Re: [at-l] That cold Stitch.

["Mara Factor" <m_factor@hotmail.com>]

Long, but off the cuff...  This is not meant to be complete but just some 
ideas that popped into my head...

I don't really add to my fall pack, I start from scratch.  First of all, I 
add a partner.  I think it's kind of crazy to hike alone in the Whites in 
the winter.  Thankfully, though, they don't go in the pack and are generally 
self-propelled.

Keeping in mind that I do my winter hiking in the Whites, I bring more 
rugged (and consequently heavier) gear.  I've been backpacking when it got 
very cold (-20) but I do not yet own a full set of winter mountaineering 
gear.

In general, you need a bigger pack, a four season tent with two entrances 
that can handle snow weight and high winds, and a -20 sleeping bag.  I bring 
two sleeping pads, a closed cell and an open cell.  The open cell for 
comfort (I can't sleep on a thinner pad) and a closed cell to help keep the 
heat in (I toss and turn and then you tend to lose a lot of heat when the 
air in the open cell shifts around).  Plus, the closed cell is great for 
when you want to sit down for breaks (I don't take many in the winter) or 
for in camp when you just want to sit and eat.

For stoves, I would use my MSR but bring an Esbit for backup. (Need one plus 
backup for two people).  Know your fuel and what temperatures it will burn 
in.  I used a lighter (make sure it's not a safety lighter) that I kept in 
my mitten to keep the butane warm but kept matches around just in case.  An 
alcohol stove is probably not a good choice for winter camping when time is 
of the essence when heating water.

Clothes:  I use Dachstein (boiled wool) mittens.  Overmitts, liners, and my 
windbloc fleece glove/mittens (fingerless gloves with mitten covers.  In the 
dry cold winter climate where there is a significant different in the 
humidity inside your clothes than outside, goretex parka and wind pants work 
better than a coated nylon.  Double boots, either plastic or something like 
Sorels with lug-type soles.  (You can bring the inner boot into your 
sleeping bag at night.)  And then whatever long johns and fleece layers are 
necessary.  A down or synthetic parka may also be useful.

I use a fleece earband while hiking but have a fleece balaclava for when the 
going gets really cold.  It's good to sleep in as well. (Always sleep in a 
hat to retain heat.)  Ski goggles for above tree line.  I also have a 
polypro balaclava for lighter full face coverage.

I use snowshoes, crampons, ice axe, and hiking poles depending on the 
planned hike.  Know your equipment and know the proper way to use 
everything, esp. the ice axe. (self arrest, etc.)

So far, I have avoided potential avalanche areas and have only read about 
avalanche rescue.  If you go into avalanche areas, make sure everyone in 
your party has a compatible transceiver (not all are the same), knows how to 
use it, and has had recent practice.  Your life may depend on it.

Bring lots of food and munchies.  Make sure your munchies are edible at 
below freezing temps.  (Power bars and snickers bars are bad, peanut butter 
sandwiches already made, nuts, and small chunks of cheese with crackers, 
cookies, and brownies are good).  Bring things to eat in the middle of the 
night to help warm you up when you get cold.  Wide mouth Nalgenes are pretty 
good to put hot water in at the beginning of the day.  Keep it upside down 
either next to your body or in an insulated container. (I use an OR water 
bottle parka.)  Thermos are great but heavy.  I put duck tape tabs (offset) 
on my ziplock bags so that I can open then with thick mittens on.

Tips for hiking...

When you get to camp, eat something and pack down a place in the snow larger 
than your tent.  Jumping and stomping around to pack the space is a great 
way to warm up.  "Normal" tent stakes will often not hold in snow.  Bring 
snow stakes or use your ingenuity. (bags filled with snow and buried, hiking 
poles or skiis, etc.)  Make sure you have something that will prevent your 
stove from sinking into the snow when it warms up.  :-}  If you have to go 
to the bathroom in the middle of the night - GO.  The energy needed to keep 
all that "extra" urine warm will sap your energy and make you colder in the 
long run.  Then, before you get back into the tent, do some jumping jacks to 
warm up again.  When you get out of your bag in the morning, refold the bag 
on top of itself, otherwise the escaping warmth will melt the frost on the 
tent ceiling and it will rain in the tent.

Yikes!  Enough for now.  I highly recommend something like the AMC Winter 
Hiking program for a lot of great information in much more detail than I 
went into here.  I think they also put a book out.

Mara
Stitches, GAME99

>From: "Ed Kendall" <kendall@enter.net>
>To: "Mara Factor" <m_factor@hotmail.com>
>CC: "ATL" <at-l@backcountry.net>
>Subject: [at-l] That cold Stitch.
>Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 13:26:18 -0500
>
>Stitches.....you seem to be on top of the winter camping stuff.
>What do you add to your fall pack to make it a winter pack.
>
>I slept in the snow at Ruck but I had a pickup truck full of down
>bags and several ground pads....I cheated therefore I didn't
>learn.
>
>------------
>Hike On and On
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