Post on 04-Jul-2015
description
Winter CampingHAMS Seminar 2013
Goal: Stay comfortable
and warm so you enjoy!Debbie MarkhamCo-Director, HAMS
Winter Camping Topics Clothing
Shelter: Tent, Walls, Snow Caves
Sleeping Systems
Cooking (Stoves, Fuel) and Food
Clothing
Soft-shell pants and jacket Hard shell (Gore-Tex) jacket & pants
(full zips are worth the price)
Hand and Toe Warmers Dry socks at night. VBLs work well for some. Bring damp clothes in your bag to dry Pee Bottle (48 oz., marked)
Minimize sweat; Don’t get wet!wet = cold; DRY = WARM
Change into DRY clothes ASAP Light-, mid-, and heavy-weight layers
Merino/SmartWool wicks; does not retain odor!
Hat and balaclava
Multiple sets of gloves, with tethers
Shelter Tent
4-season recommended for wind & strength Identify “safe” place to establish tent zoneUse shovels to level tent platformUse snowshoes to firm up tent platformLeave the ground cloth at home!Use lightweight snow stakes; consider parachutesMust dig out during heavy snowfall!
Snow WallsBlocks the windSnow shovels and snow saw
Shelter Snow Cave
Dig down and deep – must not collapse!Must have air ventQuiet, warm, dark, light (no tent, poles, stakes)But, takes longer than tent, and you will get wet!Consider for multi-day base campNot for claustrophobics
Sleep System
Sleeping Bag (consider temps and conditions)
0 degree is our “most used” for CO winters
lighter bag will suffice on Mt. Rainier
down vs. synthetic (rainy/wet camping?)
add warmth with liner bag and/or down clothing
Insulation
Insulated pads Protect tent floor – keeps in warmth
Extra protection for sleeping padIf it leaks and goes flat, you are still protected from snow1/4” Evazote® foam pads - prolitegear.com
Exped Downmat – 5, 7 or 9 (great if you sleep cold)
NeoAir – lighter option
Small size insulation rectangle for sitting/standing
Optional: lightweight, collapsible, camp chair
Cooking Stoves Helios JetBoil - canister MSR Reactor - canister MSR WhisperLite Universal – canister and liquid MSR XKG EX – all types of liquid fuel
Fuel Pros and Cons Canister Fuel – typically heats water faster, easy to use,
fuel is more expensive, build-in pots (less flexible), not as accessible outside U.S. (cold weather performance with inverted canisters)
Liquid Fuel – less expensive, excellent cold weather performance, heavier, requires fuel bottle
Cooking and Food
• Typically, most just melt snow for waterand “just add boiling water“ to their food:
instant soups and potatoes, hot cocoa, tea, coffee, oatmeal, dehydrated/freeze-dried veggies and dinners
• Cooked food in pans “freeze” and difficult clean-upBacon, eggs, pancakes – always welcome! Group meals can also be fun.
• Consider food that doesn’t require cooking: (i.e., tortillas or flatbread with chicken, tuna)
• Bring the food you like and know you will eat!• Water containers need to be insulated, or they will freeze
Use insulated water holders rather than camelbaks/bladder