Troop 258’s

Winter Camping Guide

 

 

Cold weather camping represents one of the greatest challenges a scout will face.  With the proper planning and knowledge, this challenge can be easily attacked.  Without proper planning, the challenge could prove to be a dangerous defeat.  This guide is intended to provide the scouts with a quick start guide of the skills of COLD WEATHER CAMPING.  This guide is broken down into several key areas that include clothing, the layering system, special equipment, sleeping, and cold weather first aid.  I hope you will accept the challenge of cold weather camping and make this the most enjoyable camping experience of your scouting future. 

TROOP 258!  BE PREPARED!!!!!

 

Most of this information can be found in the Boy Scout Handbook and in the Boy Scout Field Book.  I highly recommend that you purchase the Field Book if you do not have one.  This book should be carried with you when you go into the field it is a great resource.

 

“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, laying a half-day or more with just their heads sticking out.  He learns something of the comfort of the bear in hibernation.”

 

William O. Douglas, 1950

 

Staying Warm – 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 doing to stay warm.

 

Radiation – The emission of body heat, especially from the skin areas exposed to the elements.  A good set of gloves or mittens, hat and a scarf or neck gaiter can help best keep bare skin to a minimum.

 

Conduction – Simply put this means the amount of cold your body absorbs when setting or laying on cold ground or handling cold objects such as metal cooking utensils and metal canteens.  This is why it is very important to have a decent sleeping pad for cold weather camping.  The same goes for wearing gloves.  A campstool or chair is necessary for winter camping.  Try not to sit on the ground.

 

Convection – This is how the environment effects unprotected body parts.  Keeping bare skin covered can minimize this.  It is very important in windy situations.  Convection heat loss effects body heat the fastest.  Wet clothing will accelerate this process, making staying dry even more important.

 


Keeping Warm

 

The most important part of COLD WEATHER CAMPING is keeping warm.  Use the C-O-L-D method to insure that you stay warm.

 

C – Clean

Since insulation is only effective when heat is trapped by dead air spaces, keep your insulating layers clean and lofty.  Dirt, grime, and sweat can mat down those air spaces and reduce the warmth of the 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 clothes and cause you to be cold when you stop your activity.

 

L – Loose Layers

You must have a steady flow of warm blood to all of your body parts for them to stay warm.  Wear several layers of loose fitting layers of clothing and footgear that will let you maximize your insulation without impeding your circulation.

 

D – Dry

Damp or wet clothing and skin will cause your body to cool quickly, which could lead to FROSTBITE and HYPOTHERMIA.  Keep dry by avoiding cotton clothes that absorb your sweat.  COTTON KILLS IN THE WINTER.  If you are in a snow situation, brush away any snow that is on your clothing before you enter a warm place.  Keep clothing around your neck loosened so that heat and moisture can escape instead of soaking several layers of clothing.

Clothing

Head – There is an old saying, “If your feet are cold put a hat on”.  This is so true since about 80% of our body warmth is lost through our head.  A good hat such as wool or polypro stocking is vital.  Your body will start shutting down blood flow, which will cause your extremities to become cold in order for your body to keep your vital organs warm.  This hat will also be valuable at night as part of your sleep system.  If the temperatures are cold enough you may need some sort of face shield.  A scarf made from wool or some other acrylic scarf keeps frostbite away.  The nose is an extremity and real sensitive to cold breezes.  A Balaclava is a hat that covers the nose, neck, and mouth as well as the ears

 

Torso – You must use the layering system, if you do this right you will not need a heavy winter type coat.  Scouts should develop their own system.  Below is just a suggested list of a layering system.  A good test for your system, is to dress in your system and go outside and just sit some where in the type of environment that you are going to be camping in for at least 45min to an hour.  Did the cold get into you?  If it did, you need to rethink your system and try it again.

·        Long, thermal underwear such as Polypropylene, try to stay away from the cotton type sold at Wal-mart.  You can find polypro at Wal-mart

·        Shirt or inner layer

·        Sweater, light jacket

·        Wind or rain jacket - this needs to be wind proof and waterproof but it must be breathable.

Hands – Since your hands are an extremity, that means they are except able to frostbite, so we must keep them warm.  Mittens will keep your hands warmer than gloves.  Make sure that they have a long cuff on them to cover your wrist since you can loose warmth through bare skin.  Make sure that they are waterproof or at least water resistant.  You can use mitten liners for mittens and glove liners with glove shells.  Gloves can make chores involving using your hand difficult if you are wearing thick gloves, but if you use a layering system for your hands this is not a problem.

 

Legs – Remember layering, NO COTTON.  Start with your polypro, then put on some type of wool pants or pants with a liner (NO BLUE JEANS), then some type of wind pant or snow type pants.  Do not use sweat pants because they are usually made of cotton.  Cotton underwear can also cause a problem.

 

Feet – Do I really need to repeat “NO COTTON” here?  I didn’t think so.  You can wear poly sock liners.  The next layer would be a vapor barrier, you can use bread bags, zip lock Baggies, and plastic grocery bags that you can place your feet in.  You could even use the bags that your newspapers come in. The reason that you use the bags is to keep your boot insulation from becoming wet.  Then put on your wool socks.  You want to make sure that you have waterproof boots.  If your boots are not waterproof, you can purchase waterproofing products for your boots.  You want to make sure that your boots are not to tight on your feet with your heavy socks and bags on your feet.  If you have Gaiters, you can use them if you are going to be in snow.  Try not to wear your athletic shoes when winter camping since they do not have enough insulation to keep your feet warm.

 

Sleepwear – Never 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.  Sleepwear would be the only exception to wearing sweat pants or poly’s to sleep in.  Do not wear these during the day, keep them just for sleepwear.  Make sure that you change your socks as well.  Sleep with a stocking cap on and try not to sleep with your face on the inside of your sleeping bag since moisture will dampen the inside of your sleeping bag.

General Night Sequence

1.      Get warm before you get into your bag.  Do some jumping jacks, etc., so your heat is built up for when you get in your bag.

2.      Get your clothing / gear you will need out of your pack as well as full water bottles.

3.      At the tent door brush off the snow.  Sit down inside the tent entrance and, keeping your boots outside either have your buddy brush them off, or remove them and brush them off yourself.

4.      Climb into the tent and close the door

5.      Take off your clothes that you have been wearing that day and put on your sleep clothes

6.      Pre warm your bag.

7.      Place your damp clothes inside your bag to dry them

8.      Place boots inside plastic bag, this will help to keep them from freezing.

9.      Place water bottles in the bag with you

10.  Wear hat to bed

11.  Sleep with face outside of bag

12.  You may wake up several times thru the night, and you may need to change positions.  If you will eat a little food before bed, it will help stroke your furnace

13.   If you need to urinate in the middle of the night, it is best to get up and do it instead of trying to hold it until morning.

 


Winter Gear

 

Sleeping Bags- Your sleeping bag is a vital piece of equipment when it comes to winter camping.  For our area, your bag should be rated to at least 30 degrees.  There are different types of sleeping bags.  The best for winter camping is a mummy bag because you can close the hood around your head to help trap your body heat.  Down fill bags are very warm, but if the get wet they will not keep you warm.  A synthetic filled bag will keep you warm if it were to get wet.  You need to make sure that your bag fits you.  If it is too big, it will be hard for your body to warm your bag.  You can place extra clothing in your bag to fill the space and sleep warm; this will also warm your clothes for the next day.  You can also add a liner to your sleeping bag.  This will add another 5-10 degrees warmth to your bag, wrap an extra blanket around your bag or even use an extra sleeping bag to increase your warmth.

 

Sleeping Pads – You will need to insulate yourself from the cold ground.  If you do not the ground will absorb your heat through your bag.  If you choose to use a cot, this will allow the cold to pass under your body causing you to sleep cold.  For winter camping, you need to use a foam pad or a sleeping pad like a Thermarest or a ridge rest.  You can find these types of pads at Wal-Mart.  If you choose to use this type of pad 2 is always better.

 

Utensils – Do not bring metal utensils to eat with in the winter.  If it is cold enough the metal could stick to your skin, use plastic ones instead.  Make sure that you bring a plastic (insulated if possible) cup to drink from and could serve as a bowl.  If you are in a snow environment, it is recommended to tie an idiot string to your utensils to keep them from being lost if dropped in the snow.

 

Tents – For winter camping a 4-season tent is recommended, this type of tent has a double wall, which helps to trap body heat inside your tent.  Most scouts have only a three-season type tent.  You need to make sure that your tent will withstand the weight from ice and snow.  I recommend that you use a tent that has metal poles instead of fiberglass as they could crack and break.  Your tent needs to have the ability to shed snow.  You may need to knock the snow and ice off your tent.  Make sure that you have enough room in your tent for your gear.  You must make sure that you vent your tent to help with condensation while you sleep.  Make sure that you use a ground cloth under your tent.  Your body heat could cause moisture to freeze causing ice to form under your tent, which in turn could cause your tent floor to tear.  Make sure that you take your boots off just out side your tent or dust them off before entering your tent

 

Lights – You should make sure that you have plenty of batteries for your lights.  The cold affects the batteries.  If it gets too cold the batteries will not work, I do not believe we will have that problem here in Texas.

 


Misconceptions About Winter Camping

 

 

Myth #1: Leather hiking boots will keep your feet warm.  --- FALSE

The snug fit of most leather boots can limit the circulation of blood in the foot.

 

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 your body can wick heat away through evaporation.

 

Myth #3: Winter Camping does not require much preparation---FLASE

Arctic conditions exist when the wind is blowing and the temperature drops below 20 degrees.

It is very important to prepare and even over prepare.  I’ve never heard anyone complain about being too warm or having too many 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 tool to have when winter camping.  The demands of winter camping will drain your energy and you will have to keep your own spirits high.

 

Winter Tips and Tricks

  

·        Staying dry is the most important way to stay warm.

·        Avoid cotton clothing at all cost

·        Dress in layers

·        Don’t cover your nose and mouth with your sleeping bag

·        Clean clothing insulates better than dirty

·        Gaiters will keep snow and rain out of your boots

·        Mittens are warmer than gloves

·        Use layers on your hands too

·        Attach an idiot cord to anything you do not want to lose.

·        IF YOU NEED A FIRE TO KEEP YOU WARM THEN YOU ARE NOT DRESSED RIGHT!!!

·        Air out your sleeping bag and tent when possible

·        A bag liner will increase bag warmth

·        Insulate yourself from the cold ground

·        Put a hand warmer in a sock and place it in your bag before you go to sleep

·        Fill a canteen with warm water in your bag to warm it

·        Exercise before you go to bed

·        Place your clothes for the next day in your bag with you

·        Use an empty capped bottle just outside of your tent for when nature calls in the middle of night

·        Drink at least 2 quarts of fluids everyday.

·        Learn to recognize and treat cold weather health problems

·        Use the buddy system to check each other for cold weather health problems.  You should notify the adult leadership if systems do occur.

·        If you are feeling cold do some work

·        No open flames in your tent

            

·        If snow is in the forecast take sunglasses.

·        It takes longer to cook food in cold weather, so plan accordingly

·        Gather twice as much fuel as you think you will need

·        Carry extra plastic bags when winter camping, they have many uses

·        Carry extra matches because the more you need a fire to warm up the less likely you will be able to start one easily.

·        To keep your water bottles from freezing, turn them up side down; better to use wide mouth bottles.  Bottles with narrow mouths freeze quicker.

·        Flashlight batteries are affected by cold.  You can revive a dead battery by warming it up by a fire

·        You can place deodorant on your feet to help them from sweating.

 

Cold Weather First Aid

 

Dehydration

Excessive loss of body water.  Impairs the ability to reason, the victim may not act properly

 

Prevention:

·        Drink at least 2 quarts of water a day

·        Avoid dehydrating foods (high protein) and fluids (coffee, caffeine).

·        Increase fluid intake at first signs of darker urine

 

Symptoms:

1 to 5% deficiency

·        Increased pulse rate

·        Nausea and loss of appetite

·        Dark urine or constipation

·        Irritability, fatigue

·        Thirst

 

6 to 10% deficiency

·        Headache, dizziness

·        Labored breathing

·        Tingling

·        Absence of salivation

·        Inability to walk

·        Cyanosis (bluish or grayish skin color)

 

11 to 20% deficiency

·        Swollen tongue, inability to swallow

·        Dim vision, deafness

·        Shriveled, numb skin

·        Painful urination

·        Delirium, unconsciousness

 

Treatment: Mild cases-drink liquids, keep warm.  More severe cases require medical treatment.

 

Hypothermia

 

Lowering of the inner core temperature of the body.  Can and usually does happen above freezing.  The victim may not recognize the symptoms and may not be able to think clearly enough to react.  Injury or death may result.

 

Predisposing conditions:

 

·        Poor physical condition

·        Inadequate nutrition and water intake

·        Thin build

·        Non protective clothing

·        Getting wet

·        Inadequate protection from wind, rain and snow

·        Exhaustion

 

Symptoms:

·        Loss of ability to reason

·        Shivering

·        Slowing, drowsiness, fatigue

·        Stumbling

·        Thickness of speech

·        Amnesia

·        Irrationality, poor judgment

·        Hallucinations

·        Cyanosis

·        Dilation of pupils of eyes

·        Decreased heart and respiration rate

·        Stupor

 

Treatment:

·        Shelter the victim from wind and weather

·        Insulate the victim from the ground

·        Change wet clothing

·        Put on windproof, waterproof gear

·        Increase exercise, if possible

·        Put the victim in a pre warmed sleeping bag

·        Give hot drinks, followed by candy or other high-sugar foods

·        Apply external heat; hot stones, hot canteens

·        Huddle for body heat from others

·        Place victim in a tub of 105 degree water.  Never above 110 degrees.

 


Prevention:

·        Keep rested and maintain good nutrition

·        Consume plenty of high-energy food

·        Use proper clothing

·        Make camp early if tired, injured or lost

·        Get plenty of exercise.  Don’t sit around much.

·        Appoint an experienced person to watch the groups for signs

·        Take immediate corrective action for any signs

 

Frostbite

Tissue injury involving the actual freezing of the skin and underlying tissues.  Recovery is slow, severe frostbite can lead to gangrene.  Once exposed the victim will be predisposed toward frostbite in the future.

 

Predisposed Conditions:

·        Prolonged exposure to temperatures 32 degrees or below

·        Brief exposure at extremely low temperatures, -25 degrees and below

·        Exposed body parts

·        Restriction of circulation

·        Fatigue, poor nutrition, low liquid intake, poor physical condition

·        Previous case of frostbite or other cold injury

 

Symptoms:

First Degree (frostnip)

·        Redness, pain, burning stinging or prickly sensation

·        Pain disappears and there is a sudden blanching of the skin

·        The skin may look mottled

·        Skin is firm to the touch, but resilient underneath

·        On thawing, there is aching pain or brownness.  The skin may peel off, and the part may remain cold for some time.

 

Second Degree (Superficial Frostbite, Frostbite)

·        No pain, the part may feel dead

·        Numbness, hard to move the part

·        Tissue and layers underneath are hard to the touch

·        After thawing (takes 3 to 20 days) pain, large blisters, sweating

·        Black or discolored skin sloughs off, leaving tender new skin

Third degree (Severe Frostbite)

·        Full thickness of the skin is involved

·        After thawing, pain continues for 2 to 5 weeks

Fourth degree (Severe Frostbite)

·        Skin and bone are frozen

·        Swelling and sweating occur

·        Gangrene may develop, amputation may be necessary.

 

Prevention:

·        Proper clothing

·        Good nutrition, drink water, maintain core temperature

·        Use buddy system to check face, nose, and ears

·        Immediate treatment of minor symptoms

 

 

Winter Camping Personal Equipment List

                       

Head:                                                                          Miscellaneous:   

____ Wool or poly type stocking cap                       ____ Scout Hand Book             

____ Ski Mask                                                         ____ Flashlight and extra batteries

____ Balaclava                                                         ____ Knife and Tote n Chip

                                                                                     ____ Whistle

Upper Body:                                                                ____ Toilet articles

____ 2 or more poly pro long underwear shirts        ____ Bath and Hand Towels

____ Wool or Fleece type shirts                               ____ Paper and Pens (carry in plastic bag)-merit badge work

____ Wind jacket                                                      ____ Any medications needed * must give to an Adult leader

____ Winter coat                                                       ____ Camera and extra film

                                                                                     ____ Extra snacks

                                                                                     ____ Chap stick

Hands:                                                                         ____ fire starter kit

____ Gloves- wool or fleece type

____ Mittens                                                            Tent:

____ Glove Liners                                                    ____ Personal or Troop tent

                                                                                     ____ Poles

Lower Body:                                                                ____ Stakes

____ Underwear- try to stay away from cotton        ____ Rain Fly

____ Long Underwear- Polypro or synthetic           ____ Ground Cloth

____ Wind Pants- Nylon type (Gore-Tex can double as rain pants)

____ NO BLUE JEANS

____ Over Pants (something like ski pants)

 

Feet:

____ Liner Socks – Thin- Wicking type.  2 or More Pr.

____ Plastic bags for vapor barrier

____ Wool or Heavy Socks

 

Raingear:

____ Rain Jacket / Pants – Breathable type

____ Poncho

 

Sleeping Gear:

____ Synthetic / Down Sleeping Bag – Rated to 30 degrees or lower (or 2 bags)

____ Foam Pad or Thermarest type pad

____ Pillow (optional)

____ Sleeping Clothes-Sweat suit or a set of polys

 

Eating Utensils:

____ Plastic cup – doubled walled with top

____ Plastic type Utensils- Lexan

____ Canteen or (2) 1qt water bottles

____ Mess kit- Plastic bowl and plate- try to keep away from metal during the winter.

 

The above list is just a suggestion of equipment that you may wish to carry when you go winter camping.  The Author of this handout does not accept any responsibility for injury or complications that may arise from following this guide.

 

 

Conclusion

 

I hope that this Winter Camping Guide has been helpful in preparing you for your cold weather camping experience.  Please do not throw this away.  It will provide you with a valuable resource for years to come.

 Your Boy Scout Handbook and Field Book are a good source for information concerning all types of camping and hiking skills.  The Field Book also has a section on building your own camping gear.

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 Scout comes prepared.  I feel that if a scout feels that at this time, winter camping is not for him, then he should not feel pressured to go.  There is always next year and the year after and so on.  Remember the objective of scouting is to have fun with a purpose….

HAVE FUN

 

 

 

Written By

Michael Tutton

Assistant Scout Master

Troop 258

Corsicana TX

 

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