Snow Camping in the Ochoco National Forest with Winston & Kim

This last week we had the opportunity to go snow camping with like minded adventures who happen to have a Youtube Channel. Winston & Kim rock a sweet 100 series LandCruiser and take a similar experience focused approach to overland style travel. Our weekend with them was about as close to an ideal camping trip as you can get and their latest video captured the experience perfectly. Check it out, and be sure to like + subscribe!

Ochoco National Forest Snow Camping Trip Report

Our weekend excursion started in the Ochoco National Forest on a road that according to our maps and satellite imagery would likely yield some promising campsites. Snotel weather gauges made it appear that we could get to well over 5,000 feet before the snow depth became and issue, but conditions on the ground proved to be very very different. We soon found ourselves plowing through an icy crust over a couple feet of powdery snow. With forward progress lost, and a few hundred feet of elevation to gain before the first possible campsite, we decided to turn around and head for lower ground.

That decision was quickly rewarded with a protected site surrounded by cold springs. We set up camp, built a lovely fire and proceeded to have a grand time swapping stories with Winston & Kim. It’s always nice to instantly click with people that you have never met before. These two share a similar outlook on life and adventure that made for easy conversation. Porter even got along with their dog Cooper, which is saying a lot as he usually shies away from other dogs.

Despite subfreezing temperatures we slept very well that night, aided by a pile of bedding and our new electric blanket. 9 hours of solid sleep while camping is something to be celebrated for sure. The morning was relaxed with no rush to get back to civilization. Our coffee sipping was interrupted when Tessa spotted a wild mustang scoping out our camp. We were apparently right next to his watering hole as the springs around us were utterly trampled by horse prints. He hung around for almost an hour, making the rare encounter all the more special.

This trip made for an exceptional start to the 2022 camping season. We can’t wait to see what the year brings, hopefully many more weekends like this with friends new and old!