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A rusty mug that cuts your lip. A wood stove without a door. Eighty days on Great Slave Lake will make you grateful for the little things—and will redraw your map of what matters. We sat down with winter guide and Alone Season 7 alum Kielyn Marrone to unpack how survival clarity and traditional craft can turn deep cold into deep comfort.

Kielyn traces the path from competitive athlete to outdoor educator to co‑founder of Lure of the North, guiding everyone from first‑timers at a cozy base camp to hardy travellers on committing northern routes. She breaks down the traditional winter system—canvas anoraks, big snowshoes, hot tents, and freight toboggans—and why breathable, natural materials outperform heavy “cold camping” in real wilderness. We dig into her DIY roots: teaching moccasin, mitten, and anorak workshops; launching gear kits and videos; then intentionally splitting the retail side to protect the expedition focus and avoid burnout.

The conversation travels home to their off‑grid homestead built from a prospector tent and a leaking aluminum boat, now powered by a 12 kW solar array with diesel backup. Kielyn shares the unglamorous but essential systems—rotating compost, a bear‑proof garbage cage, a simple thunderbox—and why modern conveniences can live alongside primal solutions. As camp chef, she reveals how single‑ingredient freeze‑dried staples make lighter, healthier meals at scale, retaining nutrients and rehydrating fast in subzero temps.

Hear about a 73‑day snowshoe traverse from Lake Superior to James Bay, the art of pacing ten‑hour days, and the quiet headspace of walking in winter rhythm. If you care about winter camping, hot tenting, DIY gear, off‑grid living, survival lessons, or planning remote expeditions, this one is packed with field‑tested insight and hard‑earned laughs.

If this story moved you or taught you something new, follow the show, leave a quick review, and share it with a friend who loves wild places. Got a winter question we should tackle next? Send us a note at Hi at Supergoodcamping.com.

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