Media Share 9/MEDIASHARE_09.ISO/mag&info/scouts_.zip/WINTCM.TXT

Text File | 1993-02-01 | 10KB | 240 lines

This is a set of rules and and equipment that was developed several years
ago for troop 807 in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. In mid-winter we can go
anywere from over 10 feet of snow and extreem cold (on Wolf Creek Pass)
to very little or no snow (in New Mexico) in very few miles. This list has
changed several times over the years and we are always looking to
inprove it. Take it an modify it for your needs and let me know how it
works.  Gene Haning, 7501,1173.

           WINTER CAMPING WITH TROOP 807

RULES FOR WINTER CAMPING WITH TROOP 807

1.  Anyone who camps with troop 807 must be prepared with proper clothing,
sleeping gear, food, water and other equipment for the worst weather
expected.  Wheather or not you are prepared is determined by the
Scoutmaster or other person designated by him.  Anyone not prepared may
not be allowed to attend the camp out.

2.  No horse play that may get you wet--rolling in the snow, playing on
ice, etc.

3.  We will use the buddy system for all activities.  You must stay close
to your buddy at all times.  Also stay close to the group.  There is no
need to wander off by yourself.

4.  Keep close tabs on your buddy and others in the group.  Watch for
signs of hypothermia, frostbite, dehydration, exhaustion, etc.  Talk to
each other.  Encourage each other to have a drink of water, eat
something, slow down, etc.  If you suspect a problem notify one of the
leaders.

5.  If you feel tired, sleepy, or cold (even just a little bit) tell
someone immediately.

6.  Shelters for winter camping must be 2 or more man.  NO INDIVIDUAL
SHELTERS.

7.  Avoid having to get up in the night (see sleeping gear).  If you must
get up in the night, wake your shelter mate and MAKE SURE HE SITS UP.
Only go a VERY SHORT DISTANCE from your shelter and only after you have
dressed properly.

8.  If your shelter mate wakes you in the night, SIT UP AND DO NOT LIE
BACK DOWN until he returns.  STAY AWAKE.  If he does not return soon,
get dressed and wake one of the leaders.

9.  Use common sense.  Ask yourself, "Is this a smart thing to do?"

                 CLOTHING

    Layering is the best method of dressing for winter activities.
    By dressing in layers, you can take off or add clothes as needed,
    depending on the weather and your activity.  Over heating can be
    just as dangerous as getting cold.  Perspiration wets your
    clothing, making you more susceptible to cold later.

UNDERWEAR

    Start with thermal underwear.  Polypropyline and wool are good
    choices, "polypro" because it wicks moisture away from your body
    and wool because it is still warm when wet.  Other fibers and
    blends are also ok and your choice may depend on what you can
    afford.  If at all possible, avoid cotton as it holds moisture
    next to your body and is NOT warm when damp.

    In very cold weather, 2 pair of long thermal pants and shirts
    may be appropriate.  The second pair should fit loosely over
    the first.

SHIRTS

    Several shirts worn over each other, each one larger than the
    one under it, is better than one heavy coat.  Though it sounds
    like a lot, a sweatshirt, flannel shirt, another sweatshirt, a
    bulky sweater and a wind breaker, along with long underwear is
    not a bad combination.  As the temperature and your activity
    changes you can take off or add shirts to stay comfortable and
    avoid sweating.

    The outer shirt or jacket should be of a material that will stop
    wind and shed snow.  Some slick synthetics work well.  If you have
    them, wool is excellent for the other layers.

    Take a heavy coat, but wear enough layers that you should not
    need it.

PANTS

    If you can, layer your pants also.  Here again, wool is good.
    As with shirts the outer pair of pants should shed snow and
    block wind.  Some types of ski pants do both well.

    Blue jeans are not good pants for snow unless you have snow or
    wind pants to go over them.  Snow sticks to them and they are
    soon wet and cold.

FOOT GEAR

    You need good warm boots for winter camping.  Commercial snow
    packs are good, but, expensive.  If your boots use them, you
    should have an extra pair of felt liners.

    Over size rubber overboots with the extra space taken up with
    foam rubber will suffice for snow boots and Scouting literature
    shows how to make foam rubber mukluks.

    What ever you use, they should NOT FIT TIGHT.

SOCKS

    Wool and wool blends are best.  Avoid cotton.  Many people prefer
    2 thin pair to one thick pair.

    Take SEVERAL PAIR, more than you think you will need.

HEAD GEAR

    More heat is lost through the head, face and neck than any other
    part of the body so a warm hat with ear flaps and a neck scarf
    are a must.  You may want a hat that covers your face.

GLOVES OR MITTENS

    Mittens are warmer than gloves but harder to work in.  The best
    answer is to have both, if you can.  In either case they should
    be insulated and must be covered with a material that snow does
    not stick to.

                SLEEPING GEAR

SLEEPING BAGS

    If you have a winter sleeping bag, great.  If not you can use
    several blankets alone or in addition to your summer bag.  Wool
    is best.  If used with a bag, they should be folded to fit inside
    the bag (best) or around it.  If used alone, fold them in thirds,
    one inside the other.

    Scouting literature also shows how to make foam rubber sleeping
    systems.

GROUND CLOTHS AND PADS

    Whatever you sleep in, you need to be insulated from the ground
    or snow.  You also need a ground cloth that will still pull up
    from the snow if it freezes down as is often the case.  Plastic
    trash bags will work and if they tear trying to get them up--no
    big deal.

    Open and closed cell foam pads each have merits and disadvantages
    for winter camping, and which to use is, perhaps, a matter of
    preference more than anything else.

    Since low impact camping discourages using tree bows, hay or
    straw (in fact banned in many areas), newspapers are a good
    choice for insulation under a sleeping bag.

SLEEPING ATTIRE

    The ideal situation is to have a sleeping system that is warm
    enough that you can sleep naked.  Since this is not the case for
    most of us it is necessary to bring sufficient clothing (pajamas,
    long underwear, sweats, etc.) to sleep warm.  Don't forget socks.
    NEVER WEAR ANYTHING TO BED YOU HAVE WORN DURING THE DAY OR PLAN
    TO WEAR THE NEXT DAY.  This is so you go to bed as dry as
    possible (no perspiration in your clothes) and start the next
    day dry also.

    If your sleeping bag does not have a hood, you need a hat that
    is comfortable to sleep in.  Here again, it should be one you
    have not used during the day.

OTHER ITEMS

    It is never fun to wake up in the night having to go to the
    bathroom, especially when it is 10 below.  As much
    as possible take care of this before you go to bed.  If you do
    have to urinate in the night, it is possible to do this without
    having to get out of your sleeping bag.  If you are VERY CAREFUL
    you can use a plastic bottle with a tight lid, a zip lock plastic
    bag or even a commercial urinal.

    Provided you are not in bear country it is a good idea to keep
    one or two candy bars  and a water bottle close to your bed.  If
    you wake up in the night, it may be because you started to chill
    do to lack of energy in your body or dehydration.  A candy bar and
    some water may help.

               FOOD AND COOKING GEAR

    You may have heard the term KISMIF as Keep It Simple, Make It Fun.
    In winter camping it stands for Keep It Simple, Make It Filling.
    Your food should require little or no preparation and be filling
    and high energy.  Some experts recommend spicy foods as they
    dilate the circulatory system, keeping the body warmer.  However,
    if you are not use to spicy foods, stick with bland foods on
    winter outings.  Winter camping stresses your system to a certain
    extent and there is no need to stress it more with spicy foods.


    On short term winter camp outs, don't worry about excellent
    nutrition. There is no need to have fresh fruits and vegetables
    etc.  Instead, plan instant, high energy foods.  Instant oatmeal,
    cream of wheat, etc., hot Tang and cocoa make a good breakfast.
    Trail mix, dried fruit, jerky, granola bars and candy are OK for
    lunch.  Soup (especially with noodles or rice), instant potatoes
    with butter, macaroni with cheese, etc. are good for dinner along
    with hot jello and cocoa and tea.

    Fats and sugars are quick energy sources while complex
    carbohydrates (starches) such a potatoes, rice, and pasta
    are longer term energy sources.  Proteins (meats) are generally
    not considered energy sources even though they do provide energy
    over the long run.

COOKING EQUIPMENT

    Cooking should involve little more than heating water, so
    equipment can be simple.  Small pots and personal mess kits
    should be all that is needed.

STOVES

    Campfires are often not practical for winter cooking.  Chemical
    stoves are the answer.  Remember, compressed gas stoves lose
    efficiency and may quit working at all in lower elevations and
    colder weather.
                    SHELTER

    If there is little or no snow, tents are the shelter of choice.
    The "arctic" type tents are nice for winter camping but are
    usually expensive and often hard to set up.  Summer tents work
    OK, especially the dome type.

    If the snow is deep enough and time permits then snow caves
    or trenches would be an alternative to tents.  They are warmer,
    if constructed right, and just more fun and rewarding.  Care
    must be taken in constructing snow shelters to stay as dry as
    possible and avoid over exertion (perspiring).