Camping Tips & Other Stuff

1. Toes cold? Put on a hat. Your body loses up to half of its total heat in 40-degree temperatures. So, when it’s below freezing and you’re head is uncovered, you could be radiating more than three-fourths of your overall body heat from your head.

2. Get off your rear end. If you’re sitting on a snow bank or a cold rock, you’re conducting the heat from your body into the surface of the object beneath you. Often, Northern Tier cold-weather campers stand and sit atop thin foam pads.

3. Beware of frosty fuel. Pouring fuel into a stove? Put on a pair of thick rubber gloves. If it’s sub-zero outside, so is the fuel (since it doesn’t freeze like water). Spill it on your hands and you will have instant frostbite.

4. Baggy clothes are back in style — at least in the freezing-cold wilderness. Your body heats itself most efficiently when it’s enveloped in a layer of warm air. If your clothes are too tight, you’re strangling the cold right out of your body. Dressing in loose layers helps aid this convection layer of air. Tight clothes or too-tight boots can also restrict blood-flow.

5. The three W’s: Every cold-weather camper needs to dress for the occasion. You’ll need a wicking layer (long underwear), a “warm” layer (fleece) and a “wind” layer (waterproof shell).

6. Bundle up! It might be a phrase often heard from your mother, but mom is right about this one. If you’re moving around outdoors in the cold and suddenly stop to eat lunch or take a break, put your warmer layers on — even if you’re not cold. This change in activity will cause your body heat to plummet. Preempt the cold with an extra layer.

7. Fuel the fire. Feeling cold? Eat a snack. Staying warm is just like keeping a fire burning; every fire needs a steady supply of slow-burning fuel. Unlike a fire, you’re body will also need lots of water to help digest food and stay hydrated.

8. Wet feet? Grab a bag — a bread bag, that is. The long plastic bag can stretch over your foot and serve as a liner between your sock and your boot.

 

 

There’s nothing like camping in cold weather. The bugs are gone, and campsites that were crowded in summer are largely yours alone. And if there’s snow, new adventures beckon: Ski or snowshoe a trail; follow animal tracks; sleep in a snow trench or quinzee hut.

 

Winter camping is wonderful — that is, if you know what you’re doing. The dangers are dehydration, hypothermia and frostbite. Before you set out, read Chapter 18 of the Fieldbook, “Cold-Weather Adventuring.” Add these tips, and everyone will come home smiling.

 

Traveling in snow
If there is snow blanketing the ground, use it to your advantage. Carry lightweight backpacks and load up toboggan sleds with heavier items like tents or cooking equipment. Pull the sleds behind you while snowshoeing or hiking through the snow.

 

Fueling your body
You burn a lot more calories in winter than in summer, particularly when you’re exerting yourself. If you want to stay warm, fuel your fire — that is, feed and hydrate yourself adequately. Fatty foods should make up at least one-third or more of your total calories. Don’t shy away from carbohydrates or proteins. Consider these foods that work: hard sausage, nuts, dried fruits, crackers, cheese, dehydrated soups and hot-drink mixes like cocoa. Cut snacks like cheese or sausage into edible bites, in case it freezes.

 

Cooking gear
Icy temperatures and wind reduce stove efficiency. Plan to dig a cooking trench deep in the snow. Set stoves on a piece of plywood. Liquid-fuel stoves work better than propane stoves at low temperatures. You must insulate butane fuel canisters with closed-cell foam or set them in a pot of warm water before you use them.

Each camper should bring an 18-inch square of closed-cell foam on which he or she can sit or stand when cooking or eating. Standing on snow or ice for very long (like when cooking meals) can chill you quickly. It’s helpful to pack one 72-inch-long closed-cell foam sleeping pad per patrol to be used as a “tablecloth,” helping prevent cooking gear or utensils from sinking into the snow. It can also double as an extra sitting pad.

Fill one stainless steel thermos bottle for every four Scouts with hot water each morning, providing hot chocolate or soups on request. Wrap vacuum bottles in closed-cell foam.

Freezing begins at the air interface of a liquid, so store water bottles upside down in the snow. Keep your water bottle inside your parka when hiking.

 

Dressing for the cold
Camping in the winter doesn’t mean you need a whole new set of equipment. Go with what your Scouts have, using these tricks:

When dressing for cold weather, focus on a layering system including the three Ws: wicking, warmth and wind. Your base layer should be wicking (like an athletic shirt), an insulating layer should be warming (like fleece or wool) and an exterior layer should block the wind. Use clothing you have, focusing on the right combination of fabrics.

Mittens are warmer than gloves. If insulated mittens get wet, they stay that way. Wool mitts worn inside leather or nylon shells are removable for faster drying. Wool gloves are needed for dexterity when cooking.

For overnight warmth, wear wool, polypropylene or polyester (never cotton!) long johns, socks and a balaclava to bed. Place a scarf across your neck to seal drafts. Be sure to change into dry clothes for sleeping — moisture retained in field clothes will cause chilling.

 

Sleeping warm
Two sleeping bags — one placed inside the other — should provide enough warmth down to about zero degrees. If you don’t have a closed-cell foam pad to use as a sleeping mat, try half-inch-thick foam carpet padding.

In warmer months, a plastic ground cloth should be used inside your tent to stay dry. However, in winter, use the ground cloth beneath your tent to keep it from freezing to the ground.

 

Avoiding cold-weather dangers
Be very careful around open flames, since you won’t feel the heat of a burning stove or campfire through thickly insulated winter clothing.

Wearing waterproof clothes in subfreezing temperatures while hiking or sleeping is a recipe for hypothermia. Opt for a breathable, windproof shell that won’t trap perspiration. However, you’re in big trouble if snow suddenly turns to rain and you don’t have a waterproof raincoat. Tuck the waterproof shell away in your pack or sled.

Double up on clothing that might get wet: two sets of wool underwear, mittens, warm hats (a balaclava and stocking cap) and wool socks.

Small stuff disappears in snow, so take pre-emptive measures to prevent this. Tie colored plastic surveying tape (available at hardware stores) to small items that might get lost. Each patrol should use a different color. Your pocketknife and compass can be kept on a lanyard attached to your belt. A security strap for eyeglasses is important.

Days are short in winter, so plan accordingly. Every Scout should have an LED headlamp with lithium batteries. (Store it in a jacket pocket close to your body to keep the batteries from draining in the cold.) A candle lantern provides light and some heat in a quinzee or snow cave.