Tricks to staying warm?

[tdamico]

Wait until summer :grin:

 

[bnail]

Since it's only down to the 20's, I'd take a page from Tom Brown's book, "Watch the Squirrels" :wink:

 

[Rod Lassey]

Lots and lots of insulation from the ground---pine or juniper boughs, leaves, etc., and covered with a couple of hair-on raw deer hides. And a buffalo hide over that. Then a couple of blankets, another buffalo hide if you've got one, and an oilcloth over all.

I don't know about digging a trench for a fire, I was digging post holes today, and the ground is already frozen down several inches. A couple more weeks, and I'd have better luck digging in concrete.

When the temps get low-- minus 30 degrees or so--keep a fire going all night. Wake up every couple of hours, and punch up the fire, get warm and get some more sleep. This works best with others, so you can take it in turns.

Rod

 

[Seachranaiche]

Since we are talking about staying warm could someone tell me or give a link to making a blanket roll/bed. (The one with blanket pins.) I remember when I was taking outdoor education in Wisconsin they always said keep you feet and your head warm and the rest will follow. If there is snow it makes great insulation when used correctly. If your tent is well waterproofed you can pack snow on the outside to add extra insulation. You all probably know this but wool keeps you warm even if it is wet. Have any of you ever had opportunity to sleep under a fur (bear, elk, buffalo, etc)?

 

[Bountyhunter]

The biggest issue in staying warm is staying dry. Too little insulation from the ground and you are cold, too much cover and you sweat and you are cold, make sure your shelter has good ventilation to take out the condensation from the breath.

 

[Muskeg Stomper]

I've never used hides over me but can tell you that a caribo hide under me works pretty well. A problem up here with trying to be historically accurate during the winter months is being able to carry enough wool blankets to keep you warm. You must drag all your gear on a sledge. A snow shelter, either a quinze or a snow cave, definately insulates far better than anything else and I can use less blankets. Unfortunately, you often get pretty wet building these types of shelters so I have to carry more dry clothing.

 

[Grizzled Roberts]

I do go to a couple of events down here where it has been in the teens. I agree with the policy if you keep your head and feet warm the rest will follow! That and proper ground insulation will take care of you. I have always had bad circulation in my feet so I have to cheat a bit when I camp out below freezing. Im my bed roll is a pair of goose down draw string booties! After I blow out the candle lantern I put these on before I slide in the cover. I then pull an oversized liberty cap down to my chin. Nowadays I only camp out at living history events or rendezvous. So my secret weapon never leaves the bed roll. I suppose had I been born back in the day, my woods running would be long over by now! A cot is not a good idea unless you heat your entire tent. Nothing will suck the heat out of your body faster than a layer of moving cold air underneath you!! Been there and done that!

 

[Crossfire]

I know I'm a bit late replying on this one, but here goes anyway.

Two years ago, went on winter trek with Desert Rat. Was snowing so bad and ice on the road, couldn't even get the blazer back in to the trail head we intended to hike from. Since we were in wilderness area anyway, we parked at side of road and hiked from the blazer. Normally, we each use our own lean to shelter, but this time we put them together and built them very low (less than 2 feet high. This covered three sides out of four. Built our fire close to the front and placed a palisade of wet logs behind it to reflect heat into the shelter. Both of us were in the shelter, but each kept to their own bedroll, thank you. We aren't that good of friends. Woke up with snow piled all around the back and sides of lean-to and a layer of ice on top where our body heat had melted the snow and it refroze. very, very, very cold outside, but this was the warmest snow camp I've ever slept in (including modern). That log palisade to reflect heat really works.

 

[Crossfire]

Forgot to mention - I broke my frozen oil cloth when I tried to fold it the next day. I now have two nice half pieces. This is a very effective way to cut oil cloth. :grin:

 

[Muskeg Stomper]

Yep, a well built lean-to placed so the wind won't blow into it and a good reflector wall is plenty comfy when it's above zero, especially when a blanket of snow helps out in providing more insulation. You did just right pitching it low to the ground. It gets much colder than that though and I like to be totally enclosed in a snow shelter. For a guy who's done his fair share of camping out in the arctic and sub-arctic, I'm sure turning into a wimp in my old age.

 

[44-henry]

I'm looking forward to tomorrow as the temperature is supposed to climb into the mid 20's which will be a virtual heat wave compared with the temps we've had in the last few weeks. Over this time it has dropped to -30 degrees below 0 and windchills have exceeded 55-60 below. Anything below freezing is a trying experience, but you get these kind of temps and it is just downright dangerous to be out there at all for any extended length of time without proper gear.