#291174 - 11/20/18 06:49 PM
Getting through a cold night
|
Geezer in Chief
Geezer
Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
|
It's going to be really cold. What can you do to make things a bit warmer and make a comfortable night possible?
Choose your camp site with care. Stay out of the bottom of drainages - cold air sinks - a level spot out of the bottom is best - ridge crests are likely to be windy. Take advantage of any natural shelter. A dry rock shelter can be ideal, especially if faces the rising sun...
A good sleeping bag is priceless when facing a cold night, but the rating of any bag can be exceeded. Be sure and insulate from the ground below by anything handy - a foam pad, dry leaves, whatever... Roll out your bag and give it time to puff out to get full advantage.
I like to wear a full layer of dry clothing to bed - synthetic tights, long sleeve tops, and something on the head, especially to cover the neck. This protects the bag as well as warming you.
A companion in the bivy sack or tent makes you both warmer. You might be cramped, but you will be cramped and warm.
Food, especially something with protein, and a bit o exercise helps you generate heat, but don't overdo it.
Anything you can add which will increase the thickness of your insulation surrounding you will make you warmer - just don't compress the insulation in your bag.
Years ago, we measured the temperature differential inside and outside the poncho we had stretched over our our sleeping bags. There was a 5 degree difference, so just about any barrier between you and the open sky is worthwhile.
A fire will keep you warm, but some kind of a reflector is really essential. No reflector means one side will be hot, while the other side is extremely cold. You can't imagine how I know this...
I have experienced some really cold, miserable nights, but on every occasion, i did get some rest, and was more capable in the morning. The sun will rise - just be patient.
I am sure others will have tricks and tips to add to this heated topic....Fire away!
_________________________
Geezer in Chief
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#291175 - 11/20/18 07:02 PM
Re: Getting through a cold night
[Re: hikermor]
|
Veteran
Registered: 10/14/08
Posts: 1517
|
What is under you is important! We again get to the science of how you lose heat. Stay dry, block the wind, insulate below and above you. Every degree makes a difference.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#291176 - 11/20/18 10:12 PM
Re: Getting through a cold night
[Re: hikermor]
|
Veteran
Registered: 10/14/08
Posts: 1517
|
As Hikermor says, a good reflector will utilize your fire much more efficiently, necessitating less fuel. I have spent more than a couple of nights in a debris hut of mostly pine straw (the thicker the better) with a good bed of pine straw under me, a good fire and a reflecting wall on the other side of the fire. It works very well.
Ron Hood (RIP) explained well the science behind heat loss. He also discussed how to find the best shelter at different times of the year. His videos were good. I believe his wife is still marketing them. It is a lot to put in a thread, but if needed I will try.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#291183 - 11/21/18 01:16 PM
Re: Getting through a cold night
[Re: Herman30]
|
Veteran
Registered: 10/14/08
Posts: 1517
|
Who was he? Can I read about him somewhere on-line? Hoods Woods There is a path to get there through the Equipped To Survive homepage, on the left of the page click on survival links.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#291191 - 11/22/18 04:27 PM
Re: Getting through a cold night
[Re: hikermor]
|
Veteran
Registered: 02/20/09
Posts: 1372
|
Cold nights are no fun. its the kind of thing that you never forget.
You are guaranteed to have misery for company if you *forget* your sleeping bag. Been there, done that. If things get super cold, there may be no choice except to get on your feet and walk around.
i have tried making hot rocks in a campfire and burying them in the soil under the place where you sleep. its one of those textbook ideas that sounds good, but practically is quite difficult. It seems to happen that the rocks are too shallow, in which case they burn your clothes, or they are too deep and they only give a little warmth.
It is possible, as others have suggested, that if you pile the rocks near the entrance to your tent, then use a reflective blanket to focus heat to your bed, maybe that would be better. Try it out!!
Edited by Pete (11/22/18 04:31 PM)
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#291193 - 11/23/18 02:15 AM
Re: Getting through a cold night
[Re: hikermor]
|
Veteran
Registered: 10/14/08
Posts: 1517
|
If you find yourself on a very cold night and your sleeping bag is not up to the challenge, there are things you can do rather than freeze.
Put a waterproof bag around the foot of the bag and stuff it with leaves, pine straw or extra clothes.
Increase the insulation under you with leaves and/or pine straw.
A windproof/waterproof layer, such as a bivy bag, trash bag, poncho or tarp around the outside will slow heat loss.
If you have a blanket or poncho liner in addition to your bag, you can use it inside the bag or pin it in a bag around your bag to increase insulation.
Wear warm clothing inside the bag, especially extra socks. Clean clothes are more insulating than dirty ones.
Camp site selection can help. Camp on the south side of hills that have been in the sun most of the day. The ground and rocks will radiate heat for a time. Camp out of the wind. Do not camp in low ground and close to water, cold air sinks and the water will cool things a bit. Camp part way up the sides of hills above the cold air layer in the valley.
Letting your sleeping bag air out during the day in the sun will aid in keeping it dry and maintain the loft in the insulation. Being stuffed tightly in a bag after much use is not good for it.
Have some pajamas, like Hikermor said. A good base layer used only for sleeping, kept dry and clean, with warm socks and a hat will help a lot.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#291195 - 11/23/18 08:06 PM
Re: Getting through a cold night
[Re: hikermor]
|
Old Hand
Registered: 03/19/05
Posts: 1177
Loc: Channeled Scablands
|
Boil hot water, pour in water bottle, slip bottle into sock, tuck into the cold spots (lower back, feet, neck, or hands etc. Either in your sleeping bag or if up and around inside your tucked in over shirt or coat pockets. We used to carry small Nalgene bottles that fit in our double boots to thaw them in the morning.
Quart lasts about 6 hours in a sleeping bag for me. I keep my stove handy just outside my shelter to re boil if I get cold again. Works especially well if your clothes or bag is damp. Will dry everything out by morning.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#291196 - 11/23/18 08:08 PM
Re: Getting through a cold night
[Re: gonewiththewind]
|
Old Hand
Registered: 03/19/05
Posts: 1177
Loc: Channeled Scablands
|
[quote=Montanero]
"Camp site selection can help. Camp on the south side of hills that have been in the sun most of the day. The ground and rocks will radiate heat for a time. Camp out of the wind. Do not camp in low ground and close to water, cold air sinks and the water will cool things a bit. Camp part way up the sides of hills above the cold air layer in the valley."
Sleep where the deer sleep. You will notice their beds in the places Montanero suggests.
Edited by clearwater (11/23/18 08:11 PM)
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#291197 - 11/24/18 02:41 PM
Re: Getting through a cold night
[Re: hikermor]
|
Enthusiast
Registered: 01/06/08
Posts: 319
Loc: Canada
|
Eating a big Fatty High Calorie Meal, just before bed helps in the Backcountry if you do not have a fire, but are sleeping in a sleeping bag. Your body produces heat when it digests the food and helps warm your sleeping bag.
_________________________
Bruce Zawalsky Chief Instructor Boreal Wilderness Institute boreal.net
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#291237 - 12/01/18 03:24 AM
Re: Getting through a cold night
[Re: hikermor]
|
Crazy Canuck
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 3219
Loc: Alberta, Canada
|
The other factor is hydration. In cold weather, it's insidious -- you have to force yourself to drink (guzzle) because you don't feel thirsty at all.
Thing is, your body needs a ton of water to metabolize all the high-energy food (esp. fats) you've been ingesting. Assume you are always dehydrated, and monitor your input with a sceptical eye. Your body will fool you.
Old timers had a "mug-up" every few hours, and it wasn't for warmth. Tea, tea, and more tea!
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#291241 - 12/01/18 02:52 PM
Re: Getting through a cold night
[Re: dougwalkabout]
|
Geezer in Chief
Geezer
Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
|
On my worst night out ever, I went through a cycle of dozing off, waking up from the cold, fixing a hot drink, and dropping off to sleep again.
When the sun finally rose, I started travelling and I was surprised at how much more energy I had, attributing that at the time to the "rest" I had obtained. I was probably better hydrated, as well.
Edited by hikermor (12/01/18 02:52 PM)
_________________________
Geezer in Chief
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#291396 - 12/13/18 04:31 AM
Re: Getting through a cold night
[Re: hikermor]
|
Addict
Registered: 11/26/07
Posts: 458
Loc: Northern Canada
|
I am sure others will have tricks and tips to add to this heated topic....Fire away!
I took a liking to dropping a few of those cheap, oxygen activated hand warmers in the bottom of my fart sack when cold weather camping. If my feet are warm I am happy. 2 or 3 or those will add a lot more heat to the bottom of you bag than you would think. Not practical for the long term obviously, but certainly worth every penny when you can afford the space for a few. I’ve tried using warm stones from the fire wrapped in a towel to great effect as well, but I am getting more efficient (lazy) the older I get and can’t be bothered with that nonsense anymore.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 registered (SRMC),
332
Guests and
70
Spiders online. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|