How much will it cost me to keep warm? The following are recommendations. It is easy to spend a lot of money, but that doesn't make sense when the Scout will use it once and outgrow it. Look around the house for what could work. Check out the thrift shops for wool sweaters and stuff. Make do with what you have. Just make sure it will keep you warm, dry, and comfortable.
Dress in layers. One big heavy jacket is NOT a good idea. If you get warm you want to be able to remove a little clothing so you don't sweat. The idea is to stay not only warm but also dry. Water against your skin can cool you very fast. Skin-tight clothing is ok, but don't wear clothes so tight they cut off circulation - like three pairs of big socks in small boots.
Cotton kills. Avoid cotton if you can because it soaks up water and becomes worthless.
Wool keeps you warm even when wet. Polyester fleece is good. Long johns should be polyester, not cotton.
Wear a hat. You lose most of your heat from your head, neck, and chest. Wearing a hat really does help keep your feet warm. Ski masks are cool, too.
My hands are cold. That snowball you are ready to throw at me is pretty cold, huh? Wool glove liners and neoprene outer gloves are cheap at military surplus stores.
Keep your feet dry. Winter boots can be purchased at sporting goods stores, but they can be expensive. Some after-ski boots can be used. Rain boots keep the snow out but need lots of heavy socks to keep you warm. Some people just spray waterproofing on their hiking boots. Make sure you bring dry shoes to put on in the evening when you are done playing in the snow.
Bring extra clothes. You can get very wet and cold sliding in the snow. Have warm dry clothes waiting when you are done so you are comfortable at dinner and the campfire. Make sure you keep one set of clothes that you ONLY use for this - do NOT put on your last dry clothes and go out and get them wet again.
Don't throw that snowball. Please don't throw snow on anyone without their permission. They may already be cold, or they may be wearing their only dry clothes.
Your kitchen. If you put your stove on the snow the heat from it with eventually make the stove sink into the snow. Have something to put your stove on. A small folding table or a footlocker works well.
Dinner time. Keep your meals simply with lots of starches and fats for energy. And remember to drink lots of water - even though it is cold, it is very easy to become dehydrated in the winter, and dehydration keeps your body from making heat.
Get comfortable. Bring something - a closed-cell foam pad perhaps - to sit on the snow with. If you want real comfort, use a shovel to carve a recliner chair and line it with an extra sleeping pad.
Don't drop anything. To keep things from falling out of your pockets and sinking into the snow, tie a short piece of cord to them.
Deadmen pitch your tent. Tent stakes don't work well in soft snow. You can get special snow stakes or you can use deadmen. A deadman is something buried with a string tied around it with the other end tied to your tent. Branches work ok. Better is to take a small tin can lid, punch a hole in the middle, and tie the string to the hole. If you bury this on its end it is easier to dig out when you leave - don't leave trash behind!
Don't get lost. Don't wander too far, especially for those late-night bathroom trips. With snow covering everything but the trees, you don't have as many landmarks to find your way back. And remember to put a flashlight in your pocket before it gets dark, and it gets dark early in the winter.
Click here for how to Sleep in Snow