Transcript winter camping - Northside Middle School

WINTER CAMPING
PAD 40
Mr.Longval and Ms.Vallance
Evaluating Weather
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Wind
Precipitation
Thunder storms and weather patterns
Frost
Breezes changing
Snow level: deep or shallow
Snow quality: powder, packed, breakable crust
Clothing
Risk of hypothermia and cold injuries
Strength and experience of the group
Distance you will be travelling
Weather Conditions
 Very cold temperatures can cause trees and limbs to
break from snow or wind
 Warming temperatures and sunshine can cause large
amounts of snow
What is Hypothermia?
A decrease in the core body
temperature to a level at which
normal muscular and cerebral
(brain) functions are impaired
What causes hypothermia?
 Cold temperatures (below freezing or 4ºC)
 Improper clothing and equipment
 Wetness
 Fatigue
 Dehydration
 Poor food intake
 Alcohol intake
Signs and Symptoms
Mild Hypothermia
 Changes in coordination and level of consciousness
 Body temperature between 99-95ºF. (normal is
98.6ºF)
 Shivering
 Unable to perform complex motor functions like
climbing but can still walk and talk
 Goose bumps
 Numb hands
Signs and Symptoms Continued
Moderate Hypothermia
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Core temperature of 95-90ºF
Dazed consciousness
Loss of fine motor coordination (mostly in hands)
Slurred speech
Violent shivering
Loss of muscle coordination
Signs and Symptoms Continued
Severe Hypothermia
 Core temperature of 90-75ºF
 Shivering occurs in waves
 Persons is unable to walk or stand and curls up in the fetal
position to conserve heat
 Skin is pale
 Decrease in breathing and pulse
 Dilated pupils
 Muscle rigidity develops
 Confusion
 Semiconsciousness or unconscious
Treatment
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Reduce heat loss
Add layers of clothing
Change to dry clothing
Consume fluids and food to rehydrate and receive
energy
 Add heat if experiencing severe hypothermia (hot
water bottles, towels)
Cold Injuries
 Frostnip
-freezing the top layer of the skin causing skin to turn
white and body to become numb
-often found on cheeks, earlobes, fingers and toes
 Frostbite
-Skin is white and has a wooden feel
-numbness
-can include freezing of muscles or bones
Cold Injuries Continued
 Trench Foot
-prolonged exposure of feet to cool and wet conditions
-circulation is restricted
-effected tissue dies due to lack of oxygen and
nutrients while toxins buildup
-causes permanent damages to the circulatory system
Cold Injuries Continued
 Chillblains
-repeated exposure of bare skin to temperatures below
15 degrees celsius
-causes redness and itching of the effected area
-found on cheeks, ears, fingers and toes
ALIVE
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLu1Ol7nZTA
Cooking in the winter
 Avoid taking fruits and vegetables since they contain
a great amount of water and freeze easily.
 Take mostly dry foods (cereal, rice, pasta, oatmeal)
 Freeze dried foods are quick and easy meals
 Meals should contain 50% complex carbohydrates
(easy to digest) , 20% protein (builds muscle tissue)
and 30% fats (release heat over time)
Cooking Continued
 High-calorie meals are beneficial in winter weather
camping, as the body uses more calories in the
outdoors during the cold season than any other
 Foods should be high in fat, complex carbohydrates
and protein as they release energy slowly
 Chocolate bars, protein bars, nuts of all kinds, and
canned meats are good choices.
Important Considerations
 Drink lots of fluids to decrease risk of dehydration (at
least one litre of water per day)
 Do not leave your food in the open just because it is
cold outside. Not securing your food properly can
attract unwanted animals.
IIn groups of 4 come up with a menu
for an entire day of winter camping
including: breakfast, lunch, snacks
and dinner
Good Sources of Food for Winter
Camping
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Beef
Fish
Pasta
Cheese
Beans
Oatmeal
Rice
Cereal
Corn
Peanut Butter
Baked Goods (Cookies, Brownies)
Meal Preparation
 To make a fire, dig a hole in the snow. Put down a
layer of medium-sized sticks as a base. Then build the
fire on top of the wood.
 Use an object (a pad or board) under your stove to
slow down the heat transfer from the stove to the
ground
 Keep lids on pots to save fuel
Making Meal Preparation Easy
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One pot meals
Pre-made foods (chili)
Instant foods (rice, soup)
Packaging -precut foods (limits cold exposure) and
pack meals together
Tools Needed for Meal Preparation
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Pots
Frying Pans
Grips or Pliers for Pot Grabber
Cooking Utensils
Cooking Fuel
Bowl
Spork
Stove
Melting Snow
 When there is no other water source available
 Melting snow or ice in a pot to be used for drinking
water
 Can be a slow process unless an inch of water is
added to the bottom of the pot
Clothing Materials for Winter
Camping
Wool: absorbs moisture, is wind resistant and
inexpensive
-Can become heavy when a great amount of water is
absorbed but will still provide insulation
Fleece: made of plastic and holds less water than wool
making it dry faster
Polypropylene: cannot absorb water. Warm directly
against the skin to keep body from being wet and
reduces evaporative heat loss
Clothing
 Hat or Balaclava to decrease
heat loss through you head
 Wool Socks (atleast 2 pairs)
 Insulated underwear (2
pairs)
 Wind Jacket with Hood
 Winter Jacket with Hood
 Wicking shirts
 Wool sweater
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Fleece
Shell
Long and short sleeve shirts
Wind Pants
Ski Pants
Water proof hiking boots
Mittens
Gloves
Layering
 Layer 1: Base layer that transports moisture away
from the body and wicks moisture from the skin
-Synthetic material or wool
 Layer 2: Adds extra insulation and traps insulating air
 Layer 3: Wind and water repellent shell
 Layer 4: Windproof
-Should not only be done on the body but also feet,
hands and head
Miscellaneous Camping Tools
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Sleeping Bag
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Thermarest
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Pillow case (use clothes to stuff it) 
Tent
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Knife
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Saw
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Axe
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First Aid Kit
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Water Bottle Insulator
Headlamp
Sunscreen
Fire starter (lighter,
matches)
Tarps
Water Filter
Extra Food
Compass
Map
Camping Gear Continued
 Large Frame Pack
 Stuff Sacks of different sizes
Types of Shelters for Winter
Camping
How to choose which shelter to build
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The amount of sunlight left (time)
Precipitation (snow and rain)
Location
Available materials
SNOW CAVE
 Digging into a snow drift creating a hollow
QUINZEE
 Make a circle in the snow that is big enough for the
amount of people that will be sleeping in the quinzee
 Use a shovel to mix up the snow inside the circle
 Make a large pile of snow on top of the circle shaping
it into a dome. The snow should be heaped, not
packed.
 Allow the mound to set for 1 to 3 hours depending on
the weather
QUINZEE CONTINUED
 Begin to hollow out the mound of snow after it has
hardened digging straight in at first to create an
opening.
 Then dig out the snow at an upward angle
 Continue until the interior area is large enough
 Smooth out the interior walls and ceiling
 Poke a ventilation hole through the top of the dome
using a long stick
QUINZEE
IGLOO
 Can be difficult without considerable practice
 Cutting blocks and placing them end to end on their
narrow edges in a circle
 Gradually begins to spiral upward
 Blocks must be trimmed and positioned so that they
lean slightly inward
 Fill in any cracks or holes for the final product
SNOW TRENCH
 Dig a hole in the snow a foot longer than your body and 3
feet wide
 Continue digging until the hole is about 3 feet deep from
the floor to the upper edge
 Make an entrance about 1.5 feet wide and 1.5 feet long
 Cover half of the floor with soft branches and boughs for
extra insulation
 Include a roof made of material available in the forest and
then covered with a thick layer of snow
SNOW TRENCH
LEAN-TO
 Find two long branches that can be pushed deep in
the ground to be used as two standards to hold up
the lean-to.
 Next find a large branch that will hang high been the
two standards and fasten these on using rope or wire.
 Add smaller branches at a 45º angle along the large
branch between the standards
 Then cover the lean to with debris found in the forest
LEAN-TO
A-FRAME
 Can be built using branches and debris or tarps
 Secure two long branches against a tree crossing the
tops of the branches making an X
 Build the walls using smaller sticks placing them
vertically and close together along the two large
branches
 Looks like a double lean-to
 Insulate the walls with either debris or tarps
A-FRAME
TENT
Four seasons tent
 Resistant to high winds and heavy snow fall
 All vents can be closed during storms
 Tougher material
 Multiple strong guy-lines for anchoring
 Will not keep you as warm as a snow shelter because
of the insulation that snow provides
FOUR SEASONS TENT
Sleeping during winter camping
 A thick sleeping pad for insulation from the ground
that is as wide as your sleeping bag and long enough
to support your head
 A winter sleeping bag or two summer sleeping bags
(mummy-style)
 Unpack your sleeping bag as soon as camp is set up
so that it retain its insulating ability
 Inner and outer layers can be used for added warmth
Clothing for Sleeping
 Flannel Pajamas
 Heavy Socks
 Jogging Pants
 Long underwear
 Jacket or sweater with a hood
 Toque (lose most of the heat from your head)
DO NOT WEAR THESE CLOTHES DURING THE DAY THEY
MUST STAY DRY AND CHANGED INTO RIGHT BEFORE GOING
TO BED.
Other considerations for sleeping
 Put a bottle of warm water in your sleeping bag to keep
your feet and body warm
 Sealed bottle of water can also be put in the sleeping to
keep from freezing
 Put your boots into a stuff sack over night to keep them
from freezing or put them in between your sleeping bag
and sleeping pad
 Do not try to dry large amount of clothes in your sleeping
bag over night as it can cause too much moisture
More Considerations
 Keep nose and mouth out of sleeping bag since your
breath creates large amount of moisture resulting in
dampness
 Use balaclava or a scarf to keep your face warm
 Avoid overheating at night
 Wear loose fitting clothing to bed that circulation is
not restricted
 Keep a snack for the middle of the night to replenish
lost calories and stay hydrated