Backcountry Luxury: Making a Kitchen at Your Snow Camp Using a Pyramid Tent

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Fast and light is the all the rage. “A rope, a rack, and the pack on your back.” The faster we go, the less time we are exposed to the objective hazards. The less equipment we need, the more that speaks to the knowledge and skill of the climber. Hence, minimalist climbs are looked at as being in great “style.”

But that’s the climb… the actual climbing.

What about getting to the climb? What about having a place to regroup and recover if you are at altitude and need to acclimate? Even the best-styled big mountain climbs have a basecamp. And when it comes to basecamps, we can talk about having logistics and porter support to get the big, heavy tents into position. Or we can talk about self-supported and then we want to get the most out of the weight we have to haul into camp.

The pyramid tent I use in this snow kitchen build, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 4, weighs about 22 ounces (635 grams). That’s manageable for a self-supported team to bring into some far away camp even when hauling all the gear themselves. That convenience makes it hard for me to not make a pyramid tent snow kitchen when I’m going to have a semi-permanent camp for more than a few days. So, that could be a true expedition basecamp or just a four day weekend out with my family.

Yes, the longer we are out there, the more objective hazards there are likely to be. Well, one of those hazards can be storms. If we are out there enough days, the likelihood of needing to cook while the snow if falling is actually kind of high. So, having a place where I can stand fully upright, can cook in relative comfort, and be sheltered from weather is well worth it, to me.

Heck, even if it doesn’t snow, having that space to move around and work at counter height can be a welcomed change from typically low-ceilinged tents.

Maybe adding a pound-and-a-half of luxury is worth the trade for you, too?