Winter Hiking and Backpacking

[canid]

i just use a 0deg bag that breathes well. suits me down well past zero and if it getss colder than that, i would do something about better shelter in a hurry.

[Rick]

I have a bag cover that is waterproof on the bottom and breathable on top. My bag is a +10 mummy bag. It's pretty rare for temps around here to get below that.

[Sourdough]

Most people do not spend weeks or months Winter camping, or even months summer camping. My point is that there are new factors to consider if the stay is longer. As in TSHTF.
A 60 day trip is not the same as twenty trips of three days. Some equipment may not last for 60 days of continual use. But the same equipment will last for 200 trips of three days.

[Rick]

You are right about that. The dynamics change completely.

[Last Mohican]

My trusty old G.I. mummy bag has never failed me. I have used it in England, Scotland, Latvia, the Mojave Desert and all over the U.S. Darn thing is pert near indestructable.

[dilligaf2u2]

I have an Army mountain bag and cover. With a Johnny Warmer I stay nice and warm for 12 hours or more in -10f and below weather. I also have the little pocket Johnny Warmers for inside my coat, if I need it.

TDW went camping with me one spring, right after we met. It got down to 40F and she was cold in her Army Arctic mummy bag. We do not go if her Johnny Warmers(as in 2) gets out of her bag (She stores them in the bag year round) and as soon as the light fades she has them ready for me to start it for her.

We keep wool sleeping cloths in our bags and take wool blankets. The foam pads are a must. We also keep stocking caps in the sleeping bags. Now you see why I take her car camping and not across the wilds. It would break my back carrying all her gear.

I bought a yellow Nalgine bottle some time back, for winter use. I empty my bladder before bed and if need be, I can use that.

I air out the sleeping bags every morning it is not raining and have yet to have condensation problems. I do not let her sleep with her head in the sleeping bag but have her sleep with a hat (with face mask) on if she needs it.

Don

[Rick]

Okay, my ignorance is showing. What's a Johnny Warmer? I thought it might have been a chemical warmer until you said.."she has them ready for me to start it for her." Are you talking about something like a zippo hand warmer?

http://zippocasemuseum.com/index.asp...&productid=637

[RBB]

Winter camping, the really cold stuff, I use a down comforter sandwiched between two HB blankets. I used to have a minus 40 degree Northface sleeping bag, but I couldn't stay in it. Too hot. My wife tried it once, and it is now her summer sleeping bag.

I also have a titanium wood stove, which is nice for drying out my bed roll. At eight pounds, it is definitely worth taking along on any winter camping trip. It does require the use of a toboggan, but I've found that an easier way to haul gear in the winter.

Any winter trip also requires the use of some good ground insulation. When I was younger we would use a foot to two feet of pine boughs. Now I use two or three ground mats. I suspect the arthritis in my shoulders comes from not enough ground cover on winter treks when I was younger.

For urinating after I've bedded down, I always have a screw top soda pop bottle along.

When I was younger, we used to heat rocks in the fire and place them near our feet at night. With some of the newer gear, mostly nylon, this is no longer possible, but the wood stove keeps me warm enough.

[Rick]

Holy cow! What a thread. What's an HB blanket? Is that Hudson Bay?

[mike k.]

We just completed a Boy Scout winter camp out. We use the following tricks:
6-8" of hay pulled apart and fluffed on the ground. Most of your heat will be sucked away by the ground.
Tarp on top of the hay to ward off moisture. Tent next. Use hay, animals will benefit after it's done with. In a survival situation, use pine bows.
In the tent, Sleeping pad and then sleeping bag on top. Most low cost winter bags are good for 25 Deg. F. To improve the temp. rating, use a zippered fleece liner bag. Put body warmer size chemical heater packs at the bottom of the liner bag. I use three. Use the 18 hour kind. Change into dry poly pro underware, fleece bottoms and fleece shirt. Tuck all in to avoid drafts. Put your hat on. If not willing to change underware, at least the dry fleece top & bottoms. Put your coat on top of the bag.

Hard part, Slide into the bag arrangement huffing and puffing and fighting the zippers. Do not let the zipper win. The cold draft will find you if you give up.
Sinch the opening down, By the way, use your sweater our fleece pullover as a pillow. these will be warm to put on in the morning.

For the two days I slept out, I was warm and had no problems sleeping.
It was more comfortable than fall or spring camping. Temperature Sunday morning was 2 above and I slept in.

[Beo]

I have two Hudson Bay blankets, one is a common 4point and the other a 6point blanket. They are very warm but used only when its really cold. Cost goes up with the number of points. For going pee, I just get up and go to a tree, remember never eat the yellow snow unless your bear grylls

[RBB]

I have two Hudson Bay blankets, one is a common 4point and the other a 6point blanket. They are very warm but used only when its really cold. Cost goes up with the number of points. For going pee, I just get up and go to a tree, remember never eat the yellow snow unless your bear grylls

HB is Hudson's Bay blanket. Most of ours are older, but in good condition. Hate to pay the going rate today, often about $300 for a 4 point. We used to buy them for $5 to $20 at yard sales every time we were in Canada. In Canada, at least in years past, an HB blanket was the favored wedding gift and it seemed like everyone had more than they needed. With the advent of Ebay, this has changed, and I believe you'd have a hard time coming up with a good used one for a decent price in Canada today.

Here, unlike Ohio, an HB blanket is not a sufficient cover in winter. The two HB blankets with the down comforter sewn between them is just barely enough.

As to going outside to pee on a tree, you can do it, but that means you have to get out of your warm bedroll, put on at least some of your cold weather gear, open your tent or shelter - letting out any warmth that has accrued, etc, etc.

I'll stick with my soda bottle. Just less bother.

[canid]

with the old ones becoming collectible and the ones from the bay so steeply priced, i don't imagine them getting any cheaper or more common.

[Rick]

I looked on the net and saw them at $150 and up depending on the number of points. What's the difference (he asked in blissful ignorance) between a HB and an army wool?

[canid]

most armies don't haven't made regular issue blankets that well or that heavy.

[Rick]

I suspected it was quality but had to ask. Might have had a built in jet pack or something.

You can buy army wool for $20.00 (62 X 80). By the time you invest $150+ in a HB, you could buy a bunch of army wool.

[Beo]

These popular blankets were originally introduced more than 200 years ago for trade with the natives of an undeveloped wilderness. Their beauty and durability is endorsed by time and they are regarded as heirlooms by their owners. Made of 100% pure new wool, all blankets come with "points" marks and broad stripes in 4 or 6 "point" size.
Each "point" size blanket weighs the same per square foot. The blanket only gets bigger with more "point" marks. (Sizes of blankets are approximate.)
4 "point 72" x 90" 6 lbs.
5 "point 80" x 95" 7 lbs.
6 "point 90" x 100" 8 lbs.
Each blanket was graded as to weight and size using a point system. Points were identified by the indigo lines woven into the side of each blanket. A full point measured 4 - 5.5 in.; a half point measured half that length. The standard measurements for a pair of 1 point blankets was: 2 ft. 8 in. wide by 8 ft. in length; with a weight of 3 lb. 1 oz. each. Points ranged from 1 to 6, increasing by halves depending upon the size and weight of the blanket. The number of points represented the overall finished size of the blanket, not its value in terms of beaver pelts as is sometimes believed.

[Rick]

Thanks, Beo. A nice write up on the blanket from a historical perspective. I may have been living in a cave somewhere but had never heard of them.

Now, my question is why would I want to pay that kind of money for a blanket to take into the woods? As I indicated above, wouldn't I be money ahead to buy something like an army wool that, if it gets burned or ripped, etc. I can easily and cheaply replace? Wouldn't two army wool blankets at least equal the warmth of one HB and is nearly the same size as a 4 point?

I might, however, understand buying them for my home.

[Beo]

Its all about tradition bro, and the HB's go up in value as they get older. While I have an HB four point I also have two army wool blankets and one navy wool blanket that cost about $20.00 a piece, the HB's are heavier though.

[Rick]

You are right about that. My tradition is buy what is useful, rugged and cheap. Maybe that's cheap, useful and rugged. Okay, maybe it's just cheap.