| Cold Weather Camping | ||
| C-O-L-D Clean Overheating Layers Dry CLOTHING SLEEPING MORE COMING SOON! |
Cold weather camping is one of the most challenging outdoor scenarios a scout faces. Have you ever noticed how shocked your family and friends are when they hear you are camping during the winter months? Why is that? Because they haven't learned the survival skills that scouts learn! Camping during the winter months can be exciting and satisfying as long as you are prepared. Here are some guidelines for cold weather camping. C-O-L-D If you can remember how to spell "cold", you can remember the foundation for keeping warm during any cold-weather activity. 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.
Cold Weather Clothing Keep dry by avoiding cotton clothes that absorbs moisture. REMEMBER: COTTON IS ROTTEN! 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. FOOTWEAR As with other clothing, the layer system is also the answer for footwear. 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 dry pair of socks at the first opportunity. 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. The hood also keeps snow out of your neck. Sleeping Never sleep in the same clothes that you have worn all day. They are damp and moist and will cause you to chill. This could cause frostbite and hypothermia. Bring a thick pair of sweats and/or 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. SLEEPING BAG - 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. Down is lighter for the amount of insulation, but it's more expensive, needs special care, and loses its insulating value when wet. It is also a very good idea to have some kind of sleeping mat to use in the winter. The mat can be an expensive self-inflating pad 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 seriously life threatening situation. If you don't have a sleeping mat, bring a spare wool or natural fiber blanket to use as a pad under your sleeping bag. The sleeping mat is worth it's weight in gold. More to follow!
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