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