Winter Camping Tips and Techniques pt1

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Winter Camping Tips and Techniques pt1

• An open ended discussion 1/14/09

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Forewarning

• anything involving action in the outdoors is
  dangerous.
• the climbing club is not allowed to
  teach/instruct
• this is information that I have gathered to
  present to you.
• I do not recommend that you do/use any of these
  tips/techniques, but they are what I would and
  actually do for myself

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Winter Clothing

• Heat loss
• heat is lost through .
• Head, and hands
• Principles Air space traps heat.
• Enemy water.
• NO COTTON. Absorbs moisture, reduces airspace.
• Useful layer principles
• Under, warmth, wind layers.

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Clothing Materials

• Wool/Merino wool
• Pros Maintains warmth, wicks water away, wind
  resistant
• Cons Heavy, and absorbs water easily, possibly
  itchy, dries slowly
• Polypro, capilene
• Pros Wicks water, decent warmth/weight ratio
• Cons smells like death
• Fleece
• similar insulating capacity as wool, lighter, not
  necessarily windproof.
• Primaloft,thinsulate, etc...
• thin fibers to increase deadspace
• Vapor/wind barriers Goretex, E-Vent, Precip,
  plastic bag
• not too much warmth, though it prevents
  convection!
• Breathability is nice
• Down
• Pros Light/warmth ratio, compacts, 
• downers Absorbs water, dries slowly, expensive
• Radiant barriers (space blanket)

Wool
Goretex
Down
http//www.triplezero.fr/eng/manufacture.php
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Clothing Basics

• Base Long underwear, Socks (several pairs!)
• Inner Fleece, wool, Softshells.
• Outer Snow pants, rain/wind/snow shell, Gaiters,
  Boots
• Extremities Hat, Balaclava/Scarf,
  sunglasses/goggles, gloves (2 pair)
• SUNSCREEN

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Clothing Tips

• Additional equipment
• camp booties?
• chemical warmers warmers?
• Tips
• Start slightly cold, 'cause you'll warm up soon.
• Frequently adjust layers according to activity.
• THIS IS DIFFICULT and PERSONAL
• carry more than you think you'll need, then
  slowly par-down.
• Clothing systems are best tailored to your own
  physiology.
• Better to carry too much than to be too cold.

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Tents

• Free standing?
• Pitched?
• Single walled?
• Double walled?
• 4 season!

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Packs

• Larger for winter use
• use as emergency pads
• Ask around, other members actually work for FF
  and sell these

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Sleeping Bags and Pads

• Lose most of your heat to the ground, 'cause its
  in direct contact.
• Sleeping Bag
• Down 
• Pros/Cons
• Synthetic
• Pros/Cons
• Sleeping Pad
• Closed cell is highly regarded
• Some people double up for warmth

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Cooking Equipment

• stove
• pot and or cup
• plastic utensils

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Snow equipment

• Shovel
• Beacons, Probes
• Skis/skins/boots/poles
• Snowshoes/waterproof boots/poles
• Snow saw
• Avalanche testing gear

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Eleven essentials

• Map,
• compass,
• sun protection,
• food and water,
• clothes,
• headlamp/flashlight,
• first aid,
• firestarter,
• matches,
• knife
• Ethan or another amazing photographer (eg
  yourself with a camera?)

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Shelter

• Pros
• Quick to set up
• Reasonably dry
• Acts as a solar clothes/sleeping bag dryer
• Cons
• Can collapse under heavy snow-wind loads
• Heavy to carry

• Tents
• Bivys
• Caves
• Pits
• Igloos
• Quinzees

• Pros
• Usually bomber if made well
• more permanent
• better insulation against really bad weather
• some can be made in a pinch
• Cons
• Take time to make
• Can collapse if not made well
• Slightly Dampx1

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• Safe
• Not in low-lying areas
• Out of wind
• Near water,not next to
• South facing

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Tents Tips when using

• Setup under trees
• Vent! prevent condensation.
• Avoid cooking in one
• Pack down snow, let sit an hr
• Surround with snow on base, or build wall
• Take down if leaving windy area
• Steaks/deadman anchors
• Avoid snow inside as much as possible.

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Snow caves

• Pros
• Excellent emergency shelter everyone should
  know how to build one
• Robust
• Impervious to weather
• Excellent in extreme cold snow insulates
• Cons
• Much time and effort required
• Damp
• You get wet building it
• Takes time.

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From Mountaineering Freedom of the Hills
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Pits/Trenches

• Pros/Cons?

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Igloo
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Quinzee
Can put a tarp over your equipment, and have to
hollow out less snow
http//www.princeton.edu/oa/winter/wintshel.shtml
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Sleeping tips

• Fluff sleeping bag after tent set up.
• Warm up w/ exercise before jumping in
• Double up bags, wear long johns, use liner for
  more warmth
• Breath into balaclava, not sleeping bad
• Dry out Clothing - keep boots warm, put in
  inverted stuff sack and in bottom of bag
• Keep food/water warm and perishables cold
• Putting a bottle of warm water in the foot of
  your sleeping bag will help keep your feet warm
  during the night. Don't forget to seal it well.
• Vapor barriers (rainwear) if temp suddenly drops
• Pee bottles (label which one!) and actually use
  the restroom if needed. Dont need to keep water
  warm.

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Hypothermia

• Remove all wet clothes and move the person
  inside.
• WARM FLUIDS, no caffeine or alcohol
• high sugar foods,
• Cover the person's body with blankets emergency
  blankets, and place the victim in a warmed
  sleeping bag.
• Avoid actively heating the victim with outside
  sources of heat such as radiators or hot water
  baths. This may only decrease the amount of
  shivering and slow the rate of core temperature
  increase.
• Strenuous muscle exertion should be avoided.
• If victim unable to generate own heat apply your
  own body heat, or heat from hot water bottles.

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