unbeknownst to my friend and I, we headed out in what turned out to be the coldest day of the winter yet at -35.4F/-38C, not including the wind chill! We took off at a steady pace on a packed trail, and soon found ourselves meandering through a forest of maple trees. Once sheltered from the wind, all we could hear was the loud crunching of our snowshoes on the trail. We had to slow down to maneuver around a complicated system of tubes and taps set up to collect the trees’ coveted sweet syrup, and were rewarded by a woodpecker sighting up in the trees.

We made it to the cabin right at sunset, and we were happy to see a few glowing embers in the wood burning stove. The cabin is used to shelter skiers and snowshoers during the day, and at night can sleep up to 12 people in a dormitory-style setting.

The main focus of the evening was to keep the fire going and to guess what the temperature was outside and inside the cabin. With an alarm set up for every 3 hours to add wood to the stove, we managed to sleep at a comfortable 3C/37F on the second floor of the cabin.

Food wise, I have to admit I failed! For dinner we resorted to good ol’ instant noodles, and the fanciest thing we had was two slices of King Cake/Galette des Rois that my mom packed for us. If I had planned a little more carefully, snacks I would recommend for the trail in cold weather would be small fatty items that you can put in your pockets like cheese or banana bread. I would stay away from power bars as they become impossible to eat once frozen.

I’m not sure this trip counts towards my snow camping goal for 2014, but in case it doesn’t, I know I can handle any cold and snow weather camping temperatures California might have in reserve for me! Happy winter adventures!

Most of the campgrounds in Joshua Tree are first come, first serve. The park is a climber’s paradise, but climbing season is winding down at this point in the year, so you may have more luck finding a site. If you’re a climber, then Hidden Valley Campground is the place you will likely look for a campsite first. It is the one closest to the entrance, and to much of the climbing in the park. We prefer driving just a bit deeper to our favorite gem, Jumbo Rocks Campground.

Jumbo Rocks is much larger than it appears, and is the location of the park’s amphitheater. Ranger programs are available many weekends for your learning pleasure. They’ll teach you about the stars, creatures of the desert, and other relevant topics. My favorite part of Jumbo Rocks are the many beautiful stacks of boulders in and around all the campsites. They create a lively and spectral show as the light of campfires dances along their faces.

I also appreciate the open desert that the campground backs up against. It offers endless space for exploring, day or moonlit night. Once, we created a sort of mini adventure race for our group to enjoy, choosing a large boulder in the distance to race to. I chose to go straight forward, scrambling over the rocks in the way, while others went around on the ground. I lost, but surely had the most fun.

Many tourists can’t go to Joshua Tree without taking pictures of the infamous “Skull Rock,” which is located on the roadside of Jumbo Rocks Campground. There is a short hiking trail that leads you straight to the landmark from the campground. You’ll know you’re there when you see all the cars parked on the side of the main road, and the people with their cameras out.

What’s your favorite campground? Is there one you especially miss when the season changes?