International Park :: Camping Blog » Winter Camping

Treat Water In Winter Camping

Andy Johnson — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:23:11 +0000

One common mistake people make in the winter is eating snow. This isn’t a good thing to do because it takes a lot of energy for the body to transfer water from solid to liquid state. This means you can use up a lot of calories and this could end up in hypothermia. A good way to get water is to dig a hole in frozen streams and lakes that have running water under the ice. But remember, in most instances the water needs to be purified to protect you from bacterial contaminants

You can melt snow on a stove or fire to draw water out of it, but make sure the snow’s clean. If you have a bit of water in the bottom of a container you should heat it up and add the snow to it. On average, to get one quart of water you will need about 10 quarts of snow. The bonus is that clean snow doesn’t need any purification.

To keep the water from freezing, you should put it in a pot and cover it with a lid. Then place the pot in about a foot of snow. The snow is actually an insulator and it should keep the water from completely freezing over. If you carry a water bottle, make sure it has a wide opening at the end instead of just a small spout or hole, as these have a tendency of freezing up.

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Winter Camping Is a Fun Adventure

admin — Fri, 13 May 2011 08:48:36 +0000

Clothing is particularly important during the winter. Whether staying at the campsite or venturing out for a hike, it is important to maintain your body temperature and avoid ill effects of cold weather such as hypothermia. Always wear a hat. Up to eighty percent of your body heat can be lost through your head, so wearing a hat is essential. Dress in layers. Wear several layers of clothing and choose outer clothing that is waterproof. Wear warm, wool socks. Wearing two pairs of socks is advisable for warmth and comfort. Always wear boots that are suited to cold weather and are waterproof. Keeping your feet warm and dry is critical for warding off hypothermia.

Make sure you have a warm fire at your campsite and that tents or sleeping arrangements are properly insulated from the cold. Choose sleeping bags and sleeping mats that are waterproof and have warm linings. Make sure you get into the sleeping bag already warm and dry. Do some exercises and warm up by the fire before entering your tent and going to sleep. If you have wet clothing on, change out of it and only sleep in dry clothes.

You will be less hungry in the winter but do not neglect nutrition. It will help keep your energy level up. Warm drinks will help. Cup of soup or canned soups are great for adding nutrition and warmth to the diet. Stay away from coffee, tea and alcohol if you are feeling the effects of hypothermia as they will thin the blood and actually advance symptoms.

Be prepared for emergencies. It is not uncommon to have a sudden drastic shift in weather leaving you stranded and unable to return to your campsite. It is also possible to have an accident such as slipping on a slippery slope or having a fall through the ice into freezing water. Being prepared for such disasters may mean the difference between life and death. Always have waterproof matches, food and water supplies, blankets, and first aid kits available.

Taking some time to plan and prepare for camping in the winter is essential for staying safe and making the most of your experience. Make sure you have items to stay warm and nourished. Plan for the unexpected and have gear available in case of emergency.

Kayak Camping Made Easier

David Stewards — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 02:27:13 +0000

If you do decide to take your kayak on a trip that is going to involve a couple of portages there a couple of ways to do it. You can buy wheel sets that you rest your kayak on while you pull it through the portage trail. Simply find the balance point of the boat, secure the wheels and start pulling. These wheels are not generally really big so it’s a good idea to know before you leave what kind of terrain you will likely be encountering to be sure your wheel set will be adequate. Another option is to pack very light and simply haul the boat up the portage trail with your gear in it. I’ve done this and although it works it can be quite laborious and generally requires two people to carry the boat. The third option of course is to unpack the boat every time you come to a new portage trail. The beauty of the kayak is that as you paddle along it will cut through waves with relative ease and your things will remain generally dry, unlike using a canoe, that would have a tendency to take on water.

You need to use a proper sea kayak really. One with hatches that open into sealed bulkheads where you can keep your gear. They can be somewhat unstable and if you’re new to operating a kayak then you should be sure you stay fairly close to shore in the event that you capsize. You really should learn how to brace or even roll, although longer kayaks are harder to roll than shorter ones are. So you can see that it’s not simply a matter of jumping in your boat and heading out for your camping trip. You need to be able to foresee the types of problems you may run into and plan accordingly to make it easier. Generally your trip is far more enjoyable when you don’t have any problems and standing at the beginning of a portage, wondering how your going to get all of your gear across into the next lake is a sure-fire way to help make your trip go downhill fast.

Advices for Winter Camping Gear

Ralph Serpe — Fri, 14 May 2010 05:42:24 +0000

The quality of your winter camping gear is very important and in some case critical. You need to be absolutely sure that it will withstand the temperature variations as well as the extreme conditions you may encounter during your camping excursions. The fact is, nobody goes on a camping trip expecting to be caught by extreme weather conditions or fall down an icy embankment and break an arm or a leg, but these things happens, so you need to be prepared for any potential situation if you want to survive.

On top of that if you would have to carry every piece of winter camping gear you might possibly need for every possible situation, you would need a truck, not a backpack. What you need to focus on is bringing the least amount of winter camping gear you need to survive any emergency situation. You won’t bring with you crutches or boards in case you break a leg, instead think about carrying heavy-duty tape that you could use combined with sticks that you can pick up on the ground. This simple trick will do the same as crutches without the excess of baggage.

We don’t usually fell thirsty during the winter but your winter camping gear must absolutely include an item to purify water. Some campers use iodine drops or tablet to that effect, you also need to filter the water. Then comes the eating part, most campers bring some dehydrated pouches which are very tasty, but they get old after a couple of days. Always try to have a couple of simple recipes for cooking over an open fire with food items to cook is always something you should consider having in your winter camping gear.

If you are going for a long camping trip you should always plan on a mean to relieve yourself. Also your winter camping gear should also contain hygiene items to make sure you remain healthy during your excursion. Inexperienced campers are often not aware of that, but maintaining your cleanliness is just as important as when you are at home. To that effect you should also plan on having some waterless sanitizing solution so you can wash your hands for time to time. Always make sure you remain healthy and comfortable during your camping trip.

Camping Tent in Winter

admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 08:17:30 +0000

When people think of outdoor camping, they typically imagine summer vacations: warm days, clear starry nights, nature in full-bloom. But few campers think about camping in the winter season. However, like summer camping, winter camping is also pleasurable if you know how to prepare suitably for winter.

One advantage of winter camping is that you don’t have as much group – children are back in school, and the cold climate keeps the crowds away. The strange beauty of winter is another draw: imagine motionless silhouettes of bare tree branches, refreshingly cold and crisp air, a light dusting of recently fallen snow. And if the landscape doesn’t entice you, well, know that winter camping charges are as cheap as they come.

To make winter camping more fun you will need to make sure you are able to stay warm. To stay warm while camping in the winter you will want to bring a warm coat, thermal underwear, and wool socks and gloves. It is also a good idea to bring a stocking hat and hand warmers in your camping gear. Inside your tent you can set up a kerosene heater in the middle far away from anything that could ignite. There are also many other types of camping heaters that your camping retailer will be able to tell you about. Sleeping bags for your camping trip are rated for temperature so make sure you bring a sleeping bag that is rated for the temperatures you will experience on your camping adventures.

When you first get up in the morning you may want to pull your clothing into your sleeping bag in order to warm them just a bit before putting them on. Most tents for camping are well ventilated and do not hold in heat for very long. To make your tent hold in the heat a bit longer, you may wish to throw an extra tarp over it and fasten it down with tent pegs designed for camping.

You will find that fewer people end up camping in the winter, so you will most likely find your favorite camping location not only available but also very peaceful and quiet! So if you like camping in peace and quiet with not a lot of other camping enthusiasts coming out to your favorite spots, then choosing to set up your camping area in the winter will work perfect for you. Camping retailers will often have special deals in the slower winter months, so waiting to buy your camping gear until you are ready to go camping will not be a problem for you. So go out this winter and every winter and enjoy the peaceful bliss of nature by camping.