Tidbits for
Winter Camping
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Tidbit # 01
- Dress for the Occassion
Where we should
start?
I
figure you better know before you go that how you Dress is one of the
most important
things to worry about when
your out there!
Heed
this warning : "COTTON KILLS!!"
It is no joke, you must prepare yourself to be in a place where the
conditions are Colder!,
yes colder, than what are the outside conditions right now.
Here's a suggestion list you can use to act as a guide to keeping you
warm:
(please note:
I'm not the Artic explorer and what I may bring with me may not work for
you, prepare for yourself and make sure your gear is not aged or worn.)
Snow
Pants
Duffel Bag
Heavy Duty Garbage Bags
Long Underwear
(remember no cotton!)
Long sleeve shirts
Inner sock liners
Heavy duty socks
Sturdy Winter boots
additional boot liners
Gloves
Warm Jacket
Scarf
2- Touques ro another hat
Winter rated sleeping bag
Extra Sweat pants and Sweat
shirt
Extra snow pants or
suitable shell
Closed cell foam pad
Thermarest or inflatable
rest pad
Poly Tarp(s)
Polarized sunglasses
Gaiters
Snowshoes or ski's with poles
Balaclava
Notes:
You want to be warm!
You don't want to get cold and then have no change of dry clothes for
when your sleeping or finished your activities for the day.
Two pads are better to insulate you from the snow ( ground) and the
poly tarp inside the tent (or quinzee)will also make sure you are not
going to get wet from condensation through the tent floor. In certain
tents or structures, you use the snow to sleep on!
When your active ( getting wood, snowshoeing, etc..) shed your clothing
as you become warm, if not, you will sweat and get wet and could get
into trouble once you stop your activity. You pretty well want to be
cool in what your going to wear if you have plans for a strenuous day of
work. It becomes apparent that Winter is a time to work, every chore is
more than it appears.
Dress in layers: tshirt, longshirt, sweatshirt, vest, fleece, then an
outer shell to protect you from the elements. You will have to decide
what to shed and how much of it as you go. the same for your feet: liner
sock, heavy sock, boot liner and outer boot a dn gaiter to protect you
from the elements. ( sleet, slush, snow and all!) Some people get those
little sockies that also work well to keep your toes toasty, I'll have
to remeber the name but they are carried by such stores as Marks Work
Warehouse.
All this you need to carry and that's why a duffel bag works best, this
is survival out there! not a game to be the lightest, just be warm and
keep safe.
Remember!, I said no cotton! I mean no! Cotton is a great fabric for
summer, it's light and also comfortable, but once wet it stays wet and
if you have ever worn wet blue jeans on a cold day, you'll recall how
the wet damp clothes suck the life right out of you!
