Winter Camping





WINTER CAMPING


This is what I pass out to my Scouts about a month before our winter 
camporee.  That gives us a couple of meetings or more to discuss cold 
weather survival skills, and a chance to inform parents of the dangers 
of cold weather camping when one is not fully prepared.

Brian J. Murrey - Assistant Scoutmaster and Outdoors Activities Planner
Troop 120 (317)535-9887 - Crossroads of America Council

Computer re-typed and reformatted by Chuck Bramlet, ASM Troop 323
Thunderbird District, Grand Canyon Council, Phoenix, Az.



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.

"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



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. 



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 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.
	

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 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.


