Transcript Winter Camping - Prince George Secondary School

Winter Camping
Joel Robinson n’ Nick Clifford
Clothing
 Always remember to bring a warm toque/hat, your head
loses a lot of heat.
 Bring a plentiful amount of clean and dry socks, columbia
omni heat socks.
 Add layers, there’s nothing worse then being freezing
cold, e.g., long sleeve shirt, fleece jacket, warm winter
jacket.
 Make sure you are well insulated underneath,
underarmor, columbia long sleeves.
 Wear warm winter boots, not having the proper footwear
will make you regret camping, e.g., Sorels, Columbia,
Gaitors, Merrel.
 You may use Vapor barriers in very cold conditions
because you don’t want to sweat and it to freeze. Vapor
Barriers are a thin layer of impermeable material to
prevent moisture from damaging the fabric of clothing
Shelters – Different kinds
Shelter – How to set up a tent
1. Try to dig a little bit of a hole to pitch your tent in as it will act as
bit of a wind break.
2. Avoid choosing a site with trees overhead. This will make it so you
don’t randomly get a huge snow pile on your tent while you sleep.
3. Stomp around your area you plan on pitching your tent, as you
want a stiff base/ table in which you can place your tent so you
don’t sink in the deep snow.
4. If the snow is still fluffy and soft, melt snow on your camp stove
to pour over the area to make it more stiff.
5. Use a winter tent specially designed to withstand winds and the
weight of accumulated snow
6. Stake your tent down using snow stakes!
Shelter – Ground Preparation
Ground preparation is essential in setting up your campsite. As
you prepare to set up your camp, consider the following…
1. Is there natural wind protection?
2. Is there a good source of water nearby?
3. Is the site free of avalanche danger?
4. Is it reasonably safe from falling trees and branches?
As you prepare the ground to set up your camp, be sure that the
snow underneath you is hard packed enough so you won’t sink it.
You can use snowshoes, skis, feet, or shovels to pack it down.
Also plan where the sun will rise so you will warm up much faster
in the morning
Ground cloths may also help prevent water from seeping into the
tent.
Cooking
Where should you cook? Wind break?
With enough snow, dig out a small pit to cook in. This will act as a perfect wind
break for windy weather.
What are you going to sit on?
A person could either bring a lawn chair of some sort, or make a chair out of snow
and bring a cushion and even something to keep yourself warm underneath.
Issues with canister stoves.
Canister stoves with little amounts of fuel, can freeze over in cold temperatures. By
placing it in your jacket for approximately 30 minutes before cooking, you can dethaw the fuel left in the canister making it much easier to light.
Water Source.
Melt the snow in a pot on your stove….pretty simple.
How can you prevent your water bottle from freezing?
Hang the bottle upside down so the cap of the bottle doesn’t freeze.
Cleaning Dishes.
Melt snow and boil the water you plan to clean your dishes in.
Sleeping Wise
 Take a sleeping bag that is rated 10°F lower than the coldest
temperature you expect to travel in
 Make sure to keep your sleeping bag dry, you can even buy a
water-resistant down bag
 Use sleeping bag layers, as they add a tremendous amount of heat
to your sleeping bag
 Be sure to have 2 full length sleeping pads to prevent the body
from losing heat on snowy surfaces
 Go to the washroom before you go to bed, your body is using lots
of its energy to keep that extra liquid warm
 Make sure you are well insulated underneath. Use your coat as
another warm layer on top of your sleeping bag
 Cozy up with a partner if you are getting seriously cold
 If someone wakes up freezing, you can always build a fire to get
them warm then just go back to bed
Bathroom
What should you do with bio-waste when there in no outhouse
available?
While attempting to go #2 in deep snow and frozen ground when
there are no outhouses nearby you should hike about 200 feet from
your campsite and leave it near the snow’s surface, where the
freeze/ thaw cycle will help break down the waste.
You can also substitute snowballs for toilet paper but they must be
packed out. Also use a separate pair of gloves for cooking and going
to the bathroom to avoid cross-examination.
Set up your bathroom far away from the campsite and try to choose
a south-facing location because the sun speeds of the
decomposition process
Campfire
Large vs. Small
Our group doesn’t need to a bonfire to be enjoyable, and we
can’t have a tiny fire that can’t fit everyone around it. So a
fire somewhere in the middle would be preferred. (In Joel’s
own words)
Single vs. Multiple
More fires could be good, but it also means more materials
are being used up (e.g., matches, kindling, etc). So if there
is a limited amount, just a single fire will surpass. (In Joel’s
own words…once again)