Winter Survival

**Rick** · 10-19-2009, 07:26 PM

It's that time of year again when cold and snow seem to dash inside every time someone opens a door. Just a reminder that staying safe can be even more difficult in the winter.

The state of Montana has put together a nifty brochure chock full of common sense and some neat reminders about how to get around safely this season.

http://dma.mt.gov/des/library/wshandbk02.pdf

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 10-19-2009, 07:50 PM

I have a few more backup plans than last year because of my study in survival! Thanks alot to a few here! They know who they are.

**oly** · 10-19-2009, 08:15 PM

Thanks Rick.

Does heat travel to cold or cold travel to heat???

**doug1980** · 10-19-2009, 08:37 PM

Best winter survival tip is to just stay inside.

I mean who wants to go outside when it's snowing and that cold anyway?

**oly** · 10-19-2009, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by doug1980

Best winter survival tip is to just stay inside.

I mean who wants to go outside when it's snowing and that cold anyway?

Dumb people

**2dumb2kwit** · 10-19-2009, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by oly

Dumb people

Hey, hey, hey......and just what do you mean, by that?

LOL

**Old GI** · 10-20-2009, 08:25 AM

Uh-Oh. Round One - ding-ding.

**Sourdough** · 10-20-2009, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by doug1980

Best winter survival tip is to just stay inside.

I mean who wants to go outside when it's snowing and that cold anyway?

Those who wish to milk every moment of the wonderful experience of being alive. Those who enjoy splitting firewood, snow machining, snowshoeing, X-C Skiing. Why would anyone want to live a safe-warm-TV Coma induced-boring life indoors......???? "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing".

**NightShade** · 10-20-2009, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by Sourdough

Those who wish to milk every moment of the wonderful experience of being alive. Those who enjoy splitting firewood, snow machining, snowshoeing, X-C Skiing. Why would anyone want to live a safe-warm-TV Coma induced-boring life indoors......???? "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing".

I agree 110 %.. Why go out in snow!??! Try hiking under a full moon at night in a blizzard through the woods! My favorite time to be out there! You really feel alive! Hey nobody likes being cold, that's why you wear layers and haveproper footwear, whether snowshoes or just warm boots....
Winter offers different challenges in the wilderness, but so doesn't every season. Know the challenges, prepare properly, ...... That's what I tr to do for every season!.. I don't stop hiking in spring because streams are swollen.. And I sure won't stop because the snow is falling!

**trax** · 10-20-2009, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by oly

Thanks Rick.

Does heat travel to cold or cold travel to heat???

Warm air moves up and cold air moves down, so if you build a fire, it'll suck cold air in toward you to keep getting it's oxygen, that's why some kind of windbreak is so important so you don't freeze to death sitting by the fire.

And I agree with Sourdough (although I don't go hiking in blizzards NightShade) there's plenty to do out there in the winter and the best part (personally speaking) less people!

**NightShade** · 10-20-2009, 11:05 AM

Yea the general lack of people is one the best reasons to hike in winter.... Being in the woods during a snowstorm is really cool. Quiet so you can hear the snow falling.. And just beautiful IMO.. Under a full moon it is simply stunning... I know its not for everybody but probably my favorite time to be in the woods... Other than a cool autumn day at dawn during hunting season.

**trax** · 10-20-2009, 11:53 AM

I don't mean to nitpick, but I'd say yeah...going out in a winter snowfall or even a snowstorm, but you said a blizzard and when you're talking blizzard conditions, that's different. If I may:

"According to Environment Canada, a winter storm must have winds of 40 km/h (25 mph) or more, have snow or blowing snow, visibility less than 500 ft (about 1⁄10 mile), a wind chill of less than −25 °C (−15 °F), and that all of these conditions must last for 3 hours or more before the storm can be properly called a blizzard."

There's a lot of folks reading these threads who have never experienced a blizzard, and even experienced outdoors people can become statistics in those conditions.

**doug1980** · 10-20-2009, 12:32 PM

Well my statement was meant as a joke.

I go out in the winter, not as much as the summer but I do get out. I also let myself fall into a "safe-warm-TV Coma induced-boring life indoors" too.

Got to have some variety you know.

**NightShade** · 10-20-2009, 01:33 PM

Trax... I don't go by Canadian... Well anything.... No offense..but yeah conditions like that I go out in.... Even if its woods close t my hiusi know intimately... To clarify I wouldn't recomend doing a 40 mile hike in those conditions.. That's just stupid!.. In Mass we have snowstorms that the local weather people call blizzards... Don't know bout scientific weather groups... And I go out in them!.. I feel more comfortable in the woods on foot than I do in my car on the road!

**NCO** · 10-20-2009, 02:02 PM

In essence the only difference between winter and summer is that you have to wear different clothes and it is easier to ski than to walk. The basics of surviving are still the same. It is all about your brain.

**trax** · 10-20-2009, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by NightShade

Trax... I don't go by Canadian... Well anything.... No offense..

Well yeah, what could Canadians possibly know about winter?

**NCO** · 10-20-2009, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by trax

Well yeah, what could Canadians possibly know about winter?

Everything the immigrant Finns taught them...

**doug1980** · 10-20-2009, 04:31 PM

No one likes the cold that's why Canadians and all those American's in Northern States are so grumpy. People from the South are so much friendlier.....because it's warm.