Thanks for taking us along on your winter trip, I enjoyed it. It is fun to see how effective the winter prep / insulation can be..... You get a few odd looks from people saying "I'm going camping this weekend" in the winter. It is a shame so many of the campgrounds are closed and gated but there are also a lot fewer people you can get away with camping in a trailhead or snowplow turnaround and be ok. All depends on where you are of course, and when.
Last July we parked in a dirt parking lot more or less on the uppermost Green River just into the NF. In the morning I found a piece of paper in the dirt that I uncrumpled and it read "No Parking January 6th-8th (?) for Dog Sled Race event". Kind of cracked me up.
We have some places in Colorado where camping is only allowed in designated areas, but 46 miles is pretty tough! I wish they would keep a few unlocked and open instead of locking, or change the signs about no camping to during the time of year when the CGs are open.
Thanks again, good trip!