Burning Questions before Camel’s Hump

1. Will a plastic plate work as a snow shovel, or should I cut the handle off of a real snow shovel?

Depends on the snow. If it is light powder, no problem. If it is crusty, you will be eating out of your pot…or your hands.

2. How can I stake a tent down in the snow without snow stakes? We're using Timberline Eureka! A-frame tents.

If you can find sticks, you can bury those in the snow as anchors. Again, depending on snow conditions and your digging tools. Or you can try to tie to small trees. (Not large trees, as they have a tendency to dump huge loads of snow on tents.)

3. I'm using two sleeping bags, both synthetic. Can I safely put icy gear like a snow jacket and wet gloves in between the two to dry out overnight from my body heat, like I do in warmer weather?

The biggest worry here would be condensation. You might well dry out your jacket, only to coat your oustide bag with water. Leave them outside, let them freeze up, and then shake the snow/ice off them in the morning. Smile! You're snow camping!

4. I have an Under Armour insulating layer, a heavyweight Merino Wool layer, a pair of Red Ledge mesh-lined rain pants, and a pair of durable Mountain Hardwear Mesa quick-dry backpacking pants. Can I combine all 4 to use as snowpants? (It's very comfortable and non-bulky). If this isn't enough insulation for 0º to -15º, I'll bring heavy snowpants.

Yes. And only you can decide what works for you. I hike warm, and wear relatively light layers while hiking. But the minute I stop, I get hypothermic if I don't have plenty of warm clothes to wear…

Your set up should work while hiking…but maybe not when you stop!

1 – What are you digging? If it's for sleeping trenches or a snow cave a plate isn't gonna cut it. COSTCO has a great shovel on sale that will fit the bill.

2 – You can make deadmen with fallen wood that you bury and tie off to. or make/buy the nylon parachutes they sell as sand/snow anchors. You can also use pointy thing like ski poles as stakes.

3 – I'd brush off as much ice/snow and put the items you want to dry in the sleeping bag with me.

4 – On the move, if you are going at any decent pace, I think you are going to be hot with all those lower layers. I'm not 100% sure which layer I’d drop, but I think it would be the rain pants. I wouldn't be wearing a heavy merino layer, but that's just me and my legs (and for the most part people i hike with) need much less insulation than my upper body for any given temperature. Bring the snow pants (I'm guessing they are insulated) for when you stop.

Have fun.