Living Outdoors in the Winter
Your body is an engine. It has two goals:
- stay alive and comfortable
- obtain objective (Ex: climb a peak, get to a destination, etc. )
ON-TRAIL
- Needs
- keep body warm -adjust clothes to temperature DRESS IN LAYERS
- keep clothes dry
- keep engine stoked: fuel & water = eat & drink
OFF-TRAIL
- Needs
- water
- wind protection
- warmth
- low-impact
- Procedures
- determine wind direction and strength
- select location
- set-up cooking area ( DO NOT COOK INSIDE TENT! )
- secure water source (start melting snow) (ALWAYS start with some water)
- set-up shelter:
- tent
- make sure it's double-walled (so you don't get rained on)
- to provide wind protection, position accordingly and ANCHOR
- snow cave (see other instructions)
- unroll sleeping bag and mattress
- construction types:
- sewn-thru vs box
- mummy vs rectangular
- materials:
- down
- most efficent insulation/weight
- very compressible
- hard to clean
- loses insulation when wet
- synthetic
- cheaper
- moisture resistant
- dries quickly
- heavier/bulkier than down
- additional warmth:
- extra blankets (fleece wool, 2nd bag)
- extra clothes
- liner
- breathe through sweater
- ALWAYS USE A MATT/PAD & WATERPROOF GROUND COVERING!
- establish latrine
- start dinner
- eat
- clean-up
- go to bed
- setup clothes to dry
- put critical clothes in sleeping bag
- do NOT put water bottle in sleeping bag