2024 FINISHED WITH two camps, one in the foothills, one up in the high country. They weren’t many miles apart in distance, but in character they belonged to different worlds entirely.

I’ll be honest, both camps almost didn’t happen. Before deciding to go on each, before packing, I found myself struggling with motivation, which is crazy, given how much I know I love winter camping, and also how profoundly beneficial I know nature-immersion is. But, as I grow older, I’m...