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Tips For Backpacking In The COLD
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- Опубліковано 13 сер 2024
- I usually try to avoid hiking and camping in the cold, so hopefully the info in this video will help both you and me stay warm and learn to love winter backpacking. Thanks for watching!
00:00 Hey Y'all
00:48 Put A Layer On The Moment You Stop Moving
01:57 Choose The Right Camp Site Location
02:49 Layers
04:24 Clothes For Sleeping
06:51 Hot Food And Water
07:40 Pick The Right Sleeping Bag/Quilt For You
09:17 Let Your Sleeping Bag/Quilt Loft
09:36 Head, Hands, and Feet
11:15 Hand Warmers
11:41 Go Backpacking With A Buddy
12:04 Set Shelter Up While The Sun Is Still Out
12:16 Pee Right Before Sleep
13:11 Pee Bottle
13:47 Wear Sunscreen
14:40 Add R-Value To Sleeping Pad
15:37 Hot Water In A Bottle
16:33 Reflectix Sit Pad
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I freaking LOVE hiking in the cold! The crispness of the air, the cold on my cheeks...the absolute lack of other humans around because they hate the cold....it's magical magicness!
And... BO BUGS! 😁
@@RakeshMalikWhiteCrane Yeeessss, the no bugs is awesome too!
Bahahahaha this too is why I backpack solo in the winter. Not one soul on the trail or in the backcountry. And if i do happen upon someone else I’m sure they’re thinking the same shit I am; “this person is nuts. Not someone to mess with”. Lol
I love winter car camping, and going on day hikes from my basecamp, but backpacking in the snow is honestly a chore. To pack enough clothes to keep you warm and dry, you need a lot of down ($$$) and no way I’m sitting in front of a fire burning holes in my expensive gear, so instead I end up in my sleeping bag as soon as it’s dark. The fun of winter camping is all about the bonfires, booze, and hearty foods like chili, all of which are incompatible with camping out of a backpack for me.
If I want to do a snowy overnight in the backcountry, I prefer pulling my gear on a sled (aka pulk), but then you’re limited to pretty flat terrain. Depending on what part of the country you’re in, that can be a fun way to cross frozen lakes and camp on islands you’d normally need a boat to get to.
My two cents on this is, if you're going out in the cold, make sure it's really cold. There's nothing worse than the slush zone a few degrees either side of the freezing point. Proper cold is fun. Snow becomes an insulater and a desiccant. As long as you're dry and prepared, winter is great.
Agreed, cold can be prepared for and one can wear warm clothes. Cold and wet is miserable. One get cold so, you wear warm clothes. Then you sweat and cold. Then you can’t get warm. Walking through wet bogs, stream trails, wet weeds, all are miserable.
YOUR inexperience doesn't translate to other's reality.
Air holds more moisure when it's warm. Just above freezing is, perhaps, the most uncomfortable temperature in wet weather. Freezing rain is very hazardous to hike and climb in.
Slightly colder weather will give you snow, which doesn't soak through your (hypothetically) waterproof raingear as quickly as liquid precipitation.
In the teens (Fahrenheit) and below, you had better be equipped and prepared to use your equipment properly.
Totally agree. Nothing worse than 36 and rainy.
@@chipblanc6037 Why do some people have the annoying habit of stating the obvious in a way that screams, "Look at me! I'm a good, sensitive person, and nobody else is as nice as me!"?
Everyone knows what opinions are. Now quit bothering people.
Camping in Alaska here, plenty of winter camping. Here's my thoughts.
Camp site is important. You want to be on the side of a hill but with as much coverage as possible. Put a boulder between you and the wind direction and one between you and the nearest peak to protect from avalanches at night.
Clothing layers is important. Keep yourself slightly cold. Better to feel a little bite of cold than to sweat a drop. I bring totally separate clothes for sleeping, I use under armor base 2s for sleeping. I strip naked and jump into the bag and put the base layers on inside.
Hot coco is very important on winter trips.
Camp in your back yard is a good suggestion. Definitely get a bigger bag than you and make it warmer than you will ever see. Next mornings clothes go in my footbox.
Pre fluff your bag before sleeping. Hot water bottle prewarm the bag. Next morning I like to let the body moisturizer frost off and wipe it clean before packing it away.
If your feet are cold put a hat on. I prefer fleece beenies to wool, but definitely wool socks.
Warm hands you need inner gloves and mittons. No two ways around it. So much better than gloves.
Ski mask for sleeping in the winter.
Hand warmers actually suck, they only work when they are already hot. Throw a unopened pack in the freezer then try to get it to heat up, you will see what I mean. Fuel ones are better but the best trick is a USB battery pack heated vest. Mine will heat on low for 7+ hours and high for around 3. I really just use it for taking the chill off so a battery lasts me about a whole day.
It's dark winter camping here, but I don't think daylight would heat a tent.
I always gotta pee in the night, I bring a pee bottle. I'm a dude so simply lemonade bottle is curved nicely so you can pee on your side without leaking inside your bag.
Bring sunglasses if your going into a winter wonderland, polarized. It's very nice for wind and bright white eyestrain.
Emergency blanket sucks, crinkles all night and your pad slides off. I bring cardboard to throw under my R5 inflatable sleeping pad. Nothing fancy just left over boxes from Costco flattened and overlapped. I've successfully slept in -20 on snow that was at least 7ft deep using this with my western mountaineering bristlecone.
Some things you didn't mention that might help others. If your sleeping on top deep snow make sure you pack it down using your snow shoes really good. Usually this will give you a 1.5ft ditch to help with wind and keep you from waking up under your tent. Your two biggest enemies in the winter camp are wind and moisture in that order. Have gear that will stop the wind. Both clothes and shelter. Don't get wet and have enough venting in your tent your breath doesn't soak you at night. I use a black diamond mega mid which is a floorless tipi.
And always be prepared to self rescue, camping in the winter is very enjoyable but it's not as forgiving of mistakes as summer camping is.
Remember to put sun-block under your nose and under chin. Snow is very reflective (as is sand) and you can easily burn there. Once I slept in a record cold of minus 20 and my cold face was the only thing keeping me awake, I used a bandana across my mouth and nose to have a tiny bit of warmth without breathing into the 5 degree Marmot gortex covered sleeping bag. Go to bed warm. The extra 5 ounces of a Nalgene is absolutely worth it. It is tight, safe with really hot water and unbreakable.
I had my Nalgene freeze and break one time. I was more baffled then mad.
Mainer here - winter hiking/backpacking is the best! No bugs LOL.
Wildlife is often easier to approach in winter because the snow muffles a lot of “human” sounds. Snowshoes will let you go places you’d never be able to without them, and there’s really no learning curve to use them.
Buy a roll of foil-covered bubble wrap insulation and make a liner for your tent floor. I cut a 4’x7’ piece, cut it down the middle, taped all the edges and taped 2 long edges together so it folds and rolls for carrying.
My experience with emergency blankets, they work great for reflecting/ storing convection heat. Not so great for protection from conduction. Meaning wrapping up with it in a seated/ squatted position would be effective. Laying on it, it tends to conduct your heat to the ground and conduct the cold from the ground to you.
Hand warmers/ toe warmers/ body warmers are excellent. As is wool. Survived being stranded in my truck during a snow storm with little more than a wool blanket and a couple of hand warmers in -25 degree weather -40 with wind-chill.
Lots of great advice there!
Putting on a layer as soon as you stop makes a huge difference. Our guides pretty much insisted on that during the Mount Rainier climb, and it didn't take long for everyone to habituate to it, because it worked so well. As soon as you stop, you throw on your down puffy, and THEN take a break and grab a snack, water, etc.
I did one winter trip where I actually forgot my 2nd layer, which I discovered when I got into my tent and was all ready to change. It was not a pleasant experience, though running my stove in the vestibule because of how heavily it was snowing ended up helping, because it took just a couple of seconds to warm the tent up, which ended up drying out my shirt in just a few minutes. Changing to a drier layer is definitely better though :)
A lot of winter newbies using winter tents button the tent down at night in an effort to hold warmth in, which is actually not the best way to go about it. That does hold in some warmth, but it also leads to a lot more condensation, which will ruin your insulation, so counter intuitively, ventilation is actually more important than insulation on the tent end of things. The trick is to keep the draft off of you, because that will draw heat away from you rapidly, and that's the big advantage in a double wall winter tent; they allow you to configure the ventilation to match the conditions.
Thanks for continuing to share your and your community's knowledge :)
After 2500 mikes backpacking I agree that ventilation is more important especially with a single walled tent.
A good list of usefull tips. As Norwegian this is second nature and something we learn from we are kids, so we are lucky. You mention this and I just would like to stress the fact of staying dry and not sweat to much, wear thin layrs and changing into dry wool when going to sleep.
Remember the snow is wet from 0 to - 10 celcius, if cooler then - 10 the snow goes dry. Which is much better.
I like snow caves. The temp is at a steady 12 F -12 C One candle makes for a cheerful evening
Snow caves are excellent. Just remember to make the roof inside nice and smooth, otherwise it will dripp from where it is pointed.
I swear by my balaclavas. I have several, and my favorite one is the Nomex® CVC balaclava that I managed to hold on to after ETSing from being a tanker in the Army. It's a bit heavy for the desert most of the time, but it absolutely saved my skin during those brutal cold winter field training exercises in Germany. It's a great choice for wear in the sleeping bag, too, because it allows you to stick your head out to the open air but stay warm.
CVC hood with a Jason mask, too! They were a lifesaver in Graf LOL
@@philsmith2444 True that! My last winter there (JAN-FEB 1989) we did a gunnery then road march straight to Hohenfels, and it was so effing cold … that balaclava was basically my last line of defense against the wind on that road march, during which IIRC the daily high was 24° F with light snow showers and a thick overcast. It sucked. 🥶
Yes! Listen to these guys Dixie. Mil gear as heavy as it is, is there for a reason, in deadly cold. If you can't handle the weight, stay home by the 🔥🙂.
I LOVE my fleece balaclava! It lives in my backpack so it is always with me!
Rainmaker
I recall the nomex balaklava being water proof or resistant, too.
A good overview. A few decades ago, my guy hiking partner, originally from Wisconsin and then like me, relocated to Wyoming had a mutual mantra on winter backpacking. Roughly it went it would be cheaper for us to head to California or Arizona than fully kit up for winter Wyoming and Montana. A few years later, we were doing both. Yes, the pine forests of Southern Arizona can be snowy and cold in the Spring. My best winter tip, from winter in the Central Rockies, is a good wind shell and light ski gloves, to keep the warmth stripping breezes at bay without overheating. Pee bottles rule! Make sure they are right sized. Nothing like straddling your $600 arctic WM bag and panicking about not have enough room in that bottle.
Plan your evaporation carefully. Before you stop, while you are very warm/hot and still hiking, take off damp payers BEFORE you stop, hang to dry out on top of your backpack then carry on moving. Continue on hiking while-under clothed to force evaporate the moisture off your body. You can tolerate this cool down while in motion, pay attention to become dry & not become chilled. Then when you stop immediately take off your next to skin layer if it is still damp and hang it, stand around a bit to dry further, and put on a fresh dry layer. Hang the wet layer to dry. If you've been keeping your calories up you won't get chilled.
The point here is evaporative drying is key. Do not put a dry layer on over wet clothes that are next to your body unless you are forced to by the weather, that is dumb and ruins the R value of your layers. When you stop, take off the wet layers, and put on dry socks, but only after giving your bare feet time to dry.
A necktube is important, and makes a good hat because the top is open for evaporation. However a proper winter facemask is made of thin neoprene and usually sold for skiing, with a shaped area with hole for your nose and small holes for your mouth. They add the warmth of a proper hat because they will preheat your breath. They can be worn tight against the elements if it's sleeting etc. or very loose to hang in front of your face and just warm your breath, they make a HUGE difference. MSR makes a super rugged water bag with a wide mouth that is designed for their gravity filter system, and it can be filled with hot water for your sleeping bag and will not leak.
Dixie, I've used the Nalgene "hot water bottle trick" while camping at -10F. It works. Definitely worth the extra weight in the winter.
One suggestion for down bootie substitutes ... Dutchware Gear makes synthetic insulation booties with Up insulation. I have a pair and they're great. If your feet get cold at night and down isn't an option, this is a really good alternative.
Yes! We have some synthetic fill booties and they're a life saver. Some manufacturers also make versions with soft soles which would be more suitable for wearing inside a sleeping bag.
Yep. Enlightened Equipment also makes Torrid booties with Apex insulation.
I keep my puffy in a separate, waterproof stuffsack right at the top of my pack so I don't have to fumble for it at breaks. Unlike many, I don't start hiking cold, because I don't warm up very fast if I do that, and hiking while freezing sucks. I start warm, and plan a break not too far into my day to remove layers and tighten shoelaces. I use a down miniskirt to keep my butt warm when hiking. I bought a small fleece blanket (child or pet sized) and put a slit in the middle, then wore it as a sarape. When I'm cold I pull the corners down to my hands and tuck the loose edges in. When I'm warm, I push it up around my neck, or pull it off and stuff it in the side pocket of my pack. I modified some dyneema hammock sacks (open on each end) with velcro to attach to my trekking poles handles, so I can stick my hands in them for precip and wind protection. A hot water bottle Nalgene is totally worth the weight - the softer, translucent white ones are lighter but I don't know if they still make them. The hot water bottle is cozy plus it guarantees at least one bottle of unfrozen water in the morning. Bring extra ziplocks or stuffsacks to put wet or gross things into so you can bring them in the bag with you - and make sure your winter bag has enough room to bring things in with you. Better to start the day with pants, socks, and shoes that aren't frozen stiff. If you can, dry things out with your body heat - put your dry clothes on, then your rain gear, then your wet clothes over top. But don't bring too much of that wet stuff in the bag if it's sopping - put it in ziplocks first. Canisters for stove fuel are doable as long as you warm them thoroughly before use. My experience with headlamps is new batteries die in under an hour in the cold, so no night hiking when it's really cold. I carry extra gloves for when mine inevitably get wet. If it's snowing, an umbrella keeps the snow off your shoulders and as a result makes for much warmer hiking. Lastly, I carry so much down for in camp - my sleeping bag, a summer weight quilt as a liner, down pants, down jacket, down booties. It's more bulk in the pack than it is weight, but even if it were heavy, the extra warmth of down (or down alternative) in camp is priceless.
Good words.
How do you get warm before you start hiking? I've noticed if I start cold then my hands don't warm up if the trail is not steep enough.
@@CoffeeKillersClub I should have said I start warmly dressed. The transition from warm in sleeping bag to ready to hike does not usually leave me very warm.
@@MrsJoyism Got it thanks, makes sense.
I love the down miniskirt idea. I hate a cold butt. Also when my jacket rides up and cold wind goes up my back. Brr. 🥶
Great tips, Dixie. I have tried most of them. Just a couple of my own takes:
1. Mylar. Emergency. Blanket. Don't leave home without it. Probably saved my life. Back in high school, 40+ years ago, first real hike ever, a rainstorm left my sleeping bag (cotton, homemade by my mom!) soaked. When we got to our shelter, I was shivering. My buddy put his space blanket over me and secured it with little rocks all around the perimeter. I didn't even know he was doing this, no recollection, which is saying a lot since these blankets are noisy! But in the morning, I was dry, my clothes were dry, my sock, my boots, everything -- my body heat was enough to dry them out. The wooden floor of the shelter had a ring of moisture, I assume was condensation, all around my sleeping bag.
2. Pee bottle. Not Gatorade, no way is that big enough, (for me anyway). Try a small laundry degerget bottle, pull the pour spout out with pliers, rinse well, I suggest some white distilled vinegar. Good to go, and go....
3. If in snow, make sure your footwear is completely waterproof.
4. Mittens. Yak, alpaca, wool of some kind. Or at least, windproof mitts over the gloves.
5. Balaclava - better than trying to get the hat and neck gaiter to cooperate. You can always add a hat and neck gaiter, but as a base, the bala is a game changer, (for me).
Hey Dixie, I've thoroughly enjoyed your videos for several years now and I think I may have an idea for you ! A US Army cold weather field jacket liner. It may weigh2 oz. The batting is 100% polyester and the outer shell is 100% nylon. For years I've worn one under my polar fleece camo jacket to hunt in and I've never found anything that can match it for total warmth ! Its amazing ! You can get the pants liner too, which are great to sleep in when its really cold, and once again they don't weigh anything and don't cost very much at all. You can get them on Amazon or at your nearest Army Navy surplus store. I've also used a poncho liner that is made of the same material to sleep under. I always keep one in my truck in case I have to spend the night in the woods. GREAT SURVIVAL TOOL. Thanks again for the videos , take care , be careful, and don't let the MUMMY catch up to ya !
Hey Dixie , the one on Amazon is made by Rothco M65 field jacket liner.
I think the best one , on Amazon, is FIELD JACKET LINER GENUINE MILITARY ISSUE M-65 FIELD JACKET LINER
My two cents: apart from all the good tips you already have given, I would say: ditch fashion. You don't need to "look good" in the winter, you need to stay warm. If it looks baggy, worm, scruffy, but warm...bring it! The other thing is: don't cut corners. Ease of the UL thinking. You can carry an extra pounds if it keeps you varm and cost when you need to. Getting frozen on the trail sets you in a downward spiral fast.
Thank you for a nice video!
It's been decades since I winter camped in northern Minnesota, but I remember we relied heavily on the snow to shelter us from the worst of the cold, and we consumed about 4000 Calories a day. Your body needs a lot of calories to keep warm in cold conditions.
Timing is everything in the cold. Getting to camp and setting up and cooking dinner before sundown means your hands are warm enough to function when you need them most. Although a hot breakfast is a moral booster, mornings are the coldest part of the day. So I pre-pack as. much as I can the night before, break camp as quickly as I can and eat a snack in the morning. Once you get moving you warm up and it warms up from the sun coming up, I stop and make oatmeal and coffee and such as a second breakfast or I eat my large meal around mid-day when it’s warmer.
Protecting batteries from the cold is important as the cold can decrease capacity. I put them in my puffy pockets. Both your battery bank and your devices warm up when they are charging/discharging, so if you put your device in one pocket and your battery bank in the other, you get two free hand-warmers while they charge. I access my phone a lot for navigation and photos and I’ve found touch-capable gloves don’t work consistently. What I do is wear a normal glove on my sub-dominate hand, and a fingerless flip-top mitten on my dominant hand. This way I don’t have to remove gloves to work devices or otherwise use my fingers.
I love hiking / snowshoeing & taking pictures here in the PNW. For hand warmth I use a glove layer that works well for touch screen and then wear heavier fleece mittens over that have the flap mitten part. Makes it easy to keep my hands warmer, keep a hand warmer near my fingers in the mitten part, and quickly be able to use touch screen or do dexterous things (like setup hammock, cook, open snacks, etc.
Excellent advice all around! A few of additional thoughts: I like wool base layers for hiking over synthetic ones because they are much easier to dry by a fire without melting. Puffy pants are amazing around camp when you get the post hike chills. Sleeping bag liners can increase the flexibility of your bag/quilt and keep it drier, cleaner and therefore warmer.
Highly recommend getting the light version of the nalgene (3 oz instead of 6 oz) for the hot water bottle trick. To me, 3 oz is well worth it to ensure I WILL be warm and cozy no matter what at night. It works just as well as the regular nalgene with hot water, and you’ll have thawed water ready to heat or drink in the morning :)
Great tip! The 3oz is lighter. I haven't tried the warm Nalgene trick. I'm so worried it might spill, but I hear about the Nalgene trick all the time. I've opted for getting a really warm sleeping bag. So far, I've enjoyed my warm sleeping bag without needing any other methods. Thanks for your tip. I will try someday.
From a fellow cold sleeper….. get you a usb heating pad!! Having a source of nice electric warmth is so comforting and a game changer
Also I sleep in a fleece balaclava it never falls off your head and you can cover your lower face or not.
I can’t wait for your female urinating devices review, you keep talking about them I know you’re ready and I’m here for it! 😆
Double sleeping bag/quilt. Down inner, synthetic outer. Moves the dew point out to the synthetic layer, down inner stays dry and holds loft. Vapour barrier liner useful to in very cold situations.
Dixie, lots of a great tips! Many of which I have used and continue to use during cold weather camping. Coming from a cold weather area of the country and spending a lot of time in the outdoors during the winter months I can say that many of your tips have helped me stay warm and comfortable. For sleeping attire when camping I change into dry clothing. Usually a fleece like pajama bottom, polypropylene t-shirt, fleece shirt, fleece balaclava, and a heavy pair of wool socks (I have some super plush/heavy wool socks from Redhead). I find this combination seems to work great for me and has kept me warm when the temps dip down into the single digits. I've heard some swear that a down booty worn over your sleeping socks is the only way to go when getting warm and cozy for the night, but I haven't tried those yet. As for hands though? I have found that multiple layers of gloves don't work for me and have tried all sorts of things. Even wool gloves inside a waterproof (rubber) glove have failed me while ice fishing on the Canadian border. The best options I have found for warm hands in those conditions, and I've been out there during temps of -25F, are mittens. There are cons to this approach if you are doing tasks that require finger dexterity though. I've recently purchased a pair of gloves designed for ice fishing, but do not have sufficient experience with them in those (ice fishing) conditions to say much about them. These gloves are called "Ice Armor by Clam". They are insulated waterproof gloves, but do not rely on rubber for waterproofing. I have worn them while operating my snow blower during snow removal and they have been fantastic in that role as the blown snow tends to get all over my hands and arms while operating the machine. Another option that works for me is a wool glove worn inside military surplus arctic mittens, but that might be a difficult combo for most to locate. With that combo I can slip my gloved hand out of the arctic mitten for finger dexterity and then slide them back inside the mitten shell for warmth. Good combo. As for my feet in the cold... I've tried many things through the years and have found that a good pair of wool socks inside a properly fitting pair of boots that are loosely tied keep my feet the warmest when I'm not moving. Not much of an issue while on the move, but once at camp and not moving around much I'd suggest changing into dry socks and loosening the laces on your footwear if you are prone to cold feet. I have other options for cold feet issues, but none of them would be much use while hiking. Those solutions are more for sedentary outdoor activities during cold weather. Suffice it to say I've not had issues staying warm in the outdoors when on the move. It's when I stop moving that I get cold and I'm sure it's the same for everyone else. Finding that combination of gear that works for hiking, but also keeps you warm when at camp can be tough.
im in colorado... spring is loaded with ice and summer is full of texans and other tourists. ill take negative temps any damn day over crowded trailheads and forest fires...
also..when layering, make sure you start off cold, dont put on clothing to warm up to how it feels when you're stationary. you want to avoid sweating at all costs.
lastly...merino wool, merino wool, merino wool. its the goldilocks of layers, at least for me. minus 33 makes great beanies and shirts and gloves out of merino
I agree with not trying to get warm right off the bat. I warm up as I sleep. Just make sure your head is warm.
I would like to add that it ultimately depends on your style of camping as well. When I go car camping I take an insulated Eskimo ice fishing shelter and a big buddy heater in addition to reindeer furs and a cot with a RV mattress. When I do all that I don't need to acclimate myself as much and it's great for a quick overnight in the woods. Bottom line though, if you think you're getting too cold do not try to tough it out. There's nothing shameful with practicing safety first.
Good words pal. My oldest brother and I were tenting it with a bunch of others, from across the globe, in the treeline, outside of a cannery where we worked double shifts, outside of Kenai Alaska. It was -40, cold even for that area. We ran a catalytic heater and draped a sleeping bag over our cots to prevent airflow underneath. Then another bag to sleep in. c1994. You have to be prepared. Around all those people, it didn't stop me from getting pneumonia. Miserable. We called it 'scuddering'.
As ice fishing shelters are quite airtight and buddy heaters are operated on propane, please bring a carbon monoxide alarm.
Even though the manufacturer claims a low-oxygen-shutoff.
@@manone9325 while I can't speak for every shelter, the one I have has vents in the top because it's designed to be used with a heater. That said I keep a CO detector in my fire box with the heater gear.
there's a big difference between camping and hiking/backpacking, and the equipment and clothing needed for the respective endeavor.
I'm in Washington state and hike the Olympics regularly. To address the hot water bottle for warmth ...it's a thing. I use a Hydrapak Seeker collapsible water bottle as my savior for solo hiking in the cold weather. They fit the Katadyn Befree for water filtration, as well. Great tips, Dixie! For those of use who hike, your lived experience is precious.
Great summary! One item worth mentioning is a balaclava.
-) When sleeping, it covers the face and ears, reducing the tendency to bury one's head (and breath) in the bag. It also keeps the bag cleaner (less transfer of skin oil)
-) When it's windy, it protects the face and ears, so wind chill has less of a sting or 'bite'.
One December night, when it got down to about 10 degrees, I pulled my sleeping bag hood tight around my face, with only my nose poking out. When I awoke in the morning, and had to pee so bad it hurt, my sleeping bag's zipper was frozen solid with a chunk of ice from my warm breath. I had to chew the ice off the zipper to get free. All the while thinking that it was possible I might have to sleep in a wet bag that night.
Hi Dixie, Canadian here and believe it or not most of us hate the cold. We do camp in the cold and your video was all good advice, nothing I can add. Keep the great content coming, thanks
Great video as always. I would add a couple of tips to keep warm outdoors... Let's see :
1. I would bring a cotton or leather bag to put a hot stone out from the fire pit inside that bag... and use it instead of an steel bottle or rubber bag with hot whater inside. Coz stones don't leak.😉
2. Dog food bags has aluminum and plastic layers and so they are great heet keepers for feet and legs if we carry a big one rolled inside the backpack... and empty (just in case some troll says that they are heavy). And if you consider it will also keep the sweat and so provoke condensation, and that will weat your feet... well... bring a pair of cotton socks, and also punch some holes in the middle, in the side that goes up, with a paper puncher to prevent that condensation. They are also very usefull to keep things dry into the backpack if we use it as a liner.
3. Don't cover the noses, they are the "body's thermometer"... if the nose it's warm your body will think it's hot an so it won't increase the body temperature... and the same the opposite way around... If your noses are cold your body shall increase the body temperature...
Cheers Martin from Argentina🇦🇷 by the way...
Always the best videos. Will be listening to it again to fall asleep (not boring just safe feeling)
I *SO* hate camping in the cold. All good ideas that I hope never to need!
Thanks for sharing, Dixie.
The Arizona Trail is a fantastic hike. From low deserts to high peaks you'll experience a full gamut of terrain changes. Can't wait to follow your trip!
We only hike in the fall and winter. Hate spring and summer hiking. Don’t like snakes, bugs and humidity. Lol We kayak during the spring and summer. We are day hikes only also.
kayaking would be fun . . .
I love and appreciate your videos Dixie. Thank you!
Dear Dixie, this is for feet but the principal can apply to your hands as well. Start with insulated, waterproof boots that are a size too big for you to create internal space. Pull on a thin pair of merino wool socks and then pull on a gallon sized ziplock freezer bag. Pull on a fluffy pair of merino wool socks over the freezer bag, and finally, some darn tough socks over this. Then put your boots on. What will happen is that the freezer bags over your feet will create a moisture barrier, trapping any sweat moisture within the first thin marine wool socks. This will keep the fluffy merino wool socks and the darn tough socks and the inside of your boots bone dry. This dryness plus the effects of the multiple layers of insulation will keep your feet nice and warm in even the coldest climate. The same principle applies to your hands. Thin merino wool gloves covered by a thin waterproof glove and then an outer fluffy merino wool glove will create a moisture barrier helping your hands stay warm. Applying an outer glove over this that is windproof and waterproof will absolutely do the trick in even the harshest conditions. Your head needs a nice thick wool balaclava that pulls down to cover your neck covered by a wool beanie and then (with a face covering of choice) covered by the hood of your outer jacket and a pair of ski goggles for your eyes. Always protect your eyes from the sun in whiteout conditions. I hope this helps, a Norwegian friend taught me this!
Thanks, CS! A friend gets upset when I talk about putting plastic bags on feet, but you are right about putting the bag on your base pair. Feet stop perspiring when the humidity gets high, it doesn't get clammy. My final touch, a set of Arctic Shield boot covers. Infrared reflective, hunters wear them in tree stands. I tried a lot of things, feet stay toasty now. They make a whole outfit, start with the boot covers, great with snowshoes.
I've been backpacking in the teens already this year 20 degree synthetic bag, no tent only a tarp. I took 2 walmart liners put goosedown I bought in bulk inside and sealed it with hemming tape to put in my bag. I also advocate for Toe warmers ( They get way warmer with consistent heat vs. Hot hands ) throw a couple of hot hands in the bag, it does heat the bag significantly. I only sleep in fleece base layers , merino wool socks, and a beanie. Through the day stay moving. A 700 fill down coat during the day. Dont forget chapstick and if you work with ropes as much as I do bring aquifer for your hands. The winter is so drying. Honestly it's all what works for the individual. Happy trekking
To keep your hands warm, wear a thin synthetic liner glove inside a warm mitten or glove. The liner glove will keep moisture away from your hands so even if your outer glove or mitt is damp from sweat or snow your hands will still be warm. If your hands get hot take off the outer gloves or mitts and put them inside your outermost layer. It keeps your gloves or mitts warm while not using them, dries them out a bit, and they’re nearby if you need them.
Be bold, start cold (you should be comfortably cool before you start hiking, you will warm up to comfortable temp when you start hiking)
Sleeping pad, I made a reflectix "envelope" to slip my pad into. It does work and the weight is worth it
Great video, many useful tips and tricks.
Wool, especially merino, is agreat way to stay warm, but a lot of people find it itchy - buy silk underwear as a base layer.
I like to layer my socks too - a base layer from thin synthetic with thick wool socks from the austrian army on top - layering my socks helps against blisters as well (the base layer needs to be pretty slick then).
Hot water is a great way inside a sleeping bag, but it expands quite some if heated up and shrinks the same when cooling down, so any leakproof stiff container is in danger of getting damaged - a ziploc- or dry-bag may not hold up if you're rolling on them, but those collapsable water bottles should. Get the water in as hot as you can, but wrap it in a double-walled fleece cover to not burn yourself. Two or three smaller bags are better than only a big one.
Stay safe and enjoy Xmas time
Hi Dixie (and fans),
I really enjoy and learn from your videos. I've done a reasonable amount of winter camping/mountaineering myself and so I'll offer some observations about what's worked over the years for me. I'm probably wasting my breath, since the internet crowd seems set in their ways and impervious to abandoning old practices (George Bernard Shaw said: "Progress isn't possible without change. And those who can't change their minds, can't change anything else.") Nonetheless, I'm offering the following for consideration:
- Dixie is right that moisture is the main enemy of warmth in cold weather.
- For warm feet, try getting a pair of Wiggy's brand Lamilite socks. Wear them without any other sock layers, and inside NON-Goretex footwear. Your feet will stay warm, and, if your feet get wet, they'll dry out quickly and your feet will stay warm. (Wiggy agrees with Dixie that Goretex linings contribute to your body/feet staying cold/damp.)
- Get some fishnet long underwear to use as your first layer against your skin. Wear whatever other air-permeable clothing you like over the fishnets. The fishnets function by allowing your bodily moisture to pass through to the outer layers so you stay dry. The Norwegian company Brynje sells fishnets in the US as well as elsewhere.
Here are some links about Wiggy's and Brynje. I've also included info about a wonderful, old book (recently republished) about how to survive in the extreme cold of northern Canada and the Arctic. The book "Snow walker's Companion" is entertaining and very informative:
www.wiggys.com/specials/lamilite-socks-8-inch/
ua-cam.com/video/mJIUQn1xD1E/v-deo.html
www.brynjeusa.com/
www.google.com/search?q=snow+walker%27s+companion&sxsrf=ALiCzsauIl_MgKHMdmkQ5DQQtx86gIes4Q%3A1671416238219&ei=rsmfY-j_DL6Vxc8Pwc62iA0&ved=0ahUKEwjojprZzoT8AhW-SvEDHUGnDdEQ4dUDCBA&oq=snow+walker%27s+companion&gs_lcp=Cgxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAQDEoECEEYAEoECEYYAFAAWABgAGgAcAB4AIABAIgBAJIBAJgBAA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp
Excellent video on the topic. The only thing I would add is that filling a Nalgene bottle with very hot water just before bed really does work amazingly well. Yes, Nalgene bottles are comparatively heavy, but worth their weight in the winter. I recently camped in sub-zero (F) temps and the boiling water I put into the bottle at bedtime was still lukewarm at daybreak! Two warnings about doing this though... first, you MUST fill the bottle up within a half inch of the rim, otherwise the extra volume of air will expand and pressurize the container enough to force water out around the lid...ask me how I know! Second, you definitely don't want the bottle touching bare skin for the first few hours for obvious reasons. I usually put the freshly-filled bottle between my quilts (I'm a hammock camper) about 10 minutes or so before bedtime in order to "preheat" the down. Upon entering the hammock and settling in for the night, I move the Nalgene bottle around as needed. If my feet are cold, the bottle is nestled against my socks. If my gloved hands are chilled, a few minutes of holding the bottle warms them up quickly. But for most of the night, I've found the most effective location to keep the bottle is near the femoral arteries (basically between the thighs). These major arteries supply blood to the legs and pretty much guarantee your feet will not get cold during the night. Keep in mind if you use this trick it is very easy to get TOO warm initially, so make sure you adjust your clothing to prevent sweating. For me this means removing my down jacket and maybe even my fleece layer, and then adding these back later (if needed) during the night when I get up to pee.
Dixie....you have to try hot tent camping. Small backpacking wood stove with glass door. Makes Winter camping so fun, the more snow the better!
If it's not been said, a big one for me is switching from a cannister stove set to either a small woodstove, or alcohol stove. Trying to get a cannister stove to stay lit long enough when it's below freezing is a pain, especially when cold and tired! But if you do forget, using a hot hands under it to get it *just* warm enough works, if you already got it warm for your hands in your pockets. Those hot hands can also work as an emergency hypothermia save. (I read about an incident up in the White Mountains where someone found another who was on the brink - and used hot hands on major artery places to keep them warm long enough to build a fire.)
And I'm looking forward to the "cold"*** snap coming this week - to try out really cold temps. (In the south, single digits are bitterly cold - but almost springtime for Minnesota folks!)
One of the best not so commonly discussed things to help you get and/or keep warm is some kind of heating device like Ocoopa, I believe it is, a little chinese device that can get crazy hot at the highest settings. Inexpensive, but you throw that inside your sleeping bag and it will warm it up real nice. Plus you can use it to recharge your phone or whatever. Newbies may not be aware that even the warmest sleeping bag will not melt an ice, meaning if you're really cold, it's not going to do a whole lot if your body has a hard time creating some heat. Anyway, I thought I'd mention it because I've seen hundreds of hiking videos and only one time someone mentioned it.
Great suggestions as always! If it's cold, I never leave without my Appalachian Gear alpaca sleeping bag liner. I'm already a cold sleeper and this was a game changer for me. You rock Dixie!
First let me say I love your videos thanks for taking the time to make them all. Living in the white mountains its hard not to go hiking when it’s not cold. Now I just have to get my 13 yr old son out there with me. Hoping to have enough gear for him by the holidays. Having a spring summer set up does nothing up here come freezing fall nights. Happy trails
For sleeping you can wear a balaclava or ski face mask. The latter is good because these tend to have small holes where the mouth is so vapour escapes. A ski mask will also have an opening for your nose but a piece of fabric over the nose so the skin stays warm but breath is allowed out. Either a ski mask or balaclava will prevent the need to snuggle your nose into your sleeping bag.
Definitely sleep in a tent that has really good ventilation! 40 some years ago I went backpacking with two other guys along the rim of linville gorge in an ice storm. The tent had a fly but not a well ventilated roof. We woke up to a pool of water in the tent from condensation. Lesson learned. The scenery was stunning though.
Those showa gloves are gold
Yes the to the Nalgene bottle! I snowshoe camped at 14 degrees (F) low and used a 1 liter Nalgene bottle with boiling water a few weeks ago. I boiled water twice in 9 hours to stay very warm, especially after going outside... and returning to warm up. I had the gear to go without the extra warmth, but what a luxury for a few grams extra. I was very careful but I did not use a secondary leak safeguard. Bottle from REI. Hammock camping with a wind sock. I am going to try the steel bottle too. Thank You!!
1) Dress light as possible for sleep, then pull insulation layers inside bag and on-top of body as necessary. It's surprisingly more comfortable and just as warm (if not warmer, since added insulation is trapping heat above and not squished below). 2) A bivy-bag is much warmer than a liner, and bivy weighs less. 3) Pee. The natural state of pee is ambient; anything above ambient, body had to heat to maintain. 4) When hiking, hands and head can be modified without stopping. This author uses a four-layer glove system, hoods on everything, including base-layer, merino balaclava and a MYoG eVent hood. A lot easier to peel head/hands than jackets/fleeces.
Hey Sunny Dixie,
Here are some tips from a Canadian used to the winter outdoors:
CLOTHING
Your clothes are your main shelter, never forget that.
A) COTTON
Avoid cotton at all costs. A.V.O.I.D. cotton!
B) SWEAT-WET
Avoid any water, moisture, or sweat. Water increase body heat loss by 25%. Use layers and USE them. Several other tips below for that.
B) MERINO
Merino wool is the best. It's more expensive but it helps regulate body temperature and keeps away bad odors.
C) SOCKS
Have two pairs of socks. Merino is the best. You can have a pair of medium thicknesses and one thicker.
D) FIRST LAYER
Again, Merino is the best but Nike has a top that I love and you can also go for polypropylene. It's always good to have two tops in case the first one gets wet.
E)SECOND LAYER
Wool is best but heavier. Fleece is also good, lighter, and dries faster.
F) OUTER SHELL
Wind and waterproof, make sure to test it! (like everything else)
G) HANDS
Gloves are great, but mits are way warmer.
H) HEAD
I use a thin merino hat from HH and also have a fleece one and a wool one. I switch to whatever I need. You can also combine the thin merino and fleece one at the same time.
I) SLEEPING CLOTH
Never go to sleep with the socks you were wearing even if you think they are dry. A good habit is to have the cloth you'll use to sleep in the sleeping bag so you know where they are and they're ready on the spot. I use thin or medium merino leggings, my top is either merino or polypropylene and I may also wear my fleece jacket if very cold. It's also good to have a thin wool glove and a hat ready at hand.
H) DIY FURNACE
Have a 1L Nalgene bottle, fill it with boiling water, and put it in a large wool sock. Then place it at your feet. Not only your feet will be toasty, but you'll also have UNfrozen water to drink in the morning. When very cold, I also use a 500ml Nalgene bottle between my legs. The femoral arteries transport lots of blood, so you'll warm up quick :)
I) CALORIES
Eat lots of calories or sugar before going to bed. Like a hot chocolate. Digestion will also warm you up!
J) PEE BOTTLE
There's nothing worst than having to leave your sleeping bag in the middle of the night. A pee bottle (or two) will make a huge difference!
K) ISOBUTANE STOVES
Certainly not the best in very cold weather. Gas contracts when cold, so less pressure so.... poor performance. If you're stuck with that, put the canister in your jacket for a few minutes before using it. You can also use the toe warmers. They have a sticker so you can stick one under the canister and TADA!
L) HOLDING YOUR PEE
I have the answer for you here Dixie. Humans tend to pee more frequently when cold. This was scientifically proven in 1918 by Adler. In short, cold triggers the sensors in the ureter and bladder, which in turn contracts the muscle, and there you go...you need to pee! That's why you need to pee before going to bed. Also, your body wants to warm up all fluids... yes, ALL fluids, including pee. So you'll waste energy there instead of warming up the rest of your body. Bottom line, it's scientific... keep the bladder empty as much as possible.
M) MASKS
We're all tired of masks, aren't we? But they help a lot in winter to warm up the air that you're breathing. You can use a cheap surgical mask or buy the same one used by the mountain climbers: Vapro Airtrim or the ColdAvenger. You can also use a neoprene mask.
N) SLEEPING BAG
As stated by Dixie, don't trust too much the rating on sleeping bags. Also, some are getting colder faster than others. Always aim for the "comfort" rating and do some tests before going on a trek(we can't say that enough, right?). Use a liner or you can use two sleeping bags if you don't have the money for a good one.
DUVET
Best ones, but if wet, then... disaster. They will last you for decades if you take good care of them.
SYNTHETICS
Will protect you even if wet, but a lot bulkier and will last just a few years.
My choice? Duvet all the way!
O) SNOWSHOES
The most common mistake is this... People are buying snowshoes according to their weight. WRONG!
You need to add at least 10-14 pounds because of your clothing. You'll be surprised by how heavy all the layers and boots can be.
P) VARIOUS TIPS
- water freezes from top to bottom, keep your water bottle upside down
- never keep your water bottle in the backpack (Sintax77 can tell you about it...)
- you will get dehydrated more than you think. Drink often.
- sleeping in red clothes will keep you warmer.
- always use a sleeping pad. you can add a reflectix to increase the R-rating!
- DIY pot cozzies are amazing!
- a UCO candle lantern is a must. You'll get light, it'll warm up the tent (same as a 100-watt light bulb) and help reduce moisture inside.
- two in a tent keeps you warmer and you can do the Inuit's kissing;)
Last, use a sled you can. It's the best for winter camping.
Winter camping is fun and so relaxing. You just need the right clothing and gear and someone to teach you well ;)
Have fun!
Well written
Transferring of heat to a cold surface such as the ground can cause condensation and literally freeze your hiney. I like to gather dry leaves and pine needles for under the tent/ground cover. Also I use a light weight 1/4" closed cell packing foam insulation (very light weight) under the air sleep mat. Since using a down quilt ( I roll around a lot like an alligator doing a death spiral) I have an addition lighter quilt. Utilized snaps to attach it to the primary quilt in colder months prevents it from falling off. Sleep ware is medium polyester base layer, merino wool tee and heavy merino wool socks. Super comfy down to 30 F. But now I have added puffy britches for really cold. Experimented in cold weather beforehand and prefer the base layer britches in combination with puffy britches.....controls condensation and works great in really cold temperatures!!
I am not fond of cold camping either. But I am planning to start the AT in February. I watched Scott Benerofe’s (Aquaman) vlog of the AT starting at Katadin in December last year. He shared the equipment he used and the routines he used to keep warm. He needed snowshoes, pickax, and ice spikes as he was in the most extreme temperatures. I plan on getting off trail if the weather gets that bad. But if you like the challenge, he is a pretty sharp guy and was successful in his attempt. You might check him out.
May I ask why you're planning on starting so early?
@@rjensen2586 I am older (61) and pokey. Having a bubble coming up behind me is good motivation to keep my butt moving!
I'm excited for you! Sounds like you're doing all the right research.:)
@@rjensen2586 thanks!
The winter is my favorite time of the year. The colder the better. Personally I find wool clothing best, several thin layers instead of thick layers. The outer layer is normally thinly/not insulated and weather resistant. Consider overmitts for the hands, footbags/overshoes for the feet, also companies such as Klättermusen make excellent shell pants. On a "warm" day you could then just have a thin layer and the outer layer, adding middle layers as the temperature drops.
Dixie, for your feet, Enlightened Equipment makes synthetic booties that work awesomely. I've had mine for a couple of years and they are lightweight and warm. The companies Outdoor Vitals and Wiggy's also make synthetic booties.EE, OV and Timmermade have synthetic hoodies as well. Hitting close to 0*F in a couple of days and I'm going to be outside with an over quilt to boost my sleeping bag range. Great video
Awesome, "Dixie", love it about sunscreen in cold, most will probably be in outerwear, an "britches", cool.👍
I'm looking forward to seeing your Arizona trail videos. Thanks.
montbell's down pants are GREAT in the winter!
Dixie hiked the PCT in the biggest snow year on record, on mountains of ice and snow on the AT and CDT, and in the most brutal conditions in Iceland. I'm not sure how much more experienced you need to be.
Lots of people do things incorrectly over & over all the time, just look around the gym, or any workplace, or when you are out hiking. She's not managing sweat particularly well here, she uses two poles all the time when one would be better ie she's basically carrying them for no reason. Everybody learns from everyone else, but not unless you are open to learning, as she is.
I would suggest gaiters. Not those short summer ones. Full gortex to just below the knee. Keeps snow out of your boots & add a surprising amount of warmth. Micro spikes can also tame a slippery nightmare of a trail to a fun hike but you have to judge if they are worth the weight.
Hey Dixie, Sarah and I will be hiking some of the Arizona Trail this spring also. We will actually be camping in our rv down around there and doing some of the trail to get Sarah ready to hike the PCT next year, not sure what dates you will be down there but we will be in the Safford or Roosevelt Lake area. We will have our Jeep with us, if you have any troubles or need anything just let us know.
I follow many of these tips in the fall.
Base layer + mid layer (Patagonia R2, Senchi Lark, Melanzana, etc.) with a 2-3 oz windshirt over that and then another heat trapping proper rain shell over that. I’ve found the two shell system works great.
Concur 100% on the Showa gloves.
Only one good thing about winter backpacking, no bugs.
Dixie, outdoor vitals sells synthetic booties that work even better than down. They don’t loose their warmth when wet!
In AZ fall/winter/spring are the months to hike the desert, the reminder about cold air sinking (aka down into washes, river beds, lower lying locations) is key.
Without a doubt this is the best tutorial I've ever seen regarding how to best handle the exposure to cold conditions while camping and backpacking.
One of my favorite quotes is from MataHari Hiker, a backpacker I head to the honor to hike with on several winter excursions "There is nothing such as bad weather, only a poor choice of clothing."
I used a 5/8" closed cell foam pad under my Neo blow up pad to keep the ground cold away. I found the neo alone, although I loved it for comfort, only kept me warm if it was above 40° outside.
When hiking in Sub-Zero temperatures, two emergency items I brought were tinted ski goggles for wind and snow glare and a neoprene face mask for windy or blizzard conditions.
Can't wait to see you on the AZT!! I've hiked lots of bits of it all over AZ it's a gorgeous trail 😁😁
I don't camp in winter anymore, not enough daylight hours. 12+ hours in a small tent ain't fun. But I still do day hikes. :)
As a SoCal native, I love hiking in the cold. It’s respite from the countless sunny, warm/hot days during the rest of the year. It gets quite monotonous!
I suffer from skin damage due to the sun quite easily too and enjoy layering up for those beautiful snow hikes in the local mountains.
This video is so very helpful!
I’d recommend taking more fuel for your stove while backpacking in the winter time in case you have to melt snow for water.
Hey my grandparents weren't no dummies. One of them was born in 1885, and they used a hot water bottle every night in the winter time put it in the bed just before going to sleep, great thing to do. That and a feather bed and cover worked wonders. Once the fire in the stove went out the only heat in the house was that hot water bottle and their bodies.
My family has heated rocks in the fire and wraped them in newspaper and put them in the bottom of their sleeping bags to keep their feet warm for decades. It is cheap and easy, just don't get the rocks too hot! Pull the rocks out to the side of the fire to let them cool before wrapping in the paper. LOL
I went cold weather gear testing recently when nighttime temps dropped to 15 F. I brought a quilt / down balaclava setup and a down liner for under the quilt, just in case, and a proper Western Mountaineering sleeping bag. I was so happy I brought that WM bag as a backup. Really happy. It would hav been a cold night, otherwise.
SHOWA has a new updated glove - 282-02 Waterproof/Insulated Gloves. will be perfect for the AT in the colder months
CDT, PCT etc... Put anything foam on top of your inflatable pad, quilt or sleeping bag. Neo Air with a 1/8" thinlight foam pad ON TOP will make all the difference. I spend my winters on the CDT in Montana and Wyoming, yes, really cold but I've never been cold in my 14,000+ miles.
Of course, it's always smart to do numerous dry runs (cold runs) at home before you head for the wild white yonder. I can't tell you how many attempts it took me before I was comfortable sleeping in cold winter weather in my hammock, despite thinking my underquilt, down quilt, warm wool socks, etc were supposed to mitigate the cold temperature. You ain't lived until you sleep outside your home in freezing temperatures! But no one talks about your face getting cold, wearing an appropriate mask to sleep comfortably, etc. (thick wool balaclava and a Marino Buff). Even still, just like being in a cold swimming pool after a few hours, you definitely have the urge to pee. So by all means do lower extremity exercises (run in place) before turning in to warm up your quads and feet. And it's not a bad idea to put a hot water bottle between your thighs by your crotch when you turn in, which will transfer heat to your femoral arteries and core (I love a single layer 17 ounce stainless steel water bottle which you can also put in the fire to warm it up). Even still, having something like a pair of LoftTek™Hybrid Booties on your feet is heavenly. Or if all else fails, grab some smooth hot rocks from the fire! Bottom line, learn your solutions/secrets BEFORE mother nature has her way with you!
- Cold Kills
- Nature is Neutral, and
- Mountains don't Care
Old school wisdom from a Boyscout Master I met on a trail.
I am now spending my 2nd winter outside almost every night in Central Washington. I do not like the cold. 85°F is my preferred temperature, even hiking, but I know how to handle cold.
#1 - Wool works
#2 - Fire is your friend. But without a saw And an ax, getting your firewood is much harder than it need be. Full size tools aren't needed, but little crappy multi-tool stuff is no good. Ax needs to have some heft. A landscaper type folding saw works well, but don't go too cheap.
Fire-making skills improve with practice.
#3 - Take enough food to ignore the tourist schedule stuff as needed. Do not rush
#4 - Go slow and don't exert all your energy or wakefulness at any time, unless shelter is actually in sight. Keep a reserve of energy and wakefulness at all times. Exhaustion can become fatal.
#5 - My biggest difficulty in cold is with my hands which are not big meaty mitts. One thing that helps a lot is an extra layer for my wrists and forearms. Lots of heat is lost from this limb area before it gets to your hands. I have used both synthetic and wool.
The sleeve ends from a cast off sweater works. Wool is especially useful if you are building fires and you otherwise have synthetic outer layers as the wool will not melt from random embers.
Good video. In addition to guarding against leaks with a hot water bottle, they should also be wrapped in something because like hand and foot warmers they can burn your skin.
Thanks for all the really good info!
This isn't just a trail idea. I carry a steel Nalgene bottle in a Wild Wolf canteen carrier. (Any carrier and steel bottle might work.) I have put those chemical warmers in the carrier (one on each side of it) to make the liquid warm. I do put a layer of foil around the interior of the canteen holder so they are not up against the urethane lining. It ended up keeping my tea warm all day.
As for sleeping, I use Wiggys sleep sock even when home. They function great. So far all of the items purchased from the company function five times better than expected including his socks. This is not an ad but a testimonial from a person who has used some of them.
The best advice I can give for winter camping is to do your best to get acclimated to cold weather before you go if possible and ideally colder weather than what you're expecting. My reason for this is if you get moderately used to a low temperature, say 0 degrees, and then you go out backpacking and it's 20 you're going to feel considerably more comfortable. I realize it's not easy but you can do things like keeping your house at a lower temperature and not using heat while driving and wearing thinner layers, all while being in a safe controlled environment but basically anything you can do to bridge the gap of whatever temp is normal for you to what you're expecting to be camping or hiking in.
Way true
On a related note, I'm convinced that I got into winter backpacking since I work in a refrigerated warehouse. I got used to spending time at 38 F (4 C) so camping as it got colder felt more natural.
Ex British Army so thats T Shirt weather for me love :) Have a lovely Christmas and an awesome new year ATB and God Bless x
I am a warm sleeper and I have camped in weather down to 13 below zero comfortably I might add. I find the threat from sweat is real. I wear a long sleeve shirt and hat but no pants and that works for me. I do keep my clothes in my bag so when I wake up in the morning they are warm. Also I will put my boots under the foot box of my sleeping bag to keep them warmish. I sometimes put my jacket over my foot box for added warmth.
Hi Dixie, put your dry clothes underneath your sleeping bag for morning. Sleep with less clothing if needed put extra clothing over sleeping bag. Don’t restrict your circulation in your sleeping bag with too many clothes on. Happy hiking
Hey there Dixie! Hope you love the AZT as much as some of us locals do. The TA list on the AZT trail association site is super helpful if you need a hand. 😊
Clothing.... Nice Wool / Alpaca / Qiviut (Ki-vee-oot) and add layers and eat a lot to generate calories. I have camped & worked outside all day - even at minus 30F temperatures. Keep moving and when going to sleep - build a fire and heat rocks and put those rocks inside a double cloth bag inside your sleeping bag.
Sunglasses will help with snow blindness so a must have. :)
Great tips!
I agree with sleeping with less layers on. Down needs body heat to be fully puff up so I start with just base layers and never really needed another layer.
14:13 - Use SPF lip balm (goop) for the underside of your nose. Through years of mountaineering, I have found it impossible to keep sunscreen on the underside of my nose because I am very frequently wiping away snot in cold air. Hiking in snow you actually get a lot of reflected sun on the underside of your nose. And, all that snot and wiping really chaps my nose. Since I already carry lip balm with sunscreen in it in my pocket (easy access and keep it warm so I can apply it), I’ve begun just rubbing that under my nose. Protects from both sun and chapping!
During the cold days i found layering for the hands worked great. This would include thin liner gloves then wool gloves and then i had some wind/snow mittens to really stay dry and warm. A thin balaclava really was comfortable at night and i could still add a wool cap to really stay warm. The addition of using a space blanket under the sleeping bag also helped a little from cold transferring from frozen or rocky ground. A side note is i would use a basic liner for the sleeping bag to prevent bringing in dirt and even tree sap to your sleeping bag. A simple synthetic or even silk one works great and adds just a tiny bit of insulation to the feet mostly as they are generally slit up the side. Some tarp tents can also be setup with the sides lower and this can reduce the cold winds from blowing in. And don't forget to put your water filter in your sleeping bag to prevent freezing!
Excellent Video Dixie! I have proven many of these ideas to myself over the years through trial and error. Someone starting out can avoid all that and have success from the beginning without paying for learning via cold nights. On other tip I am not sure you mentioned is to bury your water bottles (threads down) into snow to keep them from freezing overnight.
Thanks good topic. I've also found going for a quick brisk walk before getting into sleeping bag, helps to generate warmth in your body and hence warm the air in your bag when going to bed.
When I was a kid in Alaska I skied at -20F. That was a little much. I agree with the other posts; dry cold is OK. When I worked outside in the rain all day, I dressed for it. Rain coat(not some lame little windbreaker),rain pants. I considered crappy cold rain a challenge. Kind of like SCUBA; your underwater, but your OK.
'if your feet are cold, put on a hat' I don't like the idea of wearing all the stuff I wore all day in the sleeping bag. Work clothes are for the daytime. A beany and thick socks and add if need be.