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.
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, GorTex, 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.
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.
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 light
snack before bedtime will provide energy to help keep you warm all night.
Stay away from sugar; some cheese, summer sausage, and half an apple is a good
bedtime snack. A heavy snack will pull blood from your extremities to the
body’s core, resulting in cold feet!
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
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.
- 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 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, ever 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 polypropylene 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 or zero degrees and stuffed with at least 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
ThermaRest 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.
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.
WEB LINKS:
A
web search turns up a wealth of information on the subject of winter camping,
much of it provided by BSA units. Here are just a few links:
http://www.wix.com/troop67/WebPages/Cold_Weather_Camping/Cold_Weather_Home.htm
http://www.troop137.com/index6/cold.html
http://www.macscouter.com/KeepWarm/wintcamp.html (the source
of much of this handout)