Winter Camping

Round Table – Huron Trails DistrictNovember 12, 2015

Outline

• Safety First• Winter camping quiz• Clothing• Equipment (sleeping bags, tents)• Hydration• Checklist• Winter camping spots

Safety First

• http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss12.aspx

• Qualified Supervision – Leader with winter camping exp, strong character and common sense

• Equipment – Outfitted for cold weather and scouts should be properly clothed (bright colors)

• Physical fitness – Prepare and take breaks.

Safety First (Continued)

• Buddy System – Very important! Buddies can observe condition of each other.

• Planning – Plan to cover no more than 5 miles on snowshoes or 10 to 12 miles on cross-country skis

• Safe area – Avoid dead branches and ice must be at least 3 inches thick for a small group

• Weather check – Monitor, monitor, monitor. Hazardous Weather training on-line.

Safety First (continued)

• Burning – Third characteristic for the leader• Winter sports– Ice skating, cross country skiing, sledding, snow

shoeing, ice fishing and snowmobiling– Hazardous • Leader should educate and also go over proper

technique– Avoid collision with immobile objects (rocks,

stumps, trees)

Clothing

• Base layer– Synthetic and merino wool fabrics. Avoid _____?!– Wick away perspiration to outer layers to be

evaporated– When camping you can wear 2 layers (lightweight and

thicker heavyweight layer)• Middle layer– Insulating layer– Expedition – weight fleece or microfleece shirts, pants,

jacket

Clothing (Continued)

• Outer layer– Waterproof, windproof and breathable– Gore-tex, eVent, REI Elements– Less expensive include ployurethane-coatedfabrics– Tip: if you take a put on a layer so you don’t cool

off too much

Clothing (Cont.)

• Misc Clothing– Boots• Traditional hiking boots could work• Winter or mountaineering boots (preferred)• Tip: Warm up socks and boot insoles in sleeping bag as

you sleep– Hat• Mountaineering adage, “If your feet are cold put on a

hat.”• GoreWindStopper fabric

Clothing (Cont.)

• Misc clothing (cont.)– Gloves and mittens• Mittens are preferred• Take extras

– Socks• Thing snug sock close to skin• 2nd layer on top. Both layers made of merino wool or

synthetic fabric

Sleeping Bags and Pads

• At least rated at 10°F• Down is the most popular but make sure you

keep it dry• Sleeping bag liner– Adds 5° to 15°F of warmth

• Sleeping pads– 2 pads • Foam pad underneath and self inflating on top. Foam

one serves as insurance.

Shelters

• Mountaineering (4-season) Tents– Dome Shape and extra strong pole structure– Mostly solid fabric (opposed to mesh) for more warmth and

strength– Large vestibules for wet-gear storage or a sheltered cooking

area• Single Wall vs Double Wall– Single is light weight, cooler, quick setup, costs more and

more condesation– Double is heavier, warmer, longer setup and costs less and

less condensation and better ventilation

Shelters (continued)

• Snow Caves• Igloos• Quinzees– Setup• 1. Shovel a mound of snow 6 to 8 feet high• 2. Shape mound into dome shape and let sinter for at

least 90 mins. Begin to hollow out.• 3. Ventilate through top• 4. Change into warm dryer clothes

Hydration

• Use insulated reservoir unless it’s extremely cold, then use a water bottle cover.

• Turn the water bottle upside down so the top doesn’t freeze. Put in snow bank to insulate.

• Melting snow is a good option. Use water to melt quicker.

More Tips

• COLD– C -