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Title: Winter Backpacking Survival Tips
Author: Steve Gillman
Article:
Why do you need survival tips for winter backpacking? Because
even with the most careful planning there is always a greater
risk with winter camping. Of course, getting lost or having an
accident is always a possibility, but cold weather makes either
of these a more serious matter.
<b>Winter Survival Tip Number One</b>
Stay warm! This is obvious. Hypothermia is the single biggest
danger for backpackers, killing far more people than accidents
or wild animals. What isn't always so obvious is how poor
planning and not thinking on the trail leads to getting cold.
One cold autumn day, a friend of mine fell in a stream while we
were backpacking. He was soon chilled pretty severely. He
naturally thought this was just an accident, but looking back on
it now, it is clear that we didn't have a proper survival mind
set.
Streams have to be crossed, of course, but we were crossing this
one as evening approached. A better plan would have been to get
the hiking done earlier in the day. Why? Because it leaves time
to deal with accidents like this. It may have been sunny enough
to get his clothes dried before nightfall, and it is always
easier to find fuel for a fire in the daylight.
In addition, we knew the rocks were slippery, yet we crossed as
we were. Seeing the potential for a fall, we could have removed
our coats and put them in a plastic bag until we were across.
Had we taken this simple precaution, my friend would have at
least had a dry coat to put on later.
Had this happened in colder weather (it was above freezing) it
could have been very serious. You have to stay warm to survive.
To stay warm it helps to stay dry. To stay dry, you have to
think.
<b>Insulation</b>
Staying warm is about staying insulated. The value of insulation
is determined by the thickness of the air around you that isn't
moving. This is the air trapped in your down coat, and between
layers of clothing. Always think in terms of insulation
thickness. In planning, this means you need more "loft"in your
sleeping bag in winter, and more (or thicker) layers of
clothing.
In a survival situation, this means you should immediately look
for a way to create more insulation. This can mean setting your
sleeping bag on a pile of leaves, or sleeping under a pile of
dried grass. You might even stuff your jacket (if it is loose)
with the fluff from cattail or milkweed plants, in order to
increase the insulation value.
<b>More Winter Backpacking Survival Tips</b>
- Check the weather report before you go, and plan accordingly.
- Be careful when it is near or just above freezing. It is
easier to get wet than when it is really cold.
- Drink enough fluids. Dehydration can cause a drop in body
temperature.
- Down coats are great - if you can keep them dry. They are
almost worthless when wet.
- Avoid sweating, to avoid getting chilled from the moisture
later.
- Don't use cotton clothes in winter, because they get wet
easily and then don't insulate well.
- Have more than one way to start a fire (matches, lighter, fire
starter, skills).
- Learn to make a fire in cold wet conditions, and practice.
In 2006, I was trying to climb Crestone Peak here in Colorado,
after an early snow. I gave up at about 13,000 in four feet of
snow. I was in running shoes, and was soaked from the knees
down. It would be below freezing that night, and I had just a
tarp and 17-ounce sleeping bag. Does that sound risky? I was
actually well prepared.
First of all, it was clear and sunny, and forecast to remain so
for days. Back down near the lakes the snow was patchy, with
many areas of dry grass. I quickly made a thick mattress of dry
grass and thistle stalks to sleep on. I had quit early, so I had
many hours to dry my shoes, socks and pants in the sun. They
were completely dry long before dark.
As a back-up plan, I had a small fire laid, with a piece of bark
covering it in case of rain or snow (I never needed to light
it). I drank plenty of water and had fatty foods, which create
heat as they digest. I also had more dry socks, and other
necessary supplies, despite my 11-pound total packweight. As you
can see, survival when winter backpacking is as much about
planning and thinking as it is about good gear.
About the author:
Copyright Steve Gillman. To get the ebook <a
href="http://www.the-ultralight-site.com">"Ultralight
Backpacking Secrets (And Wilderness Survival Tips)"</a> for
FREE, as well as photos, gear recommendations, and a new
wilderness survival section, visit:
http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com
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