Tricks to staying warm?

[brew]

A couple of weeks ago a few of us went on a three day primitive camping/muzzle hunt in the Adirondacks.

The temperatures got just below freezing at night so I took a couple of hot rocks from the fire pit and put them in my blanket. That definitly helped and I only had to swap them out for hotter rocks once during the night.

By the second night the temperature got into the upper 20's so this time I took 4 additional hot rocks into my diamond shelter placing them outside of my blanket in an effort to heat the air around me. I was amazed at how well the canvas tarp held the heat once I closed off the openings. I was also surprised at how long the rocks stayed hot by just lying on a bed of pine needles.
Being that I will be heading back to the Dacks this weekend where the temps are expected to be in the low 20's at night and they just got a foot of fresh snow, does anyone have any other methods of keeping warm in 20 degree temps while sleeping using only wool blankets and a canvas tarp on pine needles?

 

[J.D.]

IMHO, Since cold air settles into the bottoms, the first thing to do is make camp in a sheltered area as high as possible. While I don't remember the exact figures, I think a 50ft difference in elevation, above a valley floor, can translate to a 10 degree difference in ambient temp.

Secondly, build up a deep bed of pine needles for insulation from the ground. The deeper the better.
And it helps to keep the leaves, needles, or other duff from working out from under you by containing them with logs or a crib of light brush.

Thirdly use a reflector behind your fire, or camp in a gap in the rocks so's you have reflection in front and behind, though a canvas lean-to can help reflect heat down on a bedroll.

Fourth, dress in layers and remove clothing while traveling to eliminate sweating. Damp, sweaty clothing will make you colder when you stop to rest, and especially for the night. And change your socks for the cleanest, driest socks you have before going to bed.

I carry a coupla canvas "rock sacks" to put hot rock in to prevent scorching my blankets, and more importantly my body, at night. The canvas of the rock sacks also insulates the hot rocks, so's they stay warm longer.

Lastly, eat something sweet, blended with some fat to produce body warmth shortly before going to bed. Ya need fuel to stay warm, so eating a bar of chocolate, or drinking hot chocolate shortly before going to bed will help keep you warm.

Good luck,
J.D.

 

[brew]

Great tips, thank you. I especially like the crib concept. Cant wait to try it. Unfortunately my hunting partner just emailed me saying he cant go.
Now what?

 

[Black Hand]

It also really helps to change into dry moccasins before bed along with the change in socks.

You may wish to fold the canvas over your blankets instead of making a shelter from the canvas (if possible). Seems to keep in the heat a bit better than trying to warm the entire shelter before you feel any warmth at the bottom of the shelter.....

 

[Blizzard of '93]

you likely already know to cover your head at night - I use a toboggan. also fill canteen with hot water to place in bedroll at foot area in addition to hot rocks inside tent. I have something similar to J.D.'s rock sack made from felt that I place a hot stone in to keep near my abdomen area.
also make sure to urinate before getting into the sack and drink little after your evening tea and meal. it's getting up in the middle of the night that really gets you cooled off.
I have a sister that knits and I had her make me a pair of heavy socks and sew thin glove leather to the bottom that I wear to bed and if I need to get up or when I do in the morn my feet stay warm.

 

[Black Hand]

Great tips, thank you. I especially like the crib concept. Cant wait to try it. Unfortunately my hunting partner just emailed me saying he cant go.
Now what?

Go anyway if you feel confident in your abilities (proceed at your own risk). However, in winter, there is safety in numbers, especially in snowy conditions. Maybe a primitive day hunt is in order instead....

 

[trent/OH]

A nice big dog generates a lot of warmth.

 

[Poor Private]

A nice round woman works well also. Why do you think one of the reasons old mountain men married Indians.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

back rubs? :hmm:

 

[ameling]

A common practice up here in the upper midwest is to share bedrolls/tarps. 3 people each carrying 2 wool blankets means 6 blankets to keep those three people warm - 2 underneath on top of your natural material insulation (leaves, grass, pine needles, pine bows, etc.), and 4 wool blankets over the top of you three souls. Plus you all share body heat. Who gets the middle slot is best chosen by casting lots.

But even 2 people sharing 4 blankets adds up. One person wrapped up in 2 blankets does work, but you have to work more at being comfortable.

Forget that one-blanket manure if the temps are going to get near or below freezing.

The second night out is always better - because you are starting to become acclimated to the temps. So if you spend a day or two getting more used to the outside temps before you head out, it does help.

When you wake up in the middle of the night and feel that "call of nature", don't fight it, just get up and releave yourself. It takes more thought/energy to fight it than it is worth. And that is a lot of liquid to also keep heated up overnight internally.

Definitely put on dry socks - and other clothing if yours is damp. It makes a big difference. Also wear a knit stocking cap of some sort, or possibly a scarf - to cover your head. You lose lots of heat through it.

Hot rocks do help - for a while. But once they cool off they just become a heat-sink. Plan for that.

Get good insulation underneath you. The ground will suck lots of heat from you.

Block the wind and even small drafts from blowing across you - especially your head. The little heat loss from it still adds up quickly.

Don't dehydrate yourself just to keep from having to answer that call of nature in the middle of the night. Dehydration causes its own problems - including reducing blood circulation - which will make you feel colder.

And then there is the mental part. If you think and believe that you will be cold, then your wish will be fulfilled. And some people "fight" the cold. But if you accept it and not fight it, then your time will be more enjoyable. That mental ... acceptance ... of being cold helps a lot to get through it.

Just a few humble thoughts to share. Take them as such.

Mikey - that grumpy ol' German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands

 

Mighty,
a variation on your theme of using hot rocks would be to excavate your sleeping area and line it with rocks (make certain you do not get these rocks from the creek nearby.very important!)
next, build a fire on this platform and spread it out.
once that rock shelf is heated to your liking, then cover with dirt and whatever insulation is available - leaves? pine needles?.. you'll want 5 or 6 inches of fill.
it takes a bit more prep., but heat those rocks sufficiently, and you will be snug all night long..
:v

 

[PaulN/KS]

Make sure ya put enough dirt down...
:wink:

 

[Robert Egler]

Well, I've spent some time "camping" on the arctic ice cap more than 100 miles north of the northern-most point in Alaska. I've been camping in temperatures down to 40 below (degrees F). One of THE MOST important things that often doesn't get enough attention is insulation from the ground. (The hot rock idea would have been great, if there had been any rocks around. :grin: )

You really have to insulate yourself from the ground as well as possible. Remember that your weight compresses all the insulation below you, and it is in direct contact with the cold ground. I’d say that insulation below you is actually more important than insulation above you.

And of course all the standard things mentioned above about layers, avoiding sweat, etc.

 

[PJC]

Three important items for warmth in cold weather.
1.DRY FEET are critical to staying warm. Same goes for socks. Your socks can not be dry enough.
2 Of course a touque/hat for your head. Even when you are sleeping.
3. A scarf for your neck. This is super important for warmth.

Just some stuff to think about.

PJC

 

[J.D.]

Mighty,
a variation on your theme of using hot rocks would be to excavate your sleeping area and line it with rocks (make certain you do not get these rocks from the creek nearby.very important!)
next, build a fire on this platform and spread it out.
once that rock shelf is heated to your liking, then cover with dirt and whatever insulation is available - leaves? pine needles?.. you'll want 5 or 6 inches of fill.
it takes a bit more prep., but heat those rocks sufficiently, and you will be snug all night long..
:v

Ya gotta leave time for the moisture to evaporate too, otherwise you will be sleeping on top of a sauna, which will make you colder in the long run.

And, ya gotta leave room between the rocks for air to circulate so's the fire will burn down. And don't forget to put plenty of dirt over the hot coals/rocks or you will burn your biscuits. :redface: :nono:

 

[redwing]

The Long Fire has been used forever in the Rocky Mtn. West. Dig a trench about 4 or 5 feet long by 2 feet wide and 20 inches deep. Build your evening fire in the trench when you have a bed of coals bury them in dirt. Cover this with pine boughs to keep an air space under your bed roll. You can stand some real low Temps. with the Long Fire. :thumbsup:
As for Temp. to elevation it runs about 7 degrees per 1000'.

 

[F.G. Ford]

Find a nice cuddly country girl!
Can't beat em'
Old Ford

 

[Black Hand]

You really have to insulate yourself from the ground as well as possible. Remember that your weight compresses all the insulation below you, and it is in direct contact with the cold ground. I’d say that insulation below you is actually more important than insulation above you.

And of course all the standard things mentioned above about layers, avoiding sweat, etc.

The Boy Scouts used to teach important stuff like this in the past. The idea was that you should have at least 3 times the amount of insulation underneath you than you had above.

 

[Finnwolf]

"Ya didn't put enough dirt down Pilgrim. Saw it right off." :haha:

 

[brew]

Well we did end up going on the trip. It was only 17 degrees one night but we did manage to stay warm. Our method was allot simpler than hot rocks and fire beds. I borrowed a friends wall tent as well as his small wood burning stove and we were toastie all night long. We didn't get a deer but we sure did have a blast as well as a warm tent at the end of the day. What a great time. Makes it hard to get back to civilization.