ADVANCE
PLANNING FOR WINTER CAMPING
Advance Planning before entering the woods or
any Wilderness Area in the Winter is "Essential" and can very often mean the diffrerence between Life and Death. I cannot stress how Important Advance Panning and Knowledge is. I can only keep repeating that it is very often the difference between living and dying.
Most of this information can be found in
the _Boy Scout Handbook_ and other major Survival Handbooks. Links to Some
great sources of other Books and Tapes will be found at the bottom of this Page.
"One has to lie
deep in the snow to learn how warm and protective it is. A den in the snow
confines the body heat like a blanket or overcoat. It is a snug place,
no matter how hard the wind may howl. One who holes up in the snow understands
better the mysteries of the woods in the winter. He knows why the severe
weather grouse squirm their way under soft snow and be quiet. He understands
why deer bury themselves in drifts, lying a half day or more with just
their heads sticking out. He learns some- thing of the comfort of the bear
in hibernation."
William O. Douglas,
1950
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MISCONCEPTIONS
ABOUT WINTER CAMPING
Myth
#1: Leather hiking
boots will keep your feet warm. - FALSE
- The sung fit of most leather
hiking boots can limit the circulation of blood in the foot. Especially
with thick socks on. Overboots cut generously enough to hold your foot
and shoe are much more effective. The cloth stitching in leather boots
can also wick moisture into the shoe. Nothing is worse that wet feet in
cold winter.
Myth
#2: Waterproof
clothing is ideal for cold weather camping. - FALSE
- To keep warm, in the cold,
your clothing must allow body moisture to escape. Moisture that is trapped
too close to the body can wick heat away through evaporation. It is better
to layer your clothing on in cold weather. Wool, Gor Tex, and polypropylene
garments work nice in the cold. Always wear insulated underwear.
Myth
#3: Winter camping does not require much preparation.-
FALSE
- Arctic conditions exist
when the wind is blowing and the temperature drops below 20 degrees F.
There are only seven states in the U.S. that do not experience arctic weather.
Indiana is not one of them.. It is very important to prepare and even over
prepare. I've never heard anyone complain about being too warm or having
too many dry clothes on a winter campout.
Myth
#4: Mental attitude
has little to do with winter camping. - FALSE
- A positive mental attitude
is the most important ingredient in the success of cold weather camping
trips. The demands of winter will drain your energy and you'll have to
rely on yourself to keep your spirits high.
Myth
#5: In cold weather,
tasks can be done just as quickly as in warm weather. - FALSE
- Every effort in cold weather
takes longer to complete. Be sure to bring some winter patience with you
when you camp in the cold.
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CONSERVING BODY
HEAT - THE PRIME OBJECTIVE
There are three ways to lose body heat. Keeping
them in mind will help you be much more aware of what you are or could
be doing to keep your body warm.
RADIATION
The emission of body, especially from the skin
areas exposed to the elements. A good set of gloves, hat, and scarf can
help best in keeping bare skin to a minimum.
CONDUCTION
The absorption of cold by the body when sitting
or laying on cold ground, or handling cold objects such as metal cooking
utensils and metal canteens. This is why a decent sleeping pad is required
for cold weather camping. The same goes for wearing gloves. A camp stool
is a must on a winter camping trip. Try not to sit on the ground.
CONVECTION
The loss of body heat due to wind blowing across
unprotected body parts. This situation can also be reduced by keeping bare
skin covered with hats, scarves, and gloves. It is important to keep exposure
to a minimum, ESPECIALLY in a windy situation. Convection heat loss can
reduce body heat the fastest. Wet clothing will accelerate this process,
making staying dry even more important.
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OTHER
CONCERNS
Tent
Placement.
Also
see " Dry Tent."
Whenever possible, place your tent in a location
that will catch the sunrise in the morning. This will aid in melting off
any ice and evaporating any frost or dew that may have formed during the
night. This will also warm your tent as you awaken in the morning. Cold
air sinks. Try to place your campsite on slightly higher ground than the
rest of your surroundings. Try to choose a protected site if it is snowing
or the wind is blowing.
Water Consumption
In Cold Weather.
Dehydration can seriously impair the body's
ability to produce heat. Drink fluids as often as possible during the day
and keep a water bottle or canteen with you at night.
Cooking In Cold
Weather.
Cooking in cold weather will take about twice
as long as normal. Always use a lid on any pots that you are cooking in.
This will help to hold in the heat and decrease the overall heating time.
Make sure you start hot cleaning water before you start cooking. The pots
and utensils must still be cleaned. Try to keep your menu to good one-pot
meals. Things like stews, chili, and hot beans stick to your ribs, lessen
the cleaning time, and provide good sources of energy and fuel for your
internal furnace. A good high-calorie snack before bedtime will also keep
you warm all night. Stay away from an overabundance of sugar, cheese is
a good high-calorie bedtime snack.
Sleeping Tip
#1.
DO NOT sleep
with your mouth and nose in your sleeping bag. The moisture of your breath
will condense in the bag, and cause it to become wet and ineffective as
an insulator.
Buddy System.
Buddies can help each other pack for a trek,
look after one another in the woods, and watch for symptoms of frostbite,
hypothermia, and exhaustion.
Checklist.
Make a checklist of everything you need before
you start to pack. Then check each item off as you pack it. This way you
will not forget anything.
Keeping
Warm.
Keeping warm is the most important part of cold
weather camping. Use the C-O-L-D method to
assure staying warm.
-C
- Clean
Since insulation is only effective when
heat is trapped by dead air spaces, keep your insulating layers clean and
fluffy. Dirt, grime, and perspiration can mat down those air spaces and
reduce the warmth of a garment.
-
O -Overheating .
A steady flow of warm blood is essential
to keep all parts of your body heated. Wear several loosely fitting layers
of clothing and footgear that will allow maximum insulation without impeding
your circulation.
-
L - Loose Layers.Avoid
overheating by adjusting the layers of your clothing to meet the outside
temperature and the exertions of your activities. Excessive sweating can
dampen your garments and cause chilling later on .
-
D - Dry
Damp clothing and skin can cause your body
to cool quickly, possibly leading to frostbite and hypothermia. Keep dry
by avoiding cotton clothes that absorb moisture. Always brush away snow
that is on your clothes before you enter a heated area. Keep the clothing
around your neck loosened so that body heat and moisture can escape instead
of soaking several layers of clothing.
Clothing.
Footwear.
As with other clothing, the layer system is
also the answer for foot- wear. Start with a pair of silk, nylon, or thin
wool socks next to your skin. Then layer on several pairs of heavier wool
socks. When and if your feet become damp, change into another pair of dry
socks at the first opportunity. Rubber overboots will protect the feet
from water and will allow more comfortable shoes to be worn within.
Mittens and Gloves.
Mittens allow your fingers to be in direct contact
with each other. They will keep your hands warmer than regular gloves that
cover each finger. Select mittens that are filled with foam insulation,
or pull on wool gloves and cover them with a nylon overmitt. Long cuffs
will keep wind and snow from getting in.
Headgear.
The stocking hat is the warmest thing you can
cover your head with in cold weather. Get one that is large enough to pull
down over your ears. Also ski masks are great in the winter and can help
in keeping your neck and face warm as well. Noses and ears can be very
easily frostbitten, so a scarf can be an invaluable item to have. A "TIP"from my Grandfather,,, "If your feet are cold,, put on a hat."
Parka and/or Overcoat.
Your coat or parka is the most important piece
of your winter clothing. It needs to be large enough to fit over extra
clothing without cutting off blood flow, and allowing ventilation to keep
moisture away from your body. A large permanently attached hood will prevent
heat loss around your head and neck.
Sleepwear.
"Never""if
it is at all possible" should you sleep in the same clothes
that you have worn all day. They are damp and will cause you to chill.
This could cause frostbite and hypothermia. It is advised that you bring
a thick pair of sweats and thermal underwear to sleep in. Keep the thermals
and sweats for sleeping in only. Do not wear them during the day, this
will keep them the driest. Also be sure to have a couple of layers of wool
or heavy thick cotton socks on as well. Always sleep with a stocking hat
on your head. Your sleeping bag needs to be a winter rated bag. Typically
rated down to 15 degrees and stuffed with 5 pounds of Holofil, Fiberfil,
or other polyester ticking. It is also a very good idea to have some kind
of sleeping mat to use in the winter. The mat can be a $90 Thermal Rest
from Galyans or a $5 piece of high density rubber foam at least one inch
thick. In cold weather camping you never want to
sleep on an air mattress or off the ground in a cot. The air under
you will cool you off in no time and this would create a threatening situation.
If you don't have a sleeping mat, bring a spare wool or natural fiber blanket
to use as a ground pad under your sleeping bag. The sleeping mat is worth
it's weight in gold.
Have fun!
Every year, tens of thousands of people
will go winter camping. Although the threat of danger is always present
in a winter camp, planning and knowledge can overcome this. It is very
important that Everyone goes prepared. If a Anyone feels that at
this time winter camping is not for them , then they should not go. There
is always next year and the year after and so on.
Make sure you are ready, and most
of all, SAFE.
Special Credit goes to :Michael R. Schmehl and Chuck Bramlet