Camping Trip
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (128034)
Gainesville, Florida
February 6, 2026 10:27am CST
Last week, I spent 5 days in the woods on a camping trip with my son. This year, we included four of my son's cousins, ranging in age from 8 to 15 years old. For three out of the four of them, this was their first camping trip.
Of course, we had to pick the very time that Florida was in a sustained polar vortex where nightly temps were in the low 20s (-4 to -6 C). Add the high winds and the fact we were sleeping in tents, and you can imagine how cold our nights were. But everyone was a trooper and did very well and had a great time. And thankfully no one got frostbite. lol
We were under a full or mostly full moon the entire time, which made for some great nighttime hikes through the forest. And with four kids in tow each hike, my expectation was that we didn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of seeing any animals (not to mention the frigid cold air making them less active). However, much to my surprise, we saw lots of deer. heard packs of coyotes howling each night, and found lots of bear prints in the sandy soil, although thankfully we didn't encounter any.
I always look forward to camping trips like this to rest, relax, and recharge, and although it was a little harder this year with so many active youngsters in tow, I did manage to enjoy myself immensely. Plus, I made all the kids scour the woods for firewood, while I just sat by the campfire and warmed my body and soul.
I also loved looking up into the night sky and gazing at the beautiful full moon. There's just something hypnotizing about it.
The attached photo is of the full moon during one of the evenings. It almost looks like daytime, but smartphone cameras these days do wonders with nighttime photo conditions. Plus, as an added bonus, you can see the contrail of a navy jet on its way to a nearby bombing range about 10 miles from us in the forest. It was fun during the day watching them practice bombing runs.
Anybody care to join me for the next camping trip? I promise we'll go when it's warmer!
13 people like this
13 responses
@lovebuglena (50842)
• Staten Island, New York
6 Feb
Great photo. Glad you enjoyed your camping trip despite the cold temps.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Feb
@lovebuglena In my opinion, nothing beats camping in the frigid cold, where you warm yourself by a campfire, and snuggle up in a warm, cozy sleeping bag.
Nature is the bathroom on my camping trips, since most of them are backpacking adventures. You pee in the bushes, and look for a good private spot to squat and go poop. Lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Feb
I wouldn't recommend camping in such frigid temperatures, and I hope I never do so again! LOL
The funny thing is, we usually go in March for my son's birthday, but we moved it up to January this year because it has been so warm the last couple of years in March. My son wanted some cooler weather. Well, he got it!
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (50842)
• Staten Island, New York
6 Feb
@moffittjc what’s better, camping during frigid temperatures or camping during scorching temperatures? And is there a bathroom or do you go between the trees?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Feb
I've had enough encounters with bears over the years, so I was very happy I didn't have to deal with them this year, especially with so many young kids on the trip with us. But we did see bear tracks and bear scat (poop) everywhere, so the bears were around. With it being so cold they probably weren't active (our bears in Florida don't hibernate), but I am surprised they didn't sneak into our campsite to warm themselves by the fire.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Feb
@JudyEv Yes. Whenever we camp, we carry what they call "bear bags." It's basically just a sack that you put all your food into. You tie a long rope to the bag, and then toss the rope over a branch of a tall tree. You then pull the bear bag up until it's hanging high off the ground where bears can't get to it. It is recommended to keep all food and drinks at least 50 yards (45 meters) from your campsite.
About 8-9 years ago, we had a curious bear visit our campsite in the middle of the night. I was sleeping in my hammock and heard it rummaging around. I didn't dare move so as not to startle it, and I guess after it sniffed around for a while it went on its way back into the woods. We found paw prints all over our campsite in the morning.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (376793)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Feb
@moffittjc Did you keep the food well away from the tents like they recommend? I'm sure you took all precautions but I'm curious because it's all so new to me.
1 person likes this
@dodo19 (47906)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
6 Feb
@moffittjc I'm sure it doesn't happen often. It can't be pleasant to deal with that, especially when you're not used to it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Feb
I've seen a lot of news stories where they have said that it has been colder down here in Florida than it has been up your way in Canada and Alaska. I really hate when these polar vortexes plunge so far south; we are not used to having such cold weather for such a sustained period of time.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Feb
@dodo19 I'm used to sunshine, white sandy beaches, palm trees and flip-flops. I'm not used to snow, cold, icicles and frost.
1 person likes this
@velvet53 (24417)
• Palisade, Colorado
6 Feb
I am ready for a camping trip. It sounds like all five of you had a wonderful time. That is what it is all about.
Watching the moon and night and also going on a hike at night. That had to be super cool. I'm glad that you all had a great time. Right now I am visualizing seeing the deer and moon, listening to the coyotes howl and finding bear tracks. What fun!
1 person likes this
@velvet53 (24417)
• Palisade, Colorado
6 Feb
@moffittjc Yes they do hang in packs and they move very fast. I remember when we were at hunting camp and hearing them at night. It is a beautiful sound.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Feb
@velvet53 It is a beautiful sound, especially when they are far enough away to be considered a safe distance. It becomes a little unsettling when you hear them all night long, and the howls keep getting closer and closer and closer.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Feb
The night hikes were fun until we started hearing the coyotes howl. You can’t tell how close or far they are, so an uneasy feeling starts setting in. Especially since they hunt in packs.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (132404)
• Marion, Ohio
6 Feb
I am not much for camping but I can sit in my backyard and watch that stuff
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (132404)
• Marion, Ohio
8 Feb
@moffittjc But my bed is right inside when I am ready for it. 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Feb
@wolfgirl569 See, you have the best of both worlds!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Feb
Isn't your backyard big enough to count as "camping in the woods?" LOL
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (218418)
• United States
7 Feb
Great photo. You won't catch me EVER camping...not even glamping. The closest I came was a weekend in a cabin with the Campfire Girls.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Feb
See, you can't say you have NEVER been camping! You went with the Campfire Girls, even if it was in a cabin.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Feb
@LindaOHio We also made S'mores! It was the only "luxury" food item we brought on the trip; everything else was freeze-dried backpacking meals. We do try to "rough it" as much as we can, but we often allow ourselves one little luxury item.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (218418)
• United States
8 Feb
@moffittjc Yes; and we made S'Mores and stew in a tin can.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Feb
I was absent for a little bit while I was camping, and while I was sick for the past month I definitely wasn't as active on here as I should have been. But I'm doing much better now, and if the weather here in north Florida would just warm up a little bit, I would be doing even better. I'm tired of our temps dipping below freezing every single night. I think we have been below freezing for at least two consecutive weeks.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (116943)
• United States
6 Feb
@moffittjc Disney World with icicles made our news!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Feb
@AmbiePam My son's fiancé was at Disney when we were camping, and she kept sending us photos of all the Disney fountains that were frozen over with ice and icicles! That was just crazy, in all my years I have never seen that.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (205591)
• United States
6 Feb
Ugh, cold weather camping not for me...but glad you had a great time. I am sure it was an adventure, and much cheaper than Disney!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Feb
I like cool weather camping, but not cold weather camping. This was definitely way too cold for my liking. But nothing beats sitting next to a warm campfire on a cool evening.
I would say that this camping trip we do every years is definitely cheaper than Disney, but for some reason I seemed to have spent a lot more money than usual in preparing for the trip. So this year it may have been equally expensive as Disney! lol
@LovingMyBabies (85923)
• Valdosta, Georgia
6 Feb
It sounds like an amazing time! I truly love camping, especially during the colder months. I wouldn't stand a chance during the Summer-I am dependent on AC these days. Lol.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85923)
• Valdosta, Georgia
7 Feb
@moffittjc As we get older I think the temperature definitely affects us differently.
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@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Feb
I am like you, I think I have become A/C-dependent. I used to love ve the cold, but now it drives me crazy.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Feb
@LovingMyBabies I believe you are 100% accurate on that. My poor middle-aged body can't handle this cold like I used to.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (84721)
• United States
6 Feb
Um…NO. Y’all got mosquitoes the size of a 747 in the summer. 
Glad you had a great time and everyone survived it.
Glad you had a great time and everyone survived it.1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Feb
BUT...we don't have any mosquitoes in the wintertime! LOL
I'm always worried about ticks when I'm camping, but with this sustained polar conditions, it's pretty much wiped out any tick activity. I didn't see a single tick the entire time I was camping.
We did have lots of honey bees in our camp, so there must have been a nest nearby. Thankfully, no one in our group was the type to panic over the sight of a bee, so we just ignored them and let them do their thing.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Feb
My sleeping bag is rated for 20 degree weather. I was so nice and snuggled inside that thing, and stayed warm all night. My poor son has a sleeping bag that is only rated for 40 degree weather, so needless to say he was cold all night long. Luckily, I had my spare 40 degree sleeping bag in my truck, so I gave that to him to use as well as his.
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Feb
Thank you! I had no idea my iPhone would take such a clear photo in the dark.
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (9617)
• United Kingdom
6 Feb
Sounds like a good time was had by all. It’s way too cold for us to be using our tent yet ….hopefully when the weather gets warmer ….
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128034)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Feb
Sub-freezing temperatures is definitely not the appropriate time to be camping in a tent, yet we somehow survived. Thank goodness for campfires!
