First rule of winter camping: Plan for coldest possible temperatures in your area. Whether it starts in October or ends in April, winter can be brutal. The most important thing about winter camping is planning. In summer, make a mistake like getting wet and you can survive. But get soaked at 20°, and you’re in trouble.

Through trial, error and study, I’ve found camping at –10°F can be comfortable with right gear. And what’s not to like about winter? No bugs and no need for food refrigeration – just challenge of surviving elements.

Second rule: Winter camping begins with a good night’s rest. Camping, as opposed to day-tripping, means sleeping outdoors. Proper gear and proper preparation dictates difference between jogging in bag or snoozing until sun-up.

I’ve now got a sleeping bag rated for –30°. The fill is synthetic – if it gets wet it will still provide some warmth, unlike goosedown. If there’s snow on ground or in forecast, that bag goes with me. No snow, and I can get along fine with my 20° bag.

Underneath me, I leave snow. If there’s no snow, I gather up dry leaves or grass. Atop this goes a vapor barrier. I use two, one a large 8’x10’ plastic sheet and other a 5’x7’ plastic/aluminized blanket.

These foil blankets, which can be purchased at most sporting goods stores or through outdoor catalogs, reflect warmth toward you and cold away from you. I generally take two and sometimes three of these foil blankets with me on every cold weather trip. Folding foil blanket in half with one aluminum side down and other up, I tuck my self-inflating camp mat (commonly known as a “Thermarest”) between fold.

Third rule: To tent or not to tent? Your decision. Most any kind of tent will generally keep winter camper 10 to 20 degrees warmer than going without one. They hold some body heat, prevent wind from stealing precious warmth and keep snow off bags and gear.

A number of manufacturers make four-season tents. They are pricier than summer tents because they are made out of stronger materials and have special air ventilation systems to prevent frost build-up.

If you plan to buy a winter tent, get next size larger. So for two people, get four-person model. You’ll need extra space. Winter sleeping bags are bigger and you’re wearing more clothes.

With a sleeping bag to match conditions, however, tents are not necessary in winter. My coldest trip of –40° was on a plastic mat with nothing but stars above. Had it snowed we would have pulled a piece of nylon over top of us.

Fourth rule: Liquid intake is critical in winter camping. It’s a white desert out there! Dry winter air saps internal water reserves – especially while cross-country skiing, fishing, or hiking. Drinking liquids will help keep you warm.

If your urine turns dark or if your body feels cold, you may not be drinking enough. Unless I am away from base camp, I keep hot water on fire. Hot tea with a dried orange drink is my favorite refresher.

On expeditions away from camp, I carry water in either a wineskin-type bota or a plastic bottle. I place these under my jacket in a pocket or on a shoulder strap where body warmth will keep it from freezing.

Fifth rule: A good night’s rest depends on more than just a sleeping bag. In sleeping bag before shut-eye, I eat a candy bar. The fat energy released keeps body warmer and allows me to sleep better.

Take off all clothes except long johns and socks and put them in bottom of your sleeping bag or stuff them in a sack and use for a pillow. Shove your leather boots and water bottle under your sleeping pad to keep them from freezing. I wear my mukluk or pac-boot liners to bed. Body warmth inside bag will dry felt.

Two twelve-hour chemical hand warmers placed in sleeping bag before going to bed warm it up, and once I get in bag, I move one to underneath my back and other to my feet. I don a wool cap and wool gloves and zip myself in. Winter’s elements are now outside.

Sixth rule: The hardest thing about winter camping is getting out of bed. Mornings will generally be coldest time of day. Be it 10° or –20°, it’s hard to face reality of leaving a warm nest. While still in bag, I drink from my water bottle, eat another candy bar, stretch in place and start putting on all my clothes. When my hands get cold, I grab hand warmers.

With a warm coat on, I swing from bag and put on my boots. The night before, I readied a pile of wood for first fire of morning. I light it and enjoy my first cup of hot coffee or cocoa while preparing breakfast.

Seventh rule: Prepare nearly all your food at home and make twice as much as you normally eat. Regardless of how much I eat on winter trips I always lose weight.

In course of collecting folktales in Wisconsin for almost thirty years, I have sampled over a thousand fish fries. I found them in upscale private clubs and in spots that were bare bones rustic. There are thousands more I haven’t seen. WisconsinGuide writer Samm Dowell has picked my favorite – Molly’s Grill in Black River Falls. Here are some others I find “distinctive.”