Time to take camping out of season

If I told you I have been snow camping in Santa Barbara, would you think I’m crazy? Well, as luck would have it,snow adventures are very possible in the back country of the San Rafael wilderness. With winter right around the corner, it isn’t the time to put away your camping gear, but instead, a chance to gain a whole new prospective on what the local outdoors have to offer.

Born and raised on the beaches of Southern California, the world of snow and ice has always been intriguing to me. But at the same time, that coldness was something I could only enjoy when there was a hot shower and warm blankets nearby.

At least that was the case until last winter, when a friend suggested we give snow camping a shot. I was hesitant at first thinking we would have to drive hours and hours to reach a suitable location. But once he said we only had to go as far as the other side of Lake Cachuma, I had to try.

The beauty of this trip is it does not require a leap into a world of expensive winter-time camping gear. Normal backpacking tents and some snowboarding gear is sufficient for an overnight trip during nice weather.

Our plan was to leave Goleta early Saturday morning, make the hour-and-a-half drive over the 154 and up Happy Camp Road to a spot known as “The Cachuma Saddle.” From there we faced an 11 mile uphill hike to our final destination, McKinley Springs. This is a great campsite with abundant freshwater, and a nice flat area for setting up tents. An ideal location to overnight anytime of the year.

The view leading into a snowy San Rafael wilderness.

The trip started off looking just like any other hike in the Santa Barbara area. It was sunny, beautiful, and even borderline hot despite the fact that it was the middle of January. We were prepared for the worst with gaiters to keep our legs dry, snowboard pants, and way too many clothes for the typical overnight trip. With such great weather, we could only ask, will there actually be snow?

As the unrelenting uphill wore us down, we encountered a few people out on short day hikes. They looked surprised to see us fully laden with backpacks, and even more amazed that we planned to find snow out there.

Yet, as we closed in on mile seven of 11, patches of the white stuff crept up. Within another mile, we were knee deep in the slushy, cold, untracked snow. After trudging along through it for another three miles, we finally reached the McKinley Spring camp, buried by nearly three feet of snow.

This was a strictly amateur snow trip. We did not have the proper shovels, nor did we have the “right” snow gear, but once we set up tents, and changed into warmer clothes, we felt like the kings of the mountain.

Here's the accomodations.

The troupe copes with a snow covered trail.

Following the rather chilly night, everyone awoke free of frost bite, packed up camp, and made the much easier decent back to the cars and the balmy coastal weather. We survived and now I can tell anyone who asks, that yes, I have braved the cold and gone snow camping.

Which is the beautiful part of back country hiking in Santa Barbara, as long as you are reasonably fit, and have been backpacking before, nearly anyone can enjoy it.

Here are some helpful tips for Santa Barbara snow camping I learned the hard way:

Bring plenty of layers of clothes to stay warm and add as you get into the snow. Keep them easily available, at the top of your backpack. I started the trip in a t-shirt and shorts. Unfortunately, since I did a poor job packing and my clothes were buried by a tent and food, I reached camp still wearing a t-shit and shorts. Burrrrrrr.

If your normal boots aren’t waterproof or have lots of mesh to keep your feet cool, they may not work that well. Mine were the lightweight non-waterproof type, and my feet were cold and wet by the time I reached the top. Luckily I did have a couple extra pairs of socks which helped over night.

Make sure to call the forest service before you head out. In the wintertime, it is hard to find trail info on the web since not many people are out. Give the rangers a call for some good 411.

The trail is easy to find and follow since most of it is a fire road, but make sure to bring a map.

A warm sleeping bag and warm stuff to wear inside is also important. Don’t forget your sleeping pad to insulate you from the snow underneath.

A fast acting backpack stove is great to have (I use a JetBoil). When your cold at 6:00 AM nothing beats making hot tea, coffee, coco, and food in the blink of an eye.

Last but not least, bring some friends and make a great time of it, but most of all be safe, and stay warm at night.

If making a 10 mile one day trek is not your cup of tea, another option is the Forbush campsites on the backside of the Santa Ynez Mountains. This campsite can be easily reached with a two mile hike from the top of East Camino Cielo. Since Forbush is on the shady side of the mountain, snow has a tendency to build up so if we get some dustings this winter it will be worth a shot.

LOS PADRES ALERTS AND CLOSURES

If you do decide to take on snow camping in the Santa Barbara backcountry just make sure to be safe out there. Check the weather before you make the journey, and most of all, don’t go beyond your comfort level. Never forget that while snow camping in Santa Barbara may not be as treacherous as reaching the summit of Mount Everest, it still can be dangerous.