Transcript Winter Camping - Stittsville Scouting

Winter Camping
1st Stittsville Scout Troop
Presented by: Scouter Marc Couturier
123rd Ottawa Scouting Movement
Clothing
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(1) You need to insulate yourself by keeping a trapped
warm air layer next to your body.
(2) You need to protect your body from cold air and wind,
and, if need be, other inclement weather, like snow, rain,
and sleet.
(3) You need to keep as dry as possible, particularly from
your own sweat. Clothes that wick moisture off the skin to
the outside, and clothes that breathe, allowing moisture to
pass through while still insulating and protecting, are best.
(4) Your clothes should be flexible, allowing you to adjust
for changing temperature and exercise conditions easily,
allowing you to remain warm without overheating.
(5) In case you do get wet, your clothes should do as good
a job as possible keeping you warm, even when damp.
Clothes that dry quickly are preferable.
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Inside wicking layer: Usually synthetic long underwear
that wicks sweat away from the skin, and provides some
insulation.
Middle insulating layers: Breathable clothes that insulate
by holding a warm air layer near the body, such as a wool
sweater or fluffy synthetic jacket. Multiple thin layers are
much better than one single very warm layer (for
flexibility's sake), and materials that retain their insulating
ability while wet are a must.
Outer shell layers: Should provide wind protection and
help trap air within your insulation, while still allowing some
ventilation and breath ability. During inclement weather,
you will need a waterproof outer layer to keep you
relatively dry inside.
That's all there is too it. Below, we'll talk about what to
wear for each layer. To answer that question, let's first
discuss which materials are appropriate to use for these
purposes. This will help you quickly design effective
clothing systems.
Outer Shell layer, Middle Insulation, and Inner Wicking
layers
Cotton is the Work of the Devil
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THOU SHALT AVOID COTTON IN ALL WINTER
HIKING CLOTHES AT ALL COSTS.
(1) Cotton absorbs water (and water vapor) like a
sponge and holds it near your body for a long
time. Then, cotton takes a long time to dry.
Cotton does not quickly let water evaporate.
(2) Cotton fibers shrink when they get wet, and
thus cotton fabric looses its loft and hence its
insulating ability.
(3) Unless it's very heavy and dense (and thus
highly absorptive and poorly breathing), cotton
affords poor wind protection.
So If I Can't Wear Cotton...
What can you use instead? Let's take a look:
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Polypropylene, a synthetic, and its derivatives (Thermax, Capilene,
Cool-Max, etc.) are excellent materials for underwear, lightweight shirts,
and the like. They wick water, insulate, and dry quickly. They're also light
and pack well. As a class, these materials are often affectionately referred
to as polypro.
Pile, or Fleece, is basically fluffy polyester, and makes great insulation for
pants and jackets. Thin pile is good to hike in; thick pile is very warm. Pile
also wicks water and dries very quickly.
Dacron, Polyester, Acrylic, and other synthetics were often used to
make cheap, often very tacky, sweaters and shirts. This stuff is great to
hike in! Go to your local Goodwill, Salvation Army or Value Village store
before the outdoors stores. Watch out, though, rayon is made from wood
fibers and is as bad as cotton.
Spandex or Lycra tights are worn by some people instead of polypro long
underwear, although they do not wick as well and are definitely not as
warm.
Spandex or Lycra tights are worn by some people instead of polypro long
underwear, although they do not wick as well and are definitely not as
warm.
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Wool and silk do not wick as well as polypro, but they do OK, and they
retain their insulation ability even when wet (although wool dries very
slowly). Wool sweaters are standard fare as inexpensive hiking clothes go,
as are wool shirts and lightweight wool pants. Wool or silk underwear is
worn by some people, although it is not as good as polypro. Merino Wool–
Unlike traditional wool, Merino Wool is not prickly so can be worn next to
skin or as a mid-layer without any itchiness or irritation. With natural antibacterial qualities, Merino Wool does not retain odours and has great
natural moisture management. Usually there are 3 different thicknesses of
wool. One used against the skin and the others for increasing levels of
warmth.
Down and its synthetic substitutes (Hollofil, Thinsulate, etc.) are
always too warm to hike in, but they make great Parkas and mittens for
camp and emergencies, as well as sleeping bags. The only problem with
down is that it looses all its insulating ability when wet - you absolutely
have to keep it dry. The synthetics do not have this problem, but they are
bulkier and heavier.
Nylon and similar synthetics are used to make raincoats and
windbreakers, and come in two types: Uncoated nylon is used for
breathable windbreakers (jackets and pants), and makes a great outer
layer to hike in. It traps air, blocks wind, and still breathes really well. It is
not at all waterproof, however. Coated nylon is used for excellent
inexpensive and lightweight rain gear. It forms a vapor barrier, however
(your sweat will not evaporate out), and thus is not good to wear unless
it's really raining.
Basic Articles of Winter Clothing
So, what exactly do I need to get?
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Underwear – No Boxers
Long Underwear – Fleece PJ pants work great. Not advisable if
you have fleece lined snow pants.
Pants – Avoid cotton-especially jeans and corduroy
Shirts – t-shirts, long sleeve shirts and long sleeved turtlenecks
Hoodies
Balaclavas – Great for sleeping in!
Toques - An extra one in your backpack is a good idea
Scarf
Socks – The best place to spend money
Mittens and Gloves – Mittens are great at bedtime
Snow Pants – Fleece lined with ventilation zippers are best. Heavy
nylon splash pants over polyester pants and long underwear work
well too!!
Winter Coat – Nylon jackets with removable liners are the best.
Boots – the boots with removable felt liners are best. Always a
good idea to have 2 sets of liners.
The exception to the cotton rule!
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Cotton is only acceptable to use as
sleeping clothes. This is the exception to
the no cotton rule because you are
generally not active when you are sleeping
therefore you are not going to be
sweating. Do not overdress at bedtime. If
you wear too many layers, you do run the
risk of sweating!!
Sleeping Bags
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A basic sleeping bag is simply a square blanket, fitted with a zipper on one
or two sides, allowing it to be folded in half and secured in this position. A
sleeping bag of this type is packed by being folded in half or thirds, rolled
up, and bound with straps or cords with cord locks. The basic design
works well for most camping needs but is inadequate under more
demanding circumstances. The second major type of sleeping bag,
sometimes called a mummy bag because of its shape is different in a
number of important ways.
It tapers from the head end to the foot end, reducing its volume and
surface area, and improving its overall heat retention properties. Some
bags are designed specially to accommodate women's body shapes.
It usually does not unzip all the way to the feet. The zipper is a weak point
in any sleeping bag's insulating qualities. Together with the tapered shape,
this design feature helps protect the feet, which are more vulnerable to
heat loss than other parts of the body.
It usually has a drawstring, equipped with a cord lock, at the head end, to
help prevent the escape of warm air.
A mummy bag often cannot be rolled like a rectangular bag. Instead, it is
simply stuffed into a stuff sack or compression sack.
What if I don’t have a Winter
Sleeping Bag?
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A good Fall weight
sleeping bag
augmented with a
fleece sleeping bag or
wool blanket will work
as well as a Winter
weight sleeping bag.
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As important as a
good sleeping bag is a
good sleeping pad
such as a Therma-rest
or Dense Foam
sleeping pad. Try to
avoid air mattresses
as they do not
insulate very well due
to the large air
pockets.
Hydration & Nutrition
Planning food for winter activities must take into account the great
demands the cold weather and physical activity placed on the body
along with the difficulty of preparing foods in the winter (it takes time,
stove fuel) and having a menu which appeals to the group). Appetite
is generally reduced during winter activity even through the food needs
of the body have increased. If the meal isn’t appealing, it won’t get eaten.
In some situations you literally need to force yourself to eat.
Food types
All foods are made up of varying proportions of the three basic food types
- carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and water, vitamins and minerals. Each
of the three major types can be converted into simple sugars and burned
By the body to produce energy but the time required for conversion
increases as the complexity of the molecule increases, so carbohydrates
are quicker to convert than proteins and proteins quicker than fats.
Caloric Requirements
General caloric requirements increase in the winter due to the energy
expended in keeping the body warm.
Caloric requirements for different activity levels are summarized below.
Activity Caloric Requirement (kilogram-calorie/day)
Basal metabolism
1,500 calories
Sedentary occupation
2,500 - 3,000 calories
Three season backpacking
3,500 - 4,000 calories
Winter backpacking
4,500 - 5,000 calories
Keep in mind that there are definite individual variances on these figures
based on age, body metabolism, health, etc.
Meals
Avoid taking fresh food in the winter (fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs).
These all contain water and weigh a lot (and you have enough to carry).
The exception to this is cheese, butter, or meats (needed for their high
Fat content). Take mostly dry foods (cereal, pasta, rice, wheat, oatmeal,)
baked goods (brownies, cookies), or
freeze dried foods (expensive but very lightweight and quick to cook
which can save on stove fuel).
Breakfast - should not be a complicated meal but should be a complete one since it supplies the foundation
for a full day’s work. Time is also a factor since you probably want to get up and moving. Just standing around
in camp in the early morning (cold) hours only leads to cold feet and bodies. Since the easiest thing to cook is
water it is best to go for items which can be made in each individual’s cup. Suggestions include: instant oatmeal
with hot milk & margarine, hot juice, Granola with hot milk, hot chocolate with extra milk. Bacon and eggs or
sausage and eggs are great too!
Lunch - There are two approaches to lunch on a winter trip. One is to stop for a traditional lunch and take a
long break. This means cessation of activity which can lead to people getting cold. Additional layers would
need to be put on and taken off. All of this adds up to a lot of time. But this also allows time for exploring an
area and taking it easy. You can break out the stove and cook up a hot meal if you like. The other approach is
carrying a personal lunch which can be eaten throughout the day, at scenic points, water stops, clothing breaks,
etc. The second approach minimizes the amount of time people would be standing around, but also doesn't
provide a major rest stop. In both cases you should include all the food groups by having some of the following
items: meats, cheeses, nuts (providing there are not allergies, dried fruit, raisins, cookies, candy, granola bars.
Dinner - It is often good to start dinner with an instant soup or a hot drink that can be made in each persons’
cup. This gives some internal warmth while waiting for the main course. In the winter, the main dish is usually
some form of one pot glop/stew. This is to save time and stove fuel. A glop starts with a soup or gravy base,
and includes a starch (rice, noodles), some vegetables (frozen vegetables keep well on winter trips), whatever
protein you are carrying (lunch meat, cheese, canned chicken, tuna). This should be spiced to make it tasty.
Remember, at the end of the day you will be more tired than hungry and having an interesting meal is essential
to get you to eat.
Food for sleeping - you need to take some of your lunch for the next day to bed with you. This allows fresh
items like the meat and cheese to thaw. If you wake in the middle of the night and are cold (or just before you
go off to sleep) it is best to eat proteins. The protein will be broken down more slowly so the heat will be
released over a longer period of time. If you eat a sugar, you will get a quick “heat high” and then your body
temperature will drop back down, sometimes falling below its previous level.
Boil Bag dinners are a great way to prepare and pack meals for winter camp. A Boil Bag dinner is made by
Washing out individual milk bags, filling them with your food (no more than half way), securing the end and
Freezing. At camp, all you need to do is boil water and then put your dinner in. make sure to mark it well so that
you know which bag in the pot is yours. This also helps with dishes as you only need a spoon!!
WINTER WATER
Water (hydration) is just as important while Winter camping as it is
in summer camping. In the summer time, you lose water mostly by
sweating. In winter, you lose a lot of water just by breathing. Whether
you are thirsty or not, you need to drink quite often. Dehydration at
Winter camp can be almost as serious as hypothermia.
How do I know if I am becoming dehydrated?
A headache is a good indication that you are becoming dehydrated.
The colour of your urine is also a good indicator of dehydration. Clear
urine is an indicator that you are well hydrated. The more yellow the
color, the more dehydrated you are!! Deep yellow with a strong odor
is a sign of severe hydration.
Do
not eat snow! It takes an incredible amount of energy to transfer
water from one state to another (solid to liquid). You are burning up too
many calories to do this which can quickly lead to hypothermia.