Southern California Club Xterra
Southern California Club Xterra => SCCX General Discussion => Topic started by: PainRoller on November 04, 2015, 11:53:51 AM
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Someone somewhere on this forum offered advice for Winter Camping. But I can't remember who or where. ::)
Since advice helps the entire class, I thought I'd post a new thread and ask:
What tips/tricks do you have for winter camping?
What are your "must have's" "never ever forget to bring" items for winter camping? (besides a sleeping bag)
Big trip coming up and I feel over-packed but under-prepared. So any help is appreciated.
Also, if you don't like answering but have awesome links, those are nice too.. ;)
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A stocking cap, or warm hat with ear flaps. You lose 80% of your body heat through your head. This is another reason to go full mummy with your sleeping bag.
My wife likes a hot water bottle to put in her sleeping bag to keep her feet warm.
Slippers that you can put on in the middle of the night when you have to pee.
Peppermint schnapps or Goldschlager to go in your coffee/cocoa!
Put you next day's clothes in or under your sleeping bag so they are not freezing when you put them on the next morning.
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I usually sleep in a hoodie or wear a Toque (a beanie)
The cold on the face feels good when your sleeping, but like Tony said all the heat is lost out your head.
Long undies always help to sleep in,
and lastly Hot Chocolate , Coffee, or Tea for the morning to get your innards warmed up.
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Layer the clothing.
If you don't like the weather in the desert, wait 30 minutes....it will change. ;)
Second Jays night time head gear...a beanie will keep your head nice and toast during slumber time.
Christiaan introduced us to hand warmers in JTNP, and Daphne swears by them. We have a 10 pack from Amazon for this trip, but I have seen them at Sports Chalet and Big 5 locally.
The desert is cold naturally, but when the wind blows it is down right frigid. Dropping an extra layer (fleece blanket or otherwise) over your sleeping burritos has helped us insulate a little better too.
Like Sage said, it's all about maximizing the body heat you have.
One other trick I learned camping in Sedona at 7,000' is to try to insulate your propane stove's regulator overnight. It will freeze, rendering your stove DOA. . A cloth or towel wrapped around should suffice, but a neoprene cover would be better. I haven't seen these,but I bet someone makes it.
Nothing worse than not being able to heat a cup of coffee when it's 19* out...
Sent from Cygnus X-1
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Make sure you have wind barrier clothing that breathes, that wind cutting through the clothing will chill you very fast. Bring extra 550 cord or similar for those windstorms that pop up out of the blue to anchor your tents/awnings down. Put chairs etc away at night because with the wind they will relocate to a different zip code over night. Chapstick etc. as your lips will dry and begin to crack within hours. Insulate the seat in your camp chair even if you are near a fire, it will keep you a whole lot warmer. Even if you don't feel like it drink plenty of water because you are still dehydrating very quickly.
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Make sure you have wind barrier clothing that breathes, that wind cutting through the clothing will chill you very fast. Bring extra 550 cord or similar for those windstorms that pop up out of the blue to anchor your tents/awnings down. Put chairs etc away at night because with the wind they will relocate to a different zip code over night. Chapstick etc. as your lips will dry and begin to crack within hours. Insulate the seat in your camp chair even if you are near a fire, it will keep you a whole lot warmer. Even if you don't feel like it drink plenty of water because you are still dehydrating very quickly.
These are some great tips guys!! Some we knew and prepared for, but others are not anything we considered before.
Prepared with: cocoa, schnapps, beanie, coffee, hydration, xtra blanket
Things to consider: slippers, Goldschlager? (is this better than FireBall?), and insulating regulator (great idea, Yota)
Layers are tricky...
Celt - I like the storing chairs to prevent loss idea. But what do you mean by 'insulate the seat chair'?
Seriously, this is very helpful. Any more ideas? :)
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Use some foam or fold a blanket for the bottom of your camp chair before you sit on it. It will help to hold in the heat. Similar to when you sleep on the ground using a ground mat for insulation.
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Or, dig a small hole under your chair and place hot coals in said hole.
*Mind your bits.
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Thanks for all the great tips, and for this thread.
I think it was Motorpig who offered to offer cold weather tips. I'm sure he will be able to add to this very helpful list.
And yes, Fireball WILL work just as well. I may be experimenting with Rum on this trip ;)
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Be sure you have plenty of insulation like closed-cell foam under your sleeping bag, even if in the back of the truck. Your body weight will compress the insulation in the sleeping bag itself, so you'll need something firm and dense underneath to keep the cold out. An air mattress, by itself, is probably not such a great idea in very cold temps. It won't insulate much at all. If using one, put a layer of closed-cell foam over it, or maybe some extra blankets or something.
If you are sleeping in the back of the truck, it helps to keep a window cracked slightly to avoid a lot of condensation inside. This is where window vent shades come in handy.
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Even just a small extra blanket in the seat of the camping chair helps with insulation and heat loss.
This all is also a good reminder that I should grab a new beanie. :)
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Or, dig a small hole under your chair and place hot coals in said hole.
*Mind your bits.
THIS!!! Mind blown by CKayaks hot coal distribution. Our butts were swaddled in warmth..... ;)
The hot cocoa with Schnapps was awesome.
I appreciate ALL the tips and tricks - they definitely came in handy this last week! :-*
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THIS!!! Mind blown by CKayaks hot coal distribution. Our butts were swaddled in warmth..... ;)
The hot cocoa with Schnapps was awesome.
I appreciate ALL the tips and tricks - they definitely came in handy this last week! :-*
Barb, I noticed somewhere that you said you were cold at night. New sleeping bag time.
I've had GREAT luck with the Teton Sports (http://www.tetonsports.com/Sleeping-Bags/Sleeping-bag-main.htm) bags.
I personally use the Celsius XXL -18 Degree C / 0 Degree F Flannel Lined Sleeping Bag (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F36TM0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00)
You could definitely use one of their standard size bags, like the Celsius Regular -18 Degree C / 0 Degree F Flannel Lined Sleeping Bag (http://www.amazon.com/Sports-Celsius-Regular-Flannel-Sleeping/dp/B006IYCSES/ref=pd_sim_468_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=41tQI3eLzhL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR89%2C160_&refRID=0EEBWX48SE8YV0RNA15N)
What's cool about those bags is that if you want to, you can zip two of them together (left hand and right hand zip) for ultimate RTT snuggles with an S/O
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those are the bags Jill and I have, she was still freezing. we probably could have gotten by with only one bag, the whole time she was wrapped around me stealing my body heat since Jill seems to create no heat herself. i think next trip we will have hand warmers in her bag or maybe try one of those battery hand warmers to help her stay warm.
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Yeeeeah......the sleeping bag I've had since I was 9 yrs old isn't cutting it anymore..... ::)
Thanks for the links, Steve. Totally will check them out. ;)
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Mountain Hardwear Lamina Z Torch Sleeping Bag
Toasty :)
good to 5 degrees F
(http://www.rei.com/zoom/880129/230)
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I've discovered that a good sleeping bag needs to reflect heat back to you. Your body heat needs to reach the bag.
I sleep warmer in shorts and a thin t shirt then when fully layered.
I sleep in an REI Radiant bag.
It's supper wide in the shoulders and packs down into a 16l compression sack. (Football)
http://bit.ly/1cLdpPR
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I've discovered that a good sleeping bag needs to reflect heat back to you. Your body heat needs to reach the bag.
I sleep warmer in shorts and a thin t shirt then when fully layered.
I sleep in an REI Radiant bag.
It's supper wide in the shoulders and packs down into a 16l compression sack. (Football)
http://bit.ly/1cLdpPR
That is true. All true.
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I have the REI Lumen +10 rating...and I'm not discussing my sleeping attire. >:D
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I just picked up a 12volt heated fleece blanket to preheat the sleeping area when I camp.
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I need to get another electric blanket, mine stopped working on the first night in death valley and Jill was freezing.
Sent from my rooftop tent while stargazing
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I need to get another electric blanket, mine stopped working on the first night in death valley and Jill was freezing.
Sent from my rooftop tent while stargazing
Just tell her to go outside and do some jumping jacks, that will get her warmed up.
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I really like these things
Image is clicky.
(http://www.bobssportschalet.com/images/product-images/turtle-fur/turtlefur2014/turtle-fur-the-turtles-neck-neck-warmer-black-2014.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Fur-Turtles-Heavyweight-Warmer/dp/B00069HFIK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447895965&sr=8-1&keywords=turtle+fur+neck)
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Yea Jills problem is she doesnt seem to put out any body heat so anything short of hand warmers/electric blanket doesn't work haha
Sent from my rooftop tent while stargazing
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Yea Jills problem is she doesnt seem to put out any body heat so anything short of hand warmers/electric blanket doesn't work haha
Sent from my rooftop tent while stargazing
I never understand them Wimmens, if there isn't a cool breeze blowing I get hot. The only reason I can see for having a heater in a vehicle is,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,well, I can't think of a valid reason let me get back with you.
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I keep these in the truck (along with a lot of other stuff) - they've come in handy a few times.
(https://frankbaiamonte.smugmug.com/Photography/Hosting-Only/i-hxTJk5c/0/L/IMGP0369-L.jpg)
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Biggest thing to survive in a cold weather environment, LAYERS!!!
Bring a few layers that you can take off and put back on as needed. Don't bundle up so much that you break a sweat...As we used to say in the Infantry...stay "comfortably cool" and you'll be just fine!
Drink lots of water...this is often overlooked but proper hydration allows your blood to flow through your body properly and that is the key to heat distribution. Coffee and tea and cocoa (and Fireball!!!) are great, but hydrate with H20 as well!
A good pair of gloves, a good beanie, and a scarf / neckwarmer / SHEMAUG!!!! are great! You lose up to 40% of your body heat through your head and it is important to keep that heat in and not let it escape...especially for the "follically challenged" like myself!
Another survival tip, and this goes for wet weather as well as cold weather, Cotton kills! Cotton clothes, which most of us where all the time, soak up sweat and water and moisture and don't allow for the "wicking" of water away from the body...when your clothes are wet, your body is wet, and that leads to poor heat distribution. Wool is a great cold weather fabric for clothes. Invest in a few nice pairs of wool socks and to keep the Toesies nice and toasty! There are many options for clothing, so do some research and get something you like. Getting your denim jeans wet in january and then having to be outside in the below freezing temps is a recipe for disaster!
If anyone has any other questions or would like to discuss experiences, please feel free to hit me up. I am by no means saying my methods are the best, and each person has their own tricks that I'm sure work perfectly for them.
Looking forward to seeing everyone in January where we can all shiver and get mild hypothermia together! :)
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Biggest thing to survive in a cold weather environment, LAYERS!!!
Bring a few layers that you can take off and put back on as needed. Don't bundle up so much that you break a sweat...As we used to say in the Infantry...stay "comfortably cool" and you'll be just fine!
Drink lots of water...this is often overlooked but proper hydration allows your blood to flow through your body properly and that is the key to heat distribution. Coffee and tea and cocoa (and Fireball!!!) are great, but hydrate with H20 as well!
A good pair of gloves, a good beanie, and a scarf / neckwarmer / SHEMAUG!!!! are great! You lose up to 40% of your body heat through your head and it is important to keep that heat in and not let it escape...especially for the "follically challenged" like myself!
Another survival tip, and this goes for wet weather as well as cold weather, Cotton kills! Cotton clothes, which most of us where all the time, soak up sweat and water and moisture and don't allow for the "wicking" of water away from the body...when your clothes are wet, your body is wet, and that leads to poor heat distribution. Wool is a great cold weather fabric for clothes. Invest in a few nice pairs of wool socks and to keep the Toesies nice and toasty! There are many options for clothing, so do some research and get something you like. Getting your denim jeans wet in january and then having to be outside in the below freezing temps is a recipe for disaster!
If anyone has any other questions or would like to discuss experiences, please feel free to hit me up. I am by no means saying my methods are the best, and each person has their own tricks that I'm sure work perfectly for them.
Looking forward to seeing everyone in January where we can all shiver and get mild hypothermia together! :)
Excellent post! (cept' the SCARF!! :D)
One thing I learned camping in the cold Death Valley enviro...having a nice set of winter moc's to slip on for those late night evacs was a Godsend...no laces to fumble with cold fingers, just pull on and go. Literally... :D :D
One other camping tip...keep those tents and RTT's and outdoor sleeping bags secured and zipped at all times.
Steve C can attest to the fact of a Black Widow gaining entry to our casa at DV through the broken zipper...she was just outside when Daphne spotted her and she made a beeline (see what I did there?) for the open tent door, and just before I placed boot to arachnid was heading for our sleeping bags. No bueno!
This was while camping at Eureka Dunes, where it is mostly sand and a few scrub creosote, and I was amazed that the one Black Widow there picked our tent to visit!!
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ah now i get why the tent went in for repairs, the spider was daphne's last straw with the zipper debacle :)
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ah now i get why the tent went in for repairs, the spider was daphne's last straw with the zipper debacle :)
I was pretty motivated too...that kind of spider bite would tend to make me drive faster, facilitating more repairs on the Tacoma, thus reducing our discretionary trip funds, thus seeing you less.
Which is unacceptable. ;D
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Yowza, I'm surprised there was a black widow there in the first place! It's not really the kind of place I'd expect a black widow to live/reproduce/survive. I wonder if it was transported to the campground in someone's box of firewood or something, probably even another group well before we got there. If so, she probably spent days looking for the perfect place to stake up a new homestead before the Tyler family came along and set up a wonderful tent for her to occupy. :)
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I love sleeping out in the open desert but it does come with some risks as has been posted. Last year, I went down there and crashed on the sand and just threw my sleeping bag over me because I tend to sleep hot. After getting up, I found a nice scorpion under my air mattress. I shoed that scorpion on his way because I looked at it like he didn't bother me so I'm not gonna bother him. I've crashed near a fire just wearing a jacket on numerous times and have never been bothered although it is a risk I know but I do that in the dead of winter when hopefully all the snakes are hidden somewhere taking a long winters nap and unable to venture anywhere at night.
If I'm somewhere far away from anything I'm a heck of a lot more cautious and carry things like Epi-pens and Benadryl for such emergencies. I'm constantly reminding myself where my feet are going when I jump out of my X at night to take a whizz as I usually am barefoot rain or dry. I think a black widow in the tent might get them a squish though because they are downright dangerous even though they are skiddish creatures. GeoYota/Ghost gave great advise about leaving your tents zipped up at all times and your sleeping bags wrapped up.
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ah now i get why the tent went in for repairs, the spider was daphne's last straw with the zipper debacle :)
BTW...the Big Agnes Co's customer service has been spot on. J
ust spoke with our dedicated rep and the tent is "at the repair loft" for warranty evaluation. They have also sent emails confirming it's status and receipt.
A+++ service if anyone is considering a ground tent purchase. :)
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I used to be active in Scouting/backpacking/camping for years and years, so I'm no stranger to sleeping on the ground - and it's still the most enjoyable way to be outdoors - but the critters that like to crawl around can be no joke sometimes. So far I've been sleeping in the back of the X just for the convenience that it's always there and that it always works as backup plan, but I do want to get back outside of the X during the nights, maybe getting one of these: http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=19616336 (http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=19616336)
But then part of me wants to save up for a RTT. Decisions, decisions... ;D
I've noticed that desert camping usually has a higher percentage of the more dangerous things in regards to things crawling around like snakes, spiders, other bugs, etc. Camping in the forest, the main concern are bears, mountain lions, and the occasional bold squirrel looking for lunch. :D
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Alex, those tent cots always intrigued me. Great way to not have to spend a semi-miserable night in the rain or snow using a bivy bag. I think the biggest drawback is they aren't packable but for car camping they are probably really nice.
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Sage Bromax has an awesome cot tent. He used it on the entire Death Valley trip. He had camp set up and torn down before any of us every day, and was just as protected as I was in my big 'ol ground tent, maybe even more because he was up off of the ground. Seems like a great option!
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I want to be high enough that a bear wont try to come up and eat me.
or that I can get to a gun while he's trying to come up.
We had a bear in our camp(Sierras) when we did our Bodie/Aurora trip, and I had no gun in my RTT
I had a tarantula at my camp in the Big Sur area, scared the sh!t out of me.
I'll take the RTT with the foldout internal cushions and zip on lower annex, with door.