Winter Hot Tips

[Reekee]

Please add to the "tricks of the trade" list for back-country winter travel.

Hot water bottles in sleeping bag, boots or liners at bottom of bag at night, matches for stove in down jacket pocket rather with the stove, mini filter for straining pine needles out of water pot, store poles upside down in snow as to not rip out baskets, zip lock bags with "easy zipper", down booties when nature calls rather than the cold boots at the bottom of the bag, or a pee bottle, but don't confuse it with your gaitor aid the next morning,..........

 

[KayakDan]

Consider carrying some thinner polypro gloves for wearing around camp,while doing cooking,setting up gear. The thin gloves make these tasks easier,as they are more dextrous than typical gloves. If and when they get a bit damp,you can toss them in your sleeping bag for the next morning. Another handy item is a Crazy Creek chair. We use it as a chair,a windblock for cooking,and an extra pad under the sleeping bags,a floor for a vestibule pit for changing boots,and whatever else you can think of.

 

[Reekee]

I like the wind blocker and floor idea.

 

[Remix]

Put reasonable amounts of snow into a clean black plastic (garbage) bag in a sunny spot to melt into water...can save quite a bit of fuel with no weight penalty.

 

[Desalad]

Put reasonable amounts of snow into a clean black plastic (garbage) bag in a sunny spot to melt into water...can save quite a bit of fuel with no weight penalty.

Now that is a good idea! It sure beats using a nalgene bottle attached to a rope to haul water up from the only hole in the frozen river, under a bridge...

 

[Warren]

1. Eat chocolate or high energy type food before bed and then take one into your bag with you in case you get cold during the night.

2. Use a nalgene 16 oz screw top bowl and wrap it with old sleeping pad foam. Does a good job of keeping things warm.

3. A candle lantern can increase the temperature of a tent by 10° and help move the condensation out.

4. Windproof underwear.

5. Snow is an insulator, use it. I put my water skin under my sleeping pad. Does a reasonable job against freezing.

6. Loose fitting everything, don't constrict your circulation it's your heating system.

7. I carry a few ounces of olive oil, taken as a shot it's said to convince the body to start burning fat instead of hoarding it. Untested by me, reserved for emergencies only.

8. Make a pile of snow balls larger than you think you will need, pile by tent. Now you have the morning pre-water supply.

9. Move, move, move. When you stop get into your sleeping bag.

 

[Artex]

GREAT thread!

- Vapor lock bags are lightweight, help fight condensation, and supposedly keep you 10 degrees warmer. They also trap passed gas, allowing it to age like a fine wine.

- Fill your water bottles and bags with hot/boiling water before a hike to help prevent freezing during the day.

- Gear sleds allow you to haul more warm clothing and other comforts to make trips more enjoyable.

 

[charlos]

similar to the crazy creek chair, i bring along small cut out section from an old ridge rest pad.

so far its uses have been
a dry insulating seat perfect when doing chores like filtering water.
kneeling pad when doing chores like stuffing, rolling, folding.
fits inside my bag & insulates my feet from the ground (i use a 3/4 pad)
fan for fires/shield from smoke and wind.
doormat in my vestibule.

nalgene water bottle parkas (coolers) allow me big warm & wonderful amonts of coffee and cocoa that stay hot!

great ideas everyone, happy holidays

 

[Waumbek]

Jumping jacks before jumping into the bag at night; keep the carotids (a big heat loser for me) warm in a neck gaitor.

 

[Nonlegit]

Candy bars for if you get cold

also, something i thought about dreaming away in class today...bring a snorkel to breath out of so you can cover your whole face when sleeping! I think i am going to try it, because i have never been quite satisfied with the balaclava and hood, so i think i can probably just put my down jacket over the opening and breath out of a snorkel. Why not?


PS im not kidding ill let you all know how it goes

-artex that avatar pic is beautiful

 

[jethro]

Dayhike wise, the important ones have been mentioned; essential is the liner glove/heavy glove combo so you are still covered up (albeit thinly) when you fiddle with your pack. All it took is about two minutes sans liner last year on a sub 0 windy day for me to get minor frostbite on fingertips (which takes up to a month to heal - pain in the ass). Along these lines, shove two of those Campmor hand warmers in your pockets and rip them open as soon as you hit the trail; use immediately if your fingers get numb.

Always take a 32oz thermos with piping hot coffee or your drink of choice; even in sub-zero weather you'll have a steaming drink even late in the day. Also make sure your Nalgenes are insulated with boiling water if you're going to be out all day; chugging down semi-frozen water on the way down feels like crap. Put your powerbars next to those insulated bottles or shove them in your microwave (crotch) half an hour before consuming so they don't break your teeth.

Anyone else have comfort tips geared to the dayhiker?

 

[Artex]

Thanks Nonlegit. It was taken near the summit of Mt. Zealand in the Whites a few weeks ago.

 

[Nadine]

Carry a cheap pair of nylon overboot gaitors to go over your down booties. Makes going outside around basecamp much more comfy, especially in the deep snow.

 

[sardog1]

Buy a tent big enough to house the two dogs and yourself. Then tell them that you're sleeping in the middle, with a furry furnace to each side, only to keep them from playing inside the tent in the middle of the night.

 

[sierra]

winter liquids

Hey warren I like your stash of olive oil, reminds me of yrs back riding on the AMC shuttle, the driver, old school trail man was drinking salad dressing right from the bottle (Italin flavor) he said the oil and fat kept him warm and he was heading out for stint to Carter notch, looked pretty tough to put down to me.

 

[Sara]

I can't say enough about hot tea! When winter camping AdacKR and I make cup after cup of hot tea. It warms us from head to toe and is a great way to rehydrate after a long day out.

Also, fill a pot with water before bedtime. If everything freezes solid at least you can put the pot directly on the stove and melt it for water.

Boiled water in a Nalgene also softens/warms up the boots in the morning! Happy December 1st! Hopefully snow is right around the corner...

 

[Dugan]

I agree with sardog1's furry furnaces. Nothing like steamy dog breath condensation for tent odor! Don't forget sleeping pads for the non-humans, pooches need insulation too.

Other than that, hot beverages, hot meals, and I usually warm the dog's kibbles too.

 

[percious]

.

8. Make a pile of snow balls larger than you think you will need, pile by tent. Now you have the morning pre-water supply.

-Also for self-defense against nightime attacking Yeti.

 

[percious]

Three things that havnt been mentioned.

Convertable mitten/sawed-off gloves for cooking around camp.

Keep your stove pump in your jacket so it doesnt freeze up.

Keep your batteries and headlamp near your body so they dont freeze up.

-percious

 

[Mike]

Open a pair of heat packs 5 minutes before exiting the car. Grab them occasionally while putting on boots, snowshoes, crampons, adjusting pack, etc., so that you can maintain some warmth to avoid frozen fingers at the start of the hike.