Winter Camping By Taryn and Chase

Clothing Base layer: Synthetic material like polypropylene can wick moisture away from the skin, thermal underwear. Mid-layer: Choose a thick, durable pair of pants and skirt, and put them on as soon as you settle into camp. Also, keep extra undergarments handy. Changing out of dirty clothes is a good way to freshen up. Outer layer: Wind- and weather-resistant articles like jackets (winter) and outer layers. Inevitably, layers get damp–especially socks. Warm them with your boddy heat in your jacket or in you sleeping bag while sleeping In winter, your comfort–and even your life–depends on savvy layering. Here's how to dress for everything from sun to storms. Start cool, Avoid getting wet, Try a wind shirt, or breathable fleece or wool mid-layer Wear layers on your feet and hands, too. Use thick wool or synthetic socks and mitts over a thin, quick-drying liner. Mits vs. Gloves Mits because when you fingers are together they warm each other, but when there apart (like in gloves) it take longer for each finger to warm itself. Vapor Barriers: Liners- is a non-breathable material that does not permit the transmission of moisture through it. They are typically made of fabrics like silicone-impregnated nylon, polyurethane-coated nylon. Use at night when you are trying to keep warm. Foot wear: Heavier boots or hiking shoes can withstand long hikes, while lighter shoes are good for exploring close to camp. A pair of sandals or slip-on shoes is convenient for evenings around the fire and near the tent. Something with a liner. Snow Goggles: Keeps you from snow blindness on sunny days and helps you see when its snowing. Hats: Stops all that heat from leaving your heat on cold nights and when your not moving.

Clothing and Supplies List 1. Back Pack 2. Wool socks (at least 3 pairs) 3. Insulated underwear (not cotton), 2 pairs 4. Long sleeve shirt (not cotton) 5. Wool Sweater 6. Wool or Man Made Fiber Pants (not blue jeans) 7. Sleeping bag-min. 20 degrees rating (this may not be warm enough) or lower (if not able to get a bag at that temp or want to be warmer get a wool blanket and sew the end up to make a wool sleeping bag, and use this as a liner inside the sleeping bag, this will drop the temperature rating by 25 about degrees or a fleece liner will drop the rating by about 15 degrees.) 8. Breathable Rain gear 9. Insulated Boots with removable inserts (not leather) 10. Wool blanket 11. Gloves (2 pairs) – not cotton and should be water proof or water resistant 12. Food (trail mix, granola bars, hard candy, etc.) 13. Flashlight 14. Sleeping Pad (not open cell foam) 15. Tarp 16. Ropes 17. Sleeping Clothes (these are not to be worn for playing in the snow) 18. Hat and a Stocking Cap (these should cover the ears) 19. Stove (check with your troop they may be taking stoves) 20. Insulated Parka, wool jacket or coat with a hood 21. One extra set of clothes that are kept in a plastic bag to stay dry (possibly leave this in a vehicle that is staying at Klondike). These are for emergency use.

Shelters Types of Shelters: Lean to: Three sided roofed enclosure with a plank floor usually made of logs Tent: Solo or multi-person tent Hammock: A fabric sling suspended between two points, used for sleeping Hot Tenting: The main features of this approach are a canvas tent with a woodstove, breathable cotton outerwear, wool clothing insulating layers, traditional snowshoes and mukluks, and sleds (usually toboggans) to haul the extra gear. Bivy: A waterproof shell over a sleeping bag providing insulation and a wind and moisture barrier Tarp: a sheet of flexible, water-resistant material with attachment points allowing it to be tied down or suspended Snow Cave: A shelter dug into the snow to protection from wind as well as low temperatures. Quinzee: A shelter made by hollowing out a pile of settled snow. Igloo: A shelter constructed from blocks of compacted snow in the form of a dome.

Cooking Food Breakfast - should not be a complicated meal but should be a complete one since it supplies the foundation for a full day's work. Lunch - There are two approaches to lunch on a winter trip. One is to stop for a traditional lunch and take a long break. The second approach minimizes the amount of time people would be standing around, but also doesn't provide a major rest stop. Avoid taking fresh food in the winter Dinner - It is often good to start dinner with an instant soup or a hot drink that can be made in each persons' cup. The main dish is usually some form of one pot glop/stew, rice or noodles, frozen veggies, lunch meat, cheese, canned chicken, tuna Cold weather places high demands on your body. Plan to consume around 4,000 calories per day. 50% of your calories should be from carbohydrates. Foods such as trail mix, nuts, and hard candy are sources of quick energy. Consume hot drinks such as hot chocolate and eat a hot breakfast such as oatmeal. Food for sleeping - you need to take some of your lunch for the next day to bed with you. This allows fresh items like the meat and cheese to thaw. Utensils: Everything must be plastic. Cleaning these utensils is generally only scraping out the remainder with snow. Anything left will be part of your next meal. Also recommended that you tie an idiot string between the cup and the spoon. Water source Drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration is as much a problem in very cold weather as in very hot weather. We lose a tremendous amount of body fluid just by breathing. Bring plenty of fresh water. Put your water bottle upside down so that your lid or top layer of the bottle doesn’t freeze on you making it impossible to drink it. Fires: Take a base to build a campfire on to keep it from melting down into the snow. 55-gallon drum lids, garbage can lids, and sheet metal all work well if supported above the snow on blocks of firewood, etc. Provide airspace between snow and the campfire base. Troops are responsible for bringing their own firewood. Also each troop should bring a few extra pieces to add to the Saturday Night Campfire. You can sit on a stump, your backpack, a chair if you bring one Stoves: In most cases you will be taking stoves and fuel for cooking. Fires are possible in some locations, but in high use areas, it is best to rely on a stove as firewood can be difficult to find in the winter. Your stove should have good heat output. In order to insulate the stove from the snow (so it doesn't melt itself into a hole) place something underneath it like a pot lid, or a piece of fiberboard. Since the burner is usually significantly smaller than the pot bottom, placing a metal pot lid on top of the burner can also help spread the heat more efficiently to the pot. Wind shields are also helpful in the winter to concentrate the heat. Priming stoves in the winter can be difficult. It is best to use alcohol or lighter fluid rather than trying to prime the stove with white gas.

Sleeping SLEEPING COMFORT Be sure to insulate yourself from the cold of the snow. This means providing insulation between the floor of the tent and your sleeping bag. *Air mattresses do not work, unless an insulating layer is wool blankets, sleeping pads, etc., are placed on top of the mattress. Closed-cell foam pads, thinsulite pads, or aluminum foil sandwiched between layers of corrugated cardboard work the best. Do not get into sleeping bags with wet clothes on. Change if necessary. Use polar fleece bag liners, wool blankets, or use two sleeping bags, one inside the other, to provide plenty of warmth. A disposable hand warmer tucked into the foot of the sleeping bag will keep feet warm. Wear a stocking cap or, if in a mummy bag, use the hood. Remember the adage, "if your feet are cold put on a hat". If you get cold at night eat a candy bar and put something else on. Go to the bathroom before you go to bed

Bathroom Dig a shallow hole, then do your business Uses separate gloves for bathroom and cooking Keep a distance from camp Use snowballs when you don’t want to bring TP

Campfires Small is better (easy to maintain) Dig down to the ground for you fire pit, it helps to shield from wind and other elements. Don’t build under a tree because they have ice on them and other things that could fall at anytime