dance are comparable in price to a hotel room. Go a little lighter on your wallet with the Lilly Pad at Blue Lake RV Resort just south of Bonners Ferry, a prospector’s pole tent with tin roof, electricity, and Wi-Fi. On the more lavish side, Under Canvas Glacier in Coram, Mont., offers deluxe tents, safari tents, tent suites, and a canvas-walled treehouse. Private luxury bathrooms with hot running water, showers, sinks, and toilets are included with several set ups.

Tipis

Under Canvas also has several tipis, structures with a rich cultural history that have been adapted for modern-world recreation. These tipis can be reserved individually or added to an adjacent tent for a family.

Smokiam Resort on the shores of Soap Lake, Wash., features 10 guest tipis (16 and 26 foot), six privately placed by the lake and four grouped together in the main park. The lakeside tipis are dry camping, but the park ones have electricity, and each includes a fire pit, BBQ, picnic table, clean linens, Adirondack chairs, dock access, and multiple sleeping arrangements. Twin Cedars Camping + Vacation Rentals in Sandpoint, Idaho, only has one tipi, but it comes glamped out with a private beach and dock on the edge of Lake Pend Oreille, an outdoor shower and sink, and an outdoor hot tub.

Yurts

Yurts are the third form of tent glamping. While southern Idaho has seven 20-foot backcountry yurts, North Idaho’s yurts are a little more bewitching. The Yurtle in Athol has a kitchen, separated sleeping area, and immaculate bathhouse. Yurtville, just north of Sandpoint, is comprised of three yurts, each with their own bathroom in the main building, which also has a kitchen, dining area, and art studio. The Guest Yurt in the Woods, also north of Sandpoint, is cozy and private, located just down a wooded path from the owners’ own two-storied yurt home.

Whether looking for a low-stress family camping experience or getting away with your partner, glamping gives you conveniences of modern life with just enough inconvenience to make you feel at home in nature. //

[Feature photo “River Dance Lodge tents” by Chad Case.]

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Through advance planning and preparation, it is possible to enjoy a winter trip while staying warm and dry. The first step is to read up on what to expect where you intend to go, and watch the weather forecasts for changing conditions (and know when to change plans accordingly, always communicating that plan to someone at home).

Home Sweet Snow Camp

I have comfortably made camp in my little REI Quarter Dome tent, with all its well-ventilated mesh, set up on a snowy base, even when temperatures dipped into the single digits. I opt for a closed-cell foam sleeping pad for better heat reflection in winter, and I bring a telescoping snow shovel to dig a level platform for the tent. I enjoy getting creative in camp design, with snow walls to block wind and a separate kitchen area complete with seating and a cooking platform. Sometimes it is possible to create an ideal campsite on snow in a place that would be a lousy campsite in the summer. I also find it’s possible to experience complete seclusion in a spot that might be overly busy in the warmer months.

When it’s unusually cold, I boost the warmth rating on my down sleeping bag (with its optimistic 20 °F) by bringing along my bivy sack in addition to the tent. I never winter camp (and seldom summer camp) without my down booties for my always-too-cold feet, which I put over a pair of wool socks reserved for sleeping. Extra layers of either fleece or wool constitute my winter PJs, and I top it off with a wool hat and mittens.

Layering for Warmth

While hiking to camp, it’s possible to generate enough heat to strip down to base layers and still break a sweat. As soon as I stop, however, my first task is always to change to dry clothes before my core temperature drops. In case my feet get wet, I keep a pair of neoprene socks in my pack. When I was a child, before I learned of the existence of neoprene, my mom would put empty bread sacks over my dry socks. They served the same purpose, and they’re still a nice, cheap option or contingency plan. In camp, layers are my best defense against the cold. I go for fleece over my base layer, then a down puffy jacket, then an insulated shell, and I can generally stay toasty.

Cooking, Drinking and Not Freezing

Hot beverages also help keep the cold at bay. If I bring my canister stove, I purchase a four-season fuel mix for winter use, and I keep it insulated inside the pack until ready for use. If I’m doing more than boiling water, I pack my white gas stove instead, as it tends to be more reliable in cold weather. I never set it up directly on the snow, and I always add a little starter water to the snow I plan to melt in order to avoid scorching the bottom of my pot.

Keeping the water in its liquid state can be a challenge on winter trips. I keep bottles stashed inside the pack instead of in the outside pockets, and store them upside down so that they don’t freeze closed. When it’s really cold, I keep my bottle inside a water bottle parka. Everything is stored inside the tent at night, including the water filter, which can otherwise freeze and become useless.

Dry Boots and a Well-Lighted Camp

I also never go out in winter without my gaiters, which keep the snow outside my boots. The boots vary from trip to trip: I find it equally fun to launch winter backpack trips on Nordic skis, backcountry skis, or snowshoes. Depending on the steepness of the terrain, winter trips are the perfect opportunity for hauling extra gear in on a sled.

Finally, I pack extra headlamp batteries since the sun goes down early on a winter trip at our latitude. Instead of waiting impatiently for long sunny days to return, I like to make the most of all opportunities to explore our local trails, even when those opportunities arise in January. //

Winter Camping Spots—Local Favorites

• Priest Lake: the east and west side and upper lake all offer options depending on how far you’re willing to walk/ski
• Sherman Pass: Columbia Mountain or Sherman Peak can be great
• Kootenay Pass: south side of the highway has more mellow terrain close to the highway—avoid the many avalanche areas
• Lookout Pass: many options, but be aware of the considerable avalanche risks in many places
• Lolo Pass: summer hiking trails make great winter camping trails
• Anywhere with hot springs nearby!// (OTM)

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