I would like to plan a wilderness trip, but i fear it's a little too late, as winters is on it's way, and my gear isn't intended for cold weather. I would like to find any techniques people use, such as maybe digging a trench to keep warm from wind..Does anyone go out in the winter??
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Natural Shelter in Cold Climates?
- Thread starter msu124
- Start date
First, read up on cold weather camping. Then try a well equiped weekend trip, car camping, where, if things don't go as expected ya can stay warm in the car. This isn't a "Wimp-out" just prudent behavior. So that you can learn from the mistakes and try again. Nobody is an expert right away. When you get proficient at the easier stuff move to the more difficult untill you can safely go minimalist camping in relitive safety and comfort. Dan
- Joined
- Sep 27, 1999
- Messages
- 3,164
will have ideas like: how to heat your sleeping area with fire warmed rocks, or pine needles, dry leaves and brush as stuffing in a sleeping bag. then if it is in deep snow you have igloos and a drift snow cave dwelling.
honestly, I have not tried any of these yet. but they are standard survival shelters in most books I have read.
good luck
chris
honestly, I have not tried any of these yet. but they are standard survival shelters in most books I have read.
good luck
chris
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2000
- Messages
- 175
Brothers & Sisters of All Weather Camping,
msu 124,
Consider the options. Terrain and environment can provide a lot of raw materials. Clothiers have been telling us for years about "layering". So too with your site.
Pine boughs will provide space between you and the surface. This space is warmed by your body heat. Cold is dispelled through layers of insulation due to heat retention.
Blocking the wind is most essential since heat is dissapated more quickly by blowing wind. Tree bases with a snow wall. A crevice. Use the boughs for strengthening the snow wall and as a wind break.
Maintain a high calorie intake. Take the route of trash bags as a wind shield around your sleeping bag.
And be very judicious in the size and output of your fire; both so as not to overheat or suffocate from too little ventilation.
Bagheera takes his Scouts in all weather and all seasons.
Keep searching through this and other forums as well as contacting manufacturers and camping stores like REI and CAMPMOR for their recommendations.
While braving the elements do it with control and a good supply of the right equipment. Otherwise what may have begun as an outing might become survival!
Regards,
Lance Gothic
Shibumi
msu 124,
Consider the options. Terrain and environment can provide a lot of raw materials. Clothiers have been telling us for years about "layering". So too with your site.
Pine boughs will provide space between you and the surface. This space is warmed by your body heat. Cold is dispelled through layers of insulation due to heat retention.
Blocking the wind is most essential since heat is dissapated more quickly by blowing wind. Tree bases with a snow wall. A crevice. Use the boughs for strengthening the snow wall and as a wind break.
Maintain a high calorie intake. Take the route of trash bags as a wind shield around your sleeping bag.
And be very judicious in the size and output of your fire; both so as not to overheat or suffocate from too little ventilation.
Bagheera takes his Scouts in all weather and all seasons.
Keep searching through this and other forums as well as contacting manufacturers and camping stores like REI and CAMPMOR for their recommendations.
While braving the elements do it with control and a good supply of the right equipment. Otherwise what may have begun as an outing might become survival!
Regards,
Lance Gothic
Shibumi
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2001
- Messages
- 850
Do not forget that snow is also an insultor and a source of water if melted. Well enough to keep you alive anyways.
I know that snow banks or little snow hills are decent protection from cold winds. If the snow deep enough, could make a nice little house for yourself.
I know that snow banks or little snow hills are decent protection from cold winds. If the snow deep enough, could make a nice little house for yourself.
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2001
- Messages
- 108
Take a small avalanche shovel and build a quinzee(sp?).
Pile snow up about 5-6 feet high and about 12 or 14 feet long and 8 to 10 feet wide. Leave it alone for two hours so the surface snow sets. Then from the long end, start digging! Dig into the center and start hollowing out your little hill. Do the digging part in the daylight if you can, cause it's easier to tell when it's thin enough. The top third should be 4-6 inches thick at most, and the lower portion can stay thick. Once you can see daylight through the snow, you are done! Use the handle of the shovel or a knife to poke several 2-3" diameter holes about half way up the walls, for airflow. If you have some sort of tubes, you can rig them to face down on the outside so they don't fill up if it snows. Ventilation is crucial, but you also need to minimze wind. Try to keep the entrance as low as possible, to keep heat loss down to a minimum. One you've tried this a couple times, start experimenting. I like to pile mine up even bigger, then I build the floor up till it is higher than the entrance, using the snow from above as I dig. You can make elaborate platforms, cubby holes and shelves for boots and gear, etc., all out of snow. For bedding, I use spruce bows if available, and my therma-rest, then my sleeping bag on top. For winter backpacking I have a Western Mountaineering down mummy bag, and for ski doo trips, a heavier Woods Five-Star down bag.
Light and warmth are provided by candle lanterns, preferably two, 3-candles-in-one models.
On the inside of you entrance, cram your packs into the doorway at night to prevent wind from coming in, but do not cover the door up entirely, so you don't wake up dead.
These are best for longer trips due to the time involved, 1/2 hour to pile snow, 2 hours waiting, 1 hour digging and remodelling, but they are fun enough for even one nighters.
These are very warm shelters, and anyone can build one. Since I learned how to do it, I stopped taking my tent. (I ALWAYS bring a good, roomy bivy sack, just in case!)
Jet
Hope this helps
Pile snow up about 5-6 feet high and about 12 or 14 feet long and 8 to 10 feet wide. Leave it alone for two hours so the surface snow sets. Then from the long end, start digging! Dig into the center and start hollowing out your little hill. Do the digging part in the daylight if you can, cause it's easier to tell when it's thin enough. The top third should be 4-6 inches thick at most, and the lower portion can stay thick. Once you can see daylight through the snow, you are done! Use the handle of the shovel or a knife to poke several 2-3" diameter holes about half way up the walls, for airflow. If you have some sort of tubes, you can rig them to face down on the outside so they don't fill up if it snows. Ventilation is crucial, but you also need to minimze wind. Try to keep the entrance as low as possible, to keep heat loss down to a minimum. One you've tried this a couple times, start experimenting. I like to pile mine up even bigger, then I build the floor up till it is higher than the entrance, using the snow from above as I dig. You can make elaborate platforms, cubby holes and shelves for boots and gear, etc., all out of snow. For bedding, I use spruce bows if available, and my therma-rest, then my sleeping bag on top. For winter backpacking I have a Western Mountaineering down mummy bag, and for ski doo trips, a heavier Woods Five-Star down bag.
Light and warmth are provided by candle lanterns, preferably two, 3-candles-in-one models.
On the inside of you entrance, cram your packs into the doorway at night to prevent wind from coming in, but do not cover the door up entirely, so you don't wake up dead.
These are best for longer trips due to the time involved, 1/2 hour to pile snow, 2 hours waiting, 1 hour digging and remodelling, but they are fun enough for even one nighters.
These are very warm shelters, and anyone can build one. Since I learned how to do it, I stopped taking my tent. (I ALWAYS bring a good, roomy bivy sack, just in case!)
Jet
Hope this helps
If winter survival is a first for you and your buddy... DON'T GO! You need to learn from someone who is experienced. For example, I've done it for years, but would never attempt winter backpacking in a group of less than 4 with a 1"1 ratio of experienced winter backpackers to non-experienced. In most conditions, 3-season backpacking is fun and if things go wrong it means you get wet, don't sleep well, etc. and live to tell and laugh about it. Winter backpacking is survival. You either do it right or you'll be dragged out in the spring!