PLANNING FOR WINTER CAMPING
Most
of this information can be found in the Boy Scout Handbook. If you are going
to be doing a lot of outdoor activities, this book is an invaluable source of
know-how and advice. Winter Camping Presentation
"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 something of the comfort of the bear in hibernation."William O. Douglas,
1950
Additional winter camping information is in the
attached Princeton University Outdoor Action PDF document;
OA Guide to Winter Camping� by Rick Curtis
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT WINTER CAMPING
Myth #1: Leather hiking boots will
keep your feet warm. -- FALSE
The snug 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. Virginia 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. 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.
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.
OTHER CONCERNS
Tent Placement. 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. 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.
IMPORTANT STUFF TO KEEP IN MIND
Clothing does not make you warm; it is your body processes that
keep you warm. Clothing merely provides the insulation to preserve your warmth.
Layered thickness is warmth.
Keep your torso warm so that your body can send heat to the
extremities.
Avoid sweating by ventilation.
Keep rain and wind out of your insulation.
Use your head. Keep it covered when you're cold; remove cap as you
warm up to avoid sweating.
If your feet are cold, put a hat on.
Strain one muscle against another to maintain metabolism.
Wool clothing is best but needs wind protection, synthetics are
next best. Down is OK as long as it stays dry, cotton is a poor choice.
Remember the word "COLD"
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 (clothing) clean and fluffy. Dirt,
grime, and perspiration can mat down those air spaces and reduce the warmth of
a garment.
O -
Overheating. 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.
L -
Loose Layers. 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.
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.
Parka and/or OvercoatYour 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 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 (Scouts get a %10 discount by showing Scout ID card) or a 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 boys 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 the Scouts come
prepared. If a Scout feels that at this time winter camping is not for him,
then he should not go. There is always next year and the year after and so on.
If a Scout comes to camp and I do not feel that he is prepared, I will have to
ask him to stay behind. Make sure you are ready, and most of all, SAFE.
Rules and Instructions for Keeping Warm in the Sack
REMEMBER: The sleeping bag doesn't heat you, you heat it. So
use this rule, "Thickness is warmth", to keep this heat. If you're cold,
add some more insulations (blankets, clothes, more newspaper).
DO NOT SLEEP IN BOTTOM OF
BAG: Your breath contains water.
If you close your bag with your head inside, then this water sticks to the bag.
Wear a hat to keep your head warm.
CHANGE CLOTHES: NEVER
sleep in wet clothes. Even perspiration will chill you at night.
EAT A CANDY BAR:
