Cold Weather Camping

COLD WEATHER COMFORT & SAFETY

Cold weather camping as defined by BSA is "camping in weather where the average daily temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and conditions are cold, wet or windy."

The most important thing to remember about cold weather camping is to KEEP DRY. Moisture will reduce the insulating properties of almost everything. To keep yourself warm, remember the word COLD.

C   keep yourself and your clothes Clean.
O   avoid Overheating.
L   wear clothes Loose and in Layers.
D   keep Dry.

The hints listed below are in a random manner. There is no order of importance to the list, just some suggestions that have proven true for me over the years.

CLOTHING

1. Layer your clothing. Wear several layers of lighter clothing instead of one heavy layer. This way you can better regulate the amount of insulation. If you get warm you can take layers off and add some more clothing layers if you get cold.
2. Keep yourself dry, both from the weather and perspiration.
3. Wear loose fitting clothing, to optimize insulation.
4. Remember when buying clothes for cold weather that wool retains most of its insulation properties when wet. Avoid cotton products, especially for cold weather camping, because cotton loses its thermal properties when wet and does not wick perspiration.
5. There are also excellent manmade fibers and insulation's that retain their insulation properties as good as or better than wool. Other benefits include light weight, wide design options & wind-blocking.
6. Remember your rain gear is water proof and will not allow perspiration to exit. During rainy weather change your clothing several times a day.
7. Athletic shoes and nylon hiking boots do not provide enough insulation. You should wear either mukluks, water-proofed leather hiking boots, rubber overshoes or rubberized boots.
8. Waterproof your leather hiking boots with the appropriate commercial treatment. Be sure to use only silicon-based products on leathers which require it. Check the care tag that came with the boots.
9. If you choose to wear rubberized boots, remember they do not allow for ventilation, therefore you will need to change your socks several times a day. Also you may want to get some felt inserts for insulation.
10. Wear a pair of synthetic or wool liner socks under a pair of wool socks to increase insulation and take the perspiration away from your feet.
11. Pull trouser legs over top of shoes to keep out snow. You may want to use nylon gaiters (leggings), or tie or tape them to make sure of the seal.
12. Wear mittens instead of fingered gloves when you do not need independent use of your fingers. This will allow the fingers to help keep each other warm.
13. Use a pair of socks to cover hands if mittens get wet.
14. Wear a stocking cap or other warm hat. One that covers the ears and neck area is particularly effective. Remember, most heat loss is through the head. Wearing a warm hat warms the rest of your body, too.
15. Wear a scarf to reduce heat loss around the neck. Use a "ski mask" or scarf over your face for protection from the cold and wind.
16. In an emergency use your neckerchief to cover your ears.
17. If you need a fire to keep you warm you are not dressed properly. If the heat can get to your body, so can the cold.
18. Paper is a good insulator and can be wrapped around the body (under your clothes) to add insulation.

BEDDING DOWN

1. Natural fiber sleeping bags do not maintain their insulation properties when damp, down bags also fit here. A 3 to 4 pound synthetic bag will take care of most of your needs.
2. A mummy style bag is warmer than a rectangular, as there is less space for your body to heat. Also, most mummy bags have a hood to help protect your head.
3. If you only have a rectangular sleeping bag, bring an extra blanket to pack around your shoulders in the opening to keep air from getting in.
4. Do not sleep with your head under the covers. Doing so will increase the humidity in the bag that will reduce the insulation properties of the bag and increase dampness.
5. Remember to air out your sleeping bag and tent, when weather permits. Perspiration and breath condense in the tent at night and the water will reduce insulating properties of your bag.
6. Wear a stocking cap to bed in order to reduce heat loss.
7. Wear a loose fitting hooded pull over type sweatshirt to sleep in.
8. Make a loose fitting bag from an old blanket or carpet padding to put both feet in when in your sleeping bag.
9. A bag liner made from an old blanket, preferably wool, will greatly enhance the bags warmth.
10. Insulate yourself from the ground as much as possible to avoid cold spots at the shoulders and hips.
11. Use a sleeping pad of closed cell foam instead of an air mattress.
12. A good rule of thumb is that you want 2 to 3 times the insulation below you as you have over you.
13. Use a ground cloth to keep ground moisture from your bag. Your body will warm up frozen ground to a point were moisture can become important.
14. Space blankets, if used as a ground cloth, will not reflect the body heat. Instead it will conduct the cold from the ground to your body.
15. Cold air will be above and below you if you sleep on a cot.
16. Put a hand warmer (in a sock) at the foot of your sleeping bag before getting into it.
17. Fill a canteen with hot water (not boiling) and place at foot of bag to keep warm. Be careful with plastic canteens.
18. Exercise before bedding down to increase body heat. This will help to warm your bag quicker. Be careful not to start perspiring.
19. Remove the clothes you are wearing before bedding down if they are damp with perspiration. Put on dry clothing or pajamas before entering the sleeping bag.
20. Build a wind break outside your tent by piling up snow or leaves to a height sufficient to protect you when laying down.
21. Hang your sleeping bag up or just lay it out, between trips, so the filling will not compress and lose its insulating properties.
22. Before you get out of bed bring the clothes you plan to wear inside your bag and warm them up some before dressing.

ODDS AND ENDS

1. If  you get cold, let the adult leadership know so action can be taken before injury from cold weather health problems occur. In other words it's better to be kidded about forgetting your sleeping bag than risking hypothermia.
2. Organization and proper preparation is very important in cold weather camping. Good meals, proper shelter and comfortable sleeping arrangements make for an enjoyable outing.
3. Drink 2 quarts of fluids per day besides what you drink at meals.
4. Learn to recognize and treat cold weather health problems. These include frostbite, hypothermia, dehydration, chilblains, trench foot, snow blindness and carbon monoxide poisoning.
5. Use the buddy system to check each other for cold weather health problems. Notify the adult leadership if symptoms do occur.
6. If you feel cold gather some wood or do some other type of work. Working will help warm you.
7. Eating ice or snow can reduce your body temperature and it is not pure. Don't eat it.
8. Snow and ice can be used for drinking water but only after boiling.
9. No open flames (candles, matches, etc.) inside the tents. Wiggling your toes inside your boots will help keep feet warm. If your feet get cold put on a stocking cap.
10. Take and wear dark sunglasses if snow is in the forecast. The glare of the sun off the snow could lead to snow blindness. The sunglasses will reduce the glare.
11. Use the solid fuel hand warmers. They are cheaper and you can light them yourself. Adult leaders must handle all liquid fuel.
12. The solid fuel hand warmers tend to have a flair up of heat after burning for a while and then they start to cool down. Placing them in an old sock will help to protect you from this "hot spot".
13. Keep off ice on steams, lakes and ponds.
14. It takes longer to cook food in cold weather, so plan accordingly. Before going to bed pour enough water for breakfast into a pot. It is easier to heat the pot than a plastic water can.
15. Keep your matches in a metal match safe as plastic can freeze and break if dropped.
16. Gather twice as much fuel as you think you'll need for fires.
17. Carry tinder from home. It may be hard to find in snow or wet conditions.
18. Gather your wood and tinder for the morning fire in the evening so that you will be able to start the fire quickly in the morning.
19. Space blankets make good wind shields only. The metallic properties take over the insulation properties in cold weather and become cold conductors.
20. Carry extra plastic bags in cold weather. They can be used as personal wind shields and ponchos by slitting a hole in the top for your head to go through.
21. Carry extra matches because the more you need a fire to warm up the less likely you will be able to start one easily.
22. Flashlight batteries are effected by cold. You can revive a dead battery by warming it up near the fire.
23. You may want to take a bottle of propane into your tent with you at night. This will keep it warmer and make it easier to light your stove for breakfast.
24. Heaters inside your tent can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

LAYERED CLOTHING SYSTEM

Select the proper type and amount of clothing. Regulate your clothing according to your activity rate. This is the most effective way to ensure comfort. Pay attention to your bodies' signals. Don't wait until you are cold to put on more clothing. Act when you first begin to feel cooler.

Clothing layers:

• Long, thermal underwear. polypropylene
• Shirt or inner layer
• Sweater, light jacket
• Wind or rain gear
• Long, thermal underwear. polypropylene
• Inner pants wool, wool blend
• Wind or rain pants
• Wicking inner socks polypropylene
• Insulating socks wool or wool blend
• Boot liners insulated insoles
• Footwear, boots waterproof, loose-fitting, mukluks or snow boots
• Head coverings
• Gloves and mittens

LOSS OF BODY HEAT

Homeostasis:

The body's process for maintaining an even temperature. The arms and legs are used as a radiator to remove excess heat from the body. This process dilates the blood vessels, allowing more blood to flow to the skin surfaces. When the body temperature drops, these blood vessels constrict, decreasing blood flow, and thereby, heat loss. This is why hands and feet get numb when cold, and why they're particularly vulnerable to frostbite.

Since your brain needs oxygen to function, your body can't cut off the flow of blood to your head in order to conserve heat. Consequently, much of your body head can be lost through an uncovered head and neck.

• Radiation. (55%) A major source of heat loss. Heat is lost directly from exposed skin and the head. The head may lose up to one-half of the body's total heat production at 40 degrees F, and up to three-quarters at 5 degrees F.
• Conduction. (15% w/convection) Heat is lost through skin contact with cold objects, primarily the hands, and wet or tight clothing. Handling gasoline, and other super-cooled liquids, at low temperatures is especially dangerous.
• Convection. Heat is lost from the wind carrying away heat from the surface of the skin. This includes wind-chill effects.
• Evaporation. (21%) Loss from evaporation of sweat, moisture from the skin and lungs produces substantial heat loss. This is little that can be done about this. We need to allow for this by using breathable fabrics to allow this moisture to pass out freely.
• Respiration. (2-9%) Heat lost from inhaling cold air and exhaling warm air.

COLD WEATHER FIRST AID

Dehydration

Excessive loss of body water. Impairs the ability to reason, so the victim may not react properly.

Prevention:

• Drink at least 2 quarts of water a day.

• Avoid dehydrating foods (high protein) and fluids (coffee, caffeine).

• Increase fluid intake at first signs of darker yellow urine.

Symptoms:

1 to 5 % deficiency

• Increased pulse rate
• Nausea and loss of appetite
• Dark urine or constipation
• Irritability, fatigue
• Thirst

6 to 10 % deficiency

• Headache, dizziness
• Labored breathing
• Tingling
• Absence of salivation
• Inability to walk
• Cyanosis (bluish or grayish skin color)

11 to 20 % deficiency

• Swollen tongue, inability to swallow
• Dim vision, deafness
• Shriveled, numb skin
• Painful urination
• Delirium, unconsciousness and death

Treatment:

• Mild cases - drink liquids, keep warm.
• More severe cases require professional medical treatment.

Hypothermia

Lowering of the inner core temperature of the body. Can and usually does happen above freezing. The victim may not recognize the symptoms and may not be able to think clearly enough to react. Injury or death may result.

Predisposing Conditions:

• Poor physical condition.
• Inadequate nutrition and water intake.
• Thin build.
• Nonprotective clothing.
• Getting wet.
• Inadequate protection from wind, rain and snow.
• Exhaustion.

Symptoms:

• Loss of ability to reason.
• Shivering.
• Slowing, drowsiness, fatigue.
• Stumbling.
• Thickness of speech.
• Amnesia.
• Irrationality, poor judgment.
• Hallucinations.
• Cyanosis (blueness of skin).
• Dilation of pupils of eyes.
• Decreased heart and respiration rate.
• Stupor.

Treatment:

• Shelter the victim from wind and weather.
• Insulate the victim from the ground.
• Change wet clothing.
• Put on windproof, waterproof gear.
• Increase exercise, if possible.
• Put in a prewarmed sleeping bag.
• Give hot drinks, followed by candy or other high-sugar foods.
• Apply external heat; hot stones, hot canteens.
• Huddle for body heat from others.
• Place victim in a tub of 105º F water. Never above 110º F.

Prevention:

• Keep rested, maintain good nutrition.
• Consume plenty of high-energy food.
• Use proper clothing.
• Make camp early if tired, injured or lost.
• Get plenty of exercise. Don't sit around much.
• Appoint an experienced person to watch the group for signs.
• Take immediate corrective action for any signs.

Frostbite

Tissue injury involving the actual freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. Recovery is slow, severe frostbite can lead to gangrene. Once exposed the victim will be predisposed toward frostbite in the future.

Predisposing Conditions:

• Prolonged exposure to temperatures 32º F or below.
• Brief exposure at extremely low temperatures, -25º F and below.
• Exposed body parts
• Restriction of circulation.
• Fatigue, poor nutrition, low liquid intake, poor physical condition.
• Previous case of frostbite or other cold injury.

Symptoms:

First Degree (Frostnip)

• Redness, pain, burning, stinging or prickly sensation.
• Pain disappears and there is a sudden blanching of the skin.
• The skin may look mottled.
• Skin is firm to the touch, but resilient underneath.
• On thawing, there is aching pain or brownness. The skin may peel off, and the part may remain cold for some time.

Second Degree (Superficial Frostbite, Frostbite)

• No pain, the part may feel dead.
• Numbness, hard to move the part.
• Tissue and layers underneath are hard to the touch.
• After thawing (takes 3 to 20 days) pain, large blisters, sweating.
• Black or discolored skin sloughs off, leaving tender new skin.

Third degree (Severe Frostbite)

• Full thickness of the skin is involved.
• After thawing, pain continues for 2 to 5 weeks.

Fourth degree (Severe Frostbite)

• Skin and bone are frozen.
• Swelling and sweating occur.
• Gangrene may develop, amputation may be necessary.

Treatment:

• Do not rub affected area with snow. Hold it over fire, or use cold water to thaw it.
• Exercise the affected area to promote blood circulation.
• Use any warmth available to thaw area.
• Do not attempt to thaw frostbitten limbs in the field. It is less harmful for the victim to walk out on a frostbitten limb than to thaw it in the field. Thawing only risks additional injury and the victim will be in too much pain to walk.
• Check for hypothermia.
• For more severe cases refer to more complete instructions.

Prevention:

• Proper clothing.
• Good nutrition, drink water, maintain core temperature.
• Use buddy system to check face, nose, and ears.
• Immediate treatment of minor symptoms.

Snow Blindness

Inflammation of the eye caused by exposure to reflected ultraviolet rays when the sun is shining brightly on an expanse of snow.

Symptoms:

• Sensation of grit in the eyes, made worse by eye movement, watering, redness, headache, and increased pain on exposure to light.

Treatment:

• Blindfold the victim and get rest. Further exposure should be avoided. If unavoidable, the eyes should be protected with dark bandages or the darkest sunglasses. The condition heals in a few days without permanent damage once exposure is stopped.

Prevention:

• Wear sunglasses when any danger is present. Do not wait for discomfort to begin.