Cold Weather Camping Tips
Yourself
· Core body temperature maintenance – your “core” is your head and torso…extremities are arms/legs…if you are able to keep your core warm, the extremities will be easier to keep warm. You will still need to protect those extremities!
· You still need at least 2 quarts of water a day or you will risk dehydration, even though you don’t realize it, you still lose water through breathing and sweating.
· Your body will waste energy keeping a full bladder warm….go if you have to go so that energy can be used elsewhere.
Clothing
· Cap – heat easily escapes from the top of your head, there are many blood vessels feeding your brain. Wearing a cap will help retain heat.
· Gloves/Socks - As your body tries to maintain its core temperature, it will pull from your extremities to keep the core warm. Gloves and socks will keep those warm. Heavy Wool socks are great, could also double as mittens if needed.
· Dress in layers – consider mixing and matching a heavy jacket and lighter jackets with shirts. You want to stay a little “cold” as your activities pick up, you will start to warm up.
· Dress in LOOSE layers. Cotton is good in the summer as it wicks away moisture, but it also does the same in the winter. Recommend Wool or man-made fibers.
· STAY DRY – not just water, but consider sweat as well. If you are going in a dry tent and sleeping bag…wet clothing will decrease your body temperature and moisture in your sleeping bag will decrease the insulating properties of the bag.
· Wearing a cap to bed will prevent you from sticking your head in your bag where your breath will cause moisture in the bag which reduces the insulation of your bag.
· Place next day’s clothes into your sleeping bag for warmth and to warm them up.
Gear & equipment –
· SLEEPING PAD – provides insulation from the cold ground. – this does not need to be a high-end pad, anything to separate you from the ground – wool blanket, foam, layers of newspaper even can provide insulation. Closed foam pads are preferred over air pads as they could pop.
· Less space = less to have to heat - consider tripling up in tents to reduce cold air space and additional warmth. A mummy sleeping bag will take less to heat up than a rectangular bag.
· Check your bag rating and bring another blanket for additional insulation.
Food = fuel
· Breakfast – higher in fat to burn throughout the day. – eggs (hard-boiled, scrambled), sausage, bacon, bagels, muffins, cereal, milk, yogurt
· Lunch – high in carbohydrate energy – breads, meats, peanut butter
· Dinner – should be high in protein - meats
· Snacks –High sugar foods, high protein and carbohydrates – trail mix.