We’re under a winter storm watch/warning and Odi and I head into the Montana backcountry for a Friday-eve snow camp. They’re calling for 6–12 inches, and honestly this is my favorite kind of winter camping—when it’s actively coming down. The flakes were thick, the forest got quiet, and I was stoked because this was the first “big” snow camp of the year where it actually felt like winter was showing up. I also answer the question I know I’m going to get: why my dog is wearing snow pants. Odi’s a labradoodle, and wet snow sticks to doodle fur like crazy—then more snow sticks to the snow, and he ends up basically unable to walk after a bit. The pants keep his legs drier so he can play longer and we’re not fighting snow clumps all night. For dinner I kept it simple and cozy with a super creamy Trader Joe’s gnocchi (I’m probably butchering the name), added spinach, and tossed in elk loin with extra parmesan—one-pan meals are my favorite because cleanup is a breeze. We wrapped the night with hot chocolate and woke up to clearing skies after it dumped earlier, which is hands-down one of my favorite winter camping outcomes.