Stay Warm - A Backpacking Skill
Stay warm or die. That's what it comes down to at the extremes. More people die in the wilderness of exposure than from any other cause. Staying warm, of course, also means more comfort, and for backpackers, it can mean going even lighter, without more risk.
Staying warm in the wilderness is about proper gear and good skills. Proper gear means clothing and equipment suited to the enviroment you're in. This is a subject in itself, worth studying if you spend much time backpacking. With better materials and designs, the newest clothing and equipment saves lives. It is skills, however, that make the biggest difference.
How To Stay Warm - Tips and Skills
- Set up camp in the right places. Hilltops are windy and cold, and cold air also fills valleys at night. Level ground somewhere in between, out of the wind, is best.
- Wear clothes to bed. Shake and fluff them up to make them insulate better. Some recommend against sleeping in clothes, but I've tried it both ways many times, and it's always warmer with clothes on.
- Wear a hat. This may be equal to a pound of insulation in your sleeping bag. A lot of heat is lost through an uncovered head.
- Go to bed dry. Stay up until your clothes have dried, or change into dry clothes. On a warm, dry night, however, you can put damp clothes on your sleeping bag to dry them with body heat. You may need warm, dry clothes the next night (Thinking ahead is a great wilderness skill).
- Breath into your sleeping bag. Only do this in a dry climate, or if you're sure it's your last night out. You'll get damp, but you should dry quickly from hiking in the morning.
- Take a water-bottle full of hot water to bed with you. This is easier and safer than heating rocks and placing them around you.
- Make a pine-needle mattress. Dead leaves and dry grass work too. Scatter the leaves in the morning, so they won't smother the plants underneath. I've slept warmly below freezing, with no sleeping bag, in a pile of dry grass collected from a frozen swamp.
- You can breath into your sleeping bag if you're really cold. You should only do this in a dry climate, or if you're sure it's your last night out. You'll get damp, but you should dry quickly from hiking in the morning.
- Fill a water bottle with hot water, and take it to bed with you. This is easier and safer than heating rocks and placing them around you.
- Adjust your clothing as you hike. Remove and add clothes as necessary to stay warm without sweating. Sweat can cause you to lose heat rapidly when you stop.
- Stay dry. On a cold day, wet and hot can become hypothermia soon after you stop moving those muscles. On a hot day, however, wear wet clothing to dry it out in preparation for a possibly cold night.
- Conserve your energy. It's tough for your body to keep itself warm with no energy reserves. You may also need that energy to gather firewood or hike to the car to escape a blizzard. Finally, you'll make better decisions if you aren't tired, and you'll remember how to stay warm.
This is a sampling of wilderness skills and knowledge. There are many more things to learn about how to stay warm. In fact, I've left out one of the most important, because it deserves its own artcle: how to start a fire in any conditions.
Steve Gillman is a long-time advocate of lightweight backpacking. His tips, photos and stories can be found at The Ultralight Backpacking Site: http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com
 Google News Updated : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:51:44 GMT Karadzic lived the good life with wine, song - Reuters
Reuters - By Ivana Sekularac BELGRADE (Reuters) - Radovan Karadzic lived the good life while hiding from justice for 11 years: he watched his diet, fell in love and hung out in a small bar where hardliners gathered to sing about his wartime exploits. Video: Karadzic's arrest sparks clashes - 23 Jul 08 Karadzic's secret life enthralls his fellow Serbs Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:05:33 GMT Favre's heir? With backing from mates, Rodgers waits patiently - USA Today
USA Today - By Matt Ludtke, AP By Larry Weisman, USA TODAY He no longer sounds like a retired player after seemingly passing on the opportunity to lead a talent-laden Packers squad. Video: The Rift Between Favre and the Packers Finding new home for Brett Favre won't be easy Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:06:18 GMT Discovery may boost statin safety - BBC News
BBC News - Scientists have pinpointed a gene mutation as a major cause of a rare side effect of the cholesterol-lowering drugs statins. They hope the discovery could lead to a simple test to identify patients at increased risk of myopathy - severe muscle pain and ... Gene May Predict Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Risk, Study Says Genetic Cause of Statin-Related Muscle Pain Found Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:14:24 GMT Rapper 50 Cent sues Taco Bell over ad - New York Daily News
New York Daily News - BY THOMAS ZAMBITO The rapper - real name Curtis Jackson - is suing the fast-food chain for using his hip-hop persona to tout its tacos. 50 Cent sues Taco Bell over ad campaign Rapper 50 Cent says Taco Bell stole his endorsement Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:15:09 GMT Zimbabwe Parties May Sign Unity Deal Soon, Business Day Reports - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Carli Lourens July 24 (Bloomberg) -- Zimbabwe's ruling and opposition parties may sign a power-sharing agreement soon as they have already agreed on a wide range of issues, Business Day reported, citing people it didn't identify. Fearsome Zimbabwe militias are afraid Delayed Zimbabwe Power-Sharing Talks Seen Beginning Thursday Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:23:06 GMT Billionaires Back Antismoking Effort - New York Times
New York Times - Bill Gates and New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced their antismoking initiative on Wednesday in New York. By DONALD G. MCNEIL JR Bill Gates and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced on Wednesday that they would spend $500 million to stop ... Video: Gates, Bloomberg Pool Riches to Fight Smoking The $500 million war on smoking Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:23:48 GMT Christian Bale's lady sidekick: Sibi Bale - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - Like the Dark Knight/Bruce Wayne, Christian Bale is a real-life man of mystery. Averse to personal publicity, he is well-known for not wanting to discuss his private life. Christian Bale, Wife "Solid" at Knight's Spain Premiere Bale's family feud led to scuffle Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:10:31 GMT RSS For Web Pages |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Knowing a few edible wild plants can make your next... Read More If you you find yourself saying "Hey, that's a good... Read More Any vacations in Africa will not be complete without going... Read More White Water on the Comal river in Central Texas is... Read More There are so many selections available when it comes to... Read More Dude Ranches first gained popularity in the 1920s, in large... Read More Ask about perfect wildlife destinations and a Tanzania safari will... Read More I've been traveling and writing about places I believe others... Read More How to get the most out of your trekking poles... Read More Once described in a 1950 article as "The Town That... Read More The Udzungwa Mountains National park was created primarily for the... Read More I stood at the observation point on the balcony at... Read More One afternoon during a trip across the country in our... Read More We love spending time outdoors and if you are expecting... Read More Why ultralight backpacks? Devotees of ultralight backpacking know you reduce... Read More "The good news is that there is no reason to... Read More Visitors to Hawaii frequently see dolphins from shore or on... Read More My favorite outdoor related quote comes from John Muir, the... Read More Mount Sunflower, Kansas. Ebright Azimuth, Delaware. Hawkeye Point, Iowa. Hoosier... Read More San Diego offers a bevy of interesting hikes. With the... Read More Holidays in India, awesome in her size and diversity. This... Read More Inflatable fishing boats are great yacht tenders/camping boats that are... Read More The climb up the glaciers to the summit of Mount... Read More Touted as one of the world's fifty destinations of a... Read More The quaint little balcony was large enough to accommodate two... Read More
Adsense
websites
Edible Wild Plants For Backpackers
You Might Be An Ultralight Backpacker If...
Top Five African Safari Destinations
Comal White Water or More Blue Green
PaintBall Gun Buying Tips
One of the Oldest Traditions of the American West; The Dude Ranch
Tanzania Safari Top Five National Parks and Game Reserves
Visiting the Last Paradise on Earth ? Costa Rica
How To Get The Most Out Of Your Trekking Poles
Old Sturbridge Village ? Links to Our Past Guide, Part 2
The Lumemo Trail - An African Wilderness Experience for the Practiced Hiker
Going it Alone: The Waterfall at Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska
Hard Labor Creek State Park Earned Its Name
The American Picnic ? Make Yours Memorable
Ultralight Backpacks - The Lightest
The Price of Gas Really Doesnt Matter!
Three Places to Interact with Dolphins in Hawaii
Code of Conduct for Outdoor Enthusiasts
Highpointing: It?s Not Just For Mountaineers
San Diego Beach Hikes ? Cardiff to Carlsbad
Great Indian Holidays
The Benefits of Inflatable Fishing Boats
Mount Chimborazo: Climbing Glaciers Near The Equator
Kerala ? Holiday in Gods Own Country
Kerala Backwaters - Gently Down the Stream
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Inflatable Boat Trailers
An inflatable boat trailer is needed if the user has... Read More
Whitewater Rafting Trip
For the dedicated water sport enthusiast there can be no... Read More
Plymouth Plantation and Mayflower ? Links to Our Past Guide, Part 1
Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower II ship are major attractions... Read More
Lightweight Backpacking: How Light?
You aren't lightweight backpacking if you are carrying twenty-five pounds... Read More
Two Person Hammocks ? Snuggle With Your Beau in Style
How many of you take the time to just relax... Read More
Shark Pictures Not The Real Thing
Pictures of a massive dead Great White shark on the... Read More
Crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel with an RV
New experiences make me nervous, and I assume that holds... Read More
Mount Chimborazo: Climbing Glaciers Near The Equator
The climb up the glaciers to the summit of Mount... Read More
San Francisco Beaches
When you are planning a vacation to Maui or Rio... Read More
Backyard Camping Trip
Are your kids begging you to take them camping, but... Read More
Dont Forget that Camping Gear Checklist Before You Leave on that Family Camping Adventure
A camping gear checklist is an important tool to help... Read More
How To Get The Most Out Of Your Trekking Poles
How to get the most out of your trekking poles... Read More
Where to Find Some of the Best Beaches in the World
We think that Cape Town has some of the best... Read More
Tips for Mountain Bikers in Spain
As any keen mountain biker will know, there are some... Read More
San Diego Beach Hikes ? Cardiff to Carlsbad
San Diego offers a bevy of interesting hikes. With the... Read More
RV Camping at Casinos
There's nothing that will quicken the interest of RVers like... Read More
Viewpoints on Whale Watching in Hermanus!
If you're looking to spot a whale, the first few... Read More
Tamil Nadu ? A potpourri of culture and festivity
Tamil Nadu is a delightful anachronism. With a rich culture... Read More
Highpointing: It?s Not Just For Mountaineers
Mount Sunflower, Kansas. Ebright Azimuth, Delaware. Hawkeye Point, Iowa. Hoosier... Read More
Kenya Safari Top Five National Parks
The Kenya safari circuit is one of the best in... Read More
Hiking from Your Own Home
Picture this. You are stuck at home knee deep in... Read More
Bird Safaris: Timbavatis Most Desired Plumage
Normally when you think Safari you think Big 5. The... Read More
Rafting on the Rogue River in Oregon
Oregon's Rogue River is one of the nation's most beautiful.... Read More
Yellowstone Camping In The Fall
Soon, the busy summer tourist season will be over in... Read More
You Might Be An Ultralight Backpacker If...
If you you find yourself saying "Hey, that's a good... Read More
Outdoors |