Winter Backpacking Tips

“I searched the threads and didn't see anything along these lines. Thought it would be good to have a repository for knowledge on winter backpacking, dos and don'ts, layering, how to set up/use a tent in the snow, that sorta thang.

So let's hear it peeps.

Some that come to mind:

1. Don't eat yellow or red or pink snow.

2. Sleep with your socks and any other layers of clothes you don't want frozen stiff by the morn.

3. Sleep with you water bottle if you don't want it frozen by morn. Word to the wise: narrow mouth Nalgenes and the tubes on bladders can freeze shut while hiking.”

“TRY boiling excess water and put it in your bottles to keep you warm in the sack”

“dont wear jeans...they freze to the skin!!”

“Ware a cote.”

“Make every effort to stay dry, and to keep the contents of your pack dry.
Use the vents on your tent to let out moisture.
If you wake up freezing in the night, have a high fat snack nearby to eat and some water to drink, it will help keep you warm. Also, make sure your sleeping bag is zipped up. LOL”

“layers.. lots of layers.. don't let yourself sweat.”

“High fat foods and warm drinks. You need to heat yourself from the inside as well as layers on the outside.

An old licence plate works as a good stove stand.

Put water in the bottom of the pot before melting snow to prevent a burned taste.

Use gatorade to mask the flavor of pine needles in the water you melted from snow.

When planning a trip remember that the days are shorter and the going is harder.”

“Avoid cotton at all costs.”

“Warm feet are happy feet. Use gaiters to keep the snow out of your boots.”

“Carry a pee bottle.”

“Empty your bladder as needed. It takes a lot of bodyheat to keep a full bladder at 98*.

Put on clean dry clothes to sleep in.”

“HOT CHOCOLATE!”

“Make some jello and drink it hot before turning in.
Keeps you toasty all night.”

“You have to have marshmellows for the hot chocolate...thats a must. You have to throw lots of snow balls.”

“I luv a good snow fight.

:)”

“I would avoid sleeping with the clothes for the next day in your fartsack. They will absorb sweat during the night and be damp in the A.M. Lay the clothes between your bag and thermarest...what no thermarest? Get one!”

“Oh yeah, if you're bald like me wear a wool cap.”

“If your bag is drafty sleep with your vest zipped up all the way and bunched around your neck. Works like a charm.

Plastic shopping bags are great to put your boots in to keep snow out of the tent.

A small car floor mat (from the back seat) is great to stand on while changing clothes, putting on your boots or sitting on at breaks.”

“Your underwear will stay at approximately 35.702 degrees Kelvin no matter how long you keep it in your sleeping bag with you.”

“Make camp with a southern and eastern exposure if possible.

Do some warm up excercises before climbing into your bag and then go in with the least amount of thermal clothes on. If you get cold during the night add the layers needed. Use excess clothes as a barrier between you and the ground epecially where the pad does not cover. You can warm your clothes up in the morning.

Wear a balaclava it does wonders when sleeping in the cold.

Shielding all battery powered instruments and cheap lighters from the cold, it will extend the life of those objects.

Take a trustworthy stove and proper cold season fuel.”

“if your wool hat falls off at night use a balaclava - keeps your cheeks warm too”

“hmmm....i wonder what hikeing naked in snow feels like?”

“Down booties to keep your feet warm at night are a must.”

“If it gets reeeel code get in the sleepy bag with yer daddy.”

“If you use the camelback/platy hydration system, blow the water in to clear the tube so it doesn't freeze. I have a neoprene cover on the tube and it seems to help.”

“Keep with you at night in your sleeping bag "anything that has batteries", water filter and water bottle(s). Those disposable toe warmers that stick to the bottom of socks will keep your feet warm in the down booties mentioned above and in your sleepingbag (very comfy cozy)”

“HOWS A GAL TO PEE IN A BOTTLE?”

“Very, very carefully?????”

“Wide mouth Nalgene?”

“well...hmmmm...never m ind...”

“Lithium batteries are not hardly effected by the cold and they last longer.

Vapor liners! I use the thin bags from the produce department under my socks and a tall kitchen bag as a vest under my long underwear top. Great for sleeping and standing still.”

“Closed cell foam pad, wool, and synthetic insulation. Down will lump with cold spots and is nasty when wet.”

“This is way too complicated. Batteries freeze? I always thought you put batteries in the fridge to slow down the chemical reaction.

If it's below freezing (like I found out in Canada last weekend) you don't need gaitors cause the snow gets in your boots but it never melts. I had tons of snow all over me (walking through 4' deep snowdrifts) but never got cold.”

“Car batteries freeze up here (MT) in winter. can't kick out enough amps. I don't know the formula , volts+ ??amps X resistance, somthin or other. Bizsatlker, you're an engineer aren't ya? Hey, BTW, you better get your frozen fanny over to the TT bachelor auction; Buddha Bear's for sale, and he's going cheap!”

“V = IR

But that's only in a perfect circuit. Which there are none in real life.

BB? For sale?!!! Thanks”

“Nigal...........A floor mat? really now I thought you were a ultralighter?

I too heat my water before bed. Stays at least warm all night. Hot for a while. Anything else I just flip up side down, so if it freezes it freezes from the bottom and not at the top by the mouth of the container.

Pee bottle.....when it's real cold, yeah buddy!

I like what people have put here, I am a big fan of Winter hiking/snowshoeing, etc.

I don't know about you all but when I start a winter hike, I start out with less clothing than one may think, I am usually cold. Especially when I am snowshoeing. It doesn't take long and I am warmed up. that way I don't overheat and sweat. Then when I stop I throw a fleece on that I strap to the back of my bag.”

“Be in better shape than you would be for milder season hiking. Moving on snow and with a heavier pack and boots will be harder on your body. If your in good shape you'll enjoy it more. Bring more food and fuel in winter. Bring an insulated cup. Eat and drink more than you think you need to, especially if it's below zero. Bring enough of the right clothes to stay warm, no matter how beautiful the scenery or how fluffy the snow, you'll be miserable if your cold.”

“Nigal, Cowpatty had the same idea as you but better! Use a vinyl placemat instead of a carmat, less weight and less bulky. I was impressed with her ingenuity.

My tip: have someone to snuggle with! ;o)”

“"Nigal...........A floor mat? really now I thought you were a ultralighter?"

Note how I said the small one from the back seat and not the big heavy one from the front deat? LOL! They weigh very little. My winter pack rarely goes over 25-30 pounds.

Sass- Vinyl place matt + snow + me = a half naked Nigal flying down a snowy hill screaming like a little girl. I like the grippy bottom of the car mat for winter. 8)”

“Vixtrix - Seems like you got a real thing for nakedness. How bout an ECT trip?”

“Fill your coffee pot with water before you go to bed. If it freezes it will thaw on the stove.”

“What if ...you put all the stuff you want to keep from freezing in a piece of fleece with a toe warmer, stuff the whole thing down in the bottom of your pack? Is it true if you srtip down nakie you stay warmer in the bag? That would make it interesting if you had some kind of crisis in the middle of the night.”

“RichB made an insulating bag with thinsulate and nylon, that he uses to store his water and freezable stuff, and claims to have had good luck with it preventing freezing. Bacpac's idea makes good sense if you will definitely have a campfire or will have enough stove fuel to melt the water frozen in the pot.”

“Wolfsister, I've found that the less clothing I wear the warmer I stay BUT on really cold nights (below 20) I wear thin leggings, silk socks and a wicking tee. I also wear a tank and shorts on group hikes, just in case I have to go take care of business! Don't wanna give anyone a show ;o)”

“cotton kills, Down booties are light and great friends, chemical hand warmers are good to put in the toes of your boots in that time between awake and run out of the bag by your bladder, so you can start with warm boots -vs- 0 deg. boots. turn water bottles upside down before bed if its so cold they will definately freeze.”

“It takes two sleeping pads, my Z-Rest and inflatable ThermaRest, to insulate me from the cold ground/snow.”

“Cold air pools into the low spots. Don't put your tent there. Even just a couple of feet, above the low point, can make a big difference in the overnight temperature.”

“Hey Biz- How was your trip? Where abouts did you go? I didn't see a trip report anywhere...”