Winter Hiking and Backpacking

[Rick]

Another nice article :

http://www.backpacking.net/winter.html

[Rick]

Here's something I picked up from The Colorado Springs Gazette:

Don't go to bed cold. Before you head into your cold bag in your cold tent, heat some water, pour it into a Nalgene bottle, and cover it with a sock. In your bag, put the warm bottle at your feet.

[corndog-44]

Rick; I still use the old hot water bottle like the one we used when I was kid. You know...the rubber container filled with hot water and sealed with a stopper and used to provide warmth, typically while in bed, but also used for the application of heat to a specific part of the body.

[Tony uk]

Here's something I picked up from The Colorado Springs Gazette:

Don't go to bed cold. Before you head into your cold bag in your cold tent, heat some water, pour it into a Nalgene bottle, and cover it with a sock. In your bag, put the warm bottle at your feet.

Ive tryed this with a handwarmer, Altho it didnt last long it was enough to warm my sleeping bag and the fibers help in the heat

[Rick]

I sure do, corndog. I know exactly what you're talking about.

Granite suggested hand warmers in one of her posts. I went to Costco and picked up a case so I'm going to try them out. No, not all at once. Just one at a time. They are supposed to stay warm for 8 hours so I thought they would be good in the car as well. We cart the grandkids around and they might help along with everything else.

[tracks]

The Nalgene bottle trick has worked for me ...although when camping Clyde thinks he's supposed to sit on my feet and he does a pretty good job of keepig things warm to. He's the over grown lap dog in the avatar...

[tracks]

I hear hand warmers alot. They also make a body warmer that is I believe[12x15 in] don't hold me those exact mesurments but they are way bigger than the hand warmers and would be more suited for bag warmers.

[Rick]

Here are the ones I bought:

http://www.littlehottieswarmers.com/...Code=LHW1%2D40

I suppose you could slip one next to your water bottle as you walk and keep your water warm or at least keep it from freezing.

I think the last one on this page is the one you are talking about.

http://www.veritemp.com/Products/Hand+Warmers/

[tracks]

Thats it,a little off on the size, but thats them.

[carcajou garou]

For winter snowshoeing, something to consider using a tobbogan to transport your larger pack and carry only your basic survival needs on you.
Along with longer cross country poles to give you the added stability on the trail and grades.

[Last Mohican]

Don't forget to water the trees before you turn in for the night.

I have read that you will stay warmer if your body dosen't have to put out extra heat trying to keep your urine warm all night.

That, and it sure is cold out if you have to take a leak at 3 in the morning.

[Rick]

On the other hand, you've already heated it so your body is loosing energy it has expended. How long can you float?

[tracks]

Not Long In A Sleeping Bag I Bet.......hahaha....slept In One Of Those Death Traps On The Bank Of Big Spooky [swamp] One Night And Fell Through Into A Nutria Tunnel Nearly Drown Before I Could Get Out Of It...i'll Take The Tarp And Blanket Methode Thank You..

[Sourdough]

Hot Water bottles...???? What are we talking here -35* or -45* below zero....??

What do you do about the ice and frost in the insulation from presperation the next morning. If it only warms to -30 during the day how do you get the ice out of the down, or polarfiber insulation in the bag.

[tracks]

Thats a good point HOPEAK but if it's that cold would persperation be a problem even in a sleeping bag.

[canid]

i'm not convinced there's a singnificant effect. you fluctuate far more in water content depending on hydration level than bladder retention. on the other hand, it is a common phenomenon to feel an increase in the perception of cold if you have to urinate, and likewise, a greater need to urinate when cold.

[tracks]

True.. I have noticed in my self on occasion when the stress levels were high in cool to cold weather hydration is a problem I seem to urinate more and have greater difficulty keeping 'warm' so to speak even when I'm active..

[Sourdough]

Thats a good point HOPEAK but if it's that cold would persperation be a problem even in a sleeping bag.

Yes, when you shake the bag in the morning it sounds like it is full of broken glass (ice crystals). The more days you are out the more ice is in the insulation. Large solid chunks of ice can form. And it does not need to be super cold for this problem to exist. The real problem is if it does not get above freezing for weeks, then there is no way to get the ice out. What we do is use a waterproof shell inside the bag, (never outside) with a bag liner or light weight bag inside the waterproof shell. Yes, you are wet, but it is a warm wet.

[Last Mohican]

Not Long In A Sleeping Bag I Bet.......hahaha....slept In One Of Those Death Traps On The Bank Of Big Spooky [swamp] One Night And Fell Through Into A Nutria Tunnel Nearly Drown Before I Could Get Out Of It...i'll Take The Tarp And Blanket Methode Thank You..

Nutria, now that's an ugly, but good tasting oversized rodent.

[Rick]

Hopeak - So you have a light weight bag inside a shell liner inside a sleeping bag? Is that right? That has to turn into a sauna doesn't it?