Notes for Winter Camping

• NO COTTON!
• Stay Dry = Stay Warm
• Foam sit pad
• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• Drink lots of liquids (Include some electrolyte replacements)
  • Thermos or water bottle insulators
  • Wide mouth water bottles
  • NO Camelbak
• Buddy system to watch for:
  • Hypothermia (shivering, mumbling, clumsiness, drowsiness)
  • Frostbite (cover all exposed skin)
  • Snow Blindness (wear sunglasses)
  • Trench Foot (dry feet at night)
• Hazzards
  • Blizzard
  • Avalanche
  • Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
  • Mt. Whitney Weather
• Dress in layers to regulate temperature
  • Inner layer - Wicking Thermals (Polyester, Capilene, Polypropylene)
  • Insulation layers - Fleece, Soft-shell, Down
  • Outer layer - Waterproof/Breathable jacket and pants(full side-zip)
  • Hats, Gloves - Easy way to quickly change layers
• Waterproof Boots
  • Layer socks (liner, VBL, Wool or fleece)
  • Not too tight
  • All leather (treated with snowseal)
  • Snowboard boots
  • Sorel Pacboots
• Sleeping
  • Sleeping pad with R5 or better
  • 0 degree sleeping bag (or 2 sleeping bags)
  • Bivy sack (Waterproof/Breathable)
  • Sleep with hat (beanie hat or balaclava)
  • Sleep with hot water bottles in insulators
  • Handwarmers
  • Change into dry clothes to sleep in
  • Don't exhale in your sleeping bag
• Tents
  • 4 season, full coverage fly with vestibule, no mesh panels
  • Quick to setup and take down
  • Snow stakes
  • Pack down a platform first
  • Same temp as outside
  • Very noisy in high winds
  • Cook in vestibule
• Snow Shelters
  • Igloo, Snow Cave, Snow Trench
  • Warmer temp than outside
  • Quiet
  • Take turns inside while building
  • Cook outside
  • Can get wet while building
  • Can take hours to build
  • FUN to build!
• Cooking
  • White gas stoves only (No propane/butane)
  • Easy clean-up meals
  • Lots of food (body fuel)
  
  
• MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoe
• OR Gaiters
• ICEBOX - Igloo Tool