[at-l] My first winter overnighter

[Trailmixup@aol.com]

Well, this qualifies as a sort of trip report, I guess.

I experienced my first overnighter in my tent (Walrus, Tunnel Vision) last 
night.  

Wisperlight and I took off yesterday for Dover Plains, NY -- about 8 miles 
north of the Pawling RR crossing on the AT.  'Said our hello's to all the 
folks and pets (!!) at the camp.  ('Love em all -- 2 black labs, 2 golden 
retrievers, 2 adults, 3.9 kids [that's 3 kids and soon-to-be twins], and a 
cat.)

We did some snowshoeing (my first time on 'em; Wisperlight had tried them at 
least once before).  It was wonderful.  I had a great time.  We just walked 
around the old camp that I used to be Director of and had a grand ol' time.  
It was amazing to feel the texture and condition of the snow under your feet. 
 The snowshoes really give a heightened awareness of what you are walking 
on.... crystalized snow, heavily packed, pure powder, multi-layered, on duff, 
on ice, etc.  Marvelous!

The most exciting thing for me was the tracks we kept seeing everywhere.   I 
had seen bobcat and bear on the camp grounds this summer, and knew of coyote. 
 But it is true what they say about winter outings -- you *do* encounter more 
evidence of wildlife in winter than any other season.  We saw bobcat (and 
myriad other animal) tracks everywhere we went.  We saw evidence of a number 
of kills too.  Gruesome, yes, but fascinating.  

We walked up to the alpine ski slope, the lake, the blast furnace, the field 
and garden -- all on the camp's property.  (I took photos and will get em up 
online when I get them developed).  The weather was mild and the skies clear. 
 It was a great day for snowshoeing.   We got back after sunset.

Later in the night we did a little ramble around the camp -- enjoying the 
light of a full moon on an expanse of white snow -- and heard the most 
amazing chorus of coyote howling.  We were in awe of how closeby they 
sounded.  It was eerie and wonderful, all at the same time.

('never did get the crosscountry skis or crampons out == we were quite 
content to spend our time on snowshoes.)

As evening fell, we went to the lodge (first aid station for the camp) and 
cooked dinner on the stove inside.  Wisperlight did not eat.  (Someone talk 
to him about the merits of refueling!)  I, on the other hand, had a gourmet 
meal of Liptons Noodles!  We had hot cocoa and then I retreated to my tent as 
Wisperlight chose to bed down on the couch in the front room.  (I had pitched 
the tent out in front of the lodge, with the aid of implements such as a 
plastic cat litter container, rock and windshield wiper fluid bottle in lieu 
of staking -- too much ice to penetrate for stakes to work.)

Wisperlight was kind enough not to laugh out loud at me, as Nanook, the 
Eskimo, emerged in full fleece garb -- head to toe -- ready for the night's 
assault on the cold.  It was 9:30PM when I hit the sleeping bag - - equipped 
with a few "handwarmers" to aid me in keeping warm.  (Those who met me at the 
Ruck probably know that I will get cold if you merely turn off the 
incandescent bulb in the ceiling fixture.  I'm the penultimate winter weenie 
wimp -- sorry GimmeChocolate, I *definitely* have you beat out when it comes 
to "climate princess!")

I hunkered down in my 20* Campmor bag and silk liner, on top of my ensolite 
and staytec thermarest pads.  As I crawled into my bag I was struck with how 
easy this was.  I was comfortable and thinking this was going to be a piece 
of cake.  

It was glorious until about 1:30 AM when I awakened, shivering.  I pulled the 
bag over my head and tried harder to sleep.  No such luck.  I did some 
stretching and isotonic exercises in hopes of getting the ol' blood flowing 
to increase heat production.  Still no luck.  I looked at my little Suunto 
thermometer and found that it was 25* out -- no winds, at all.  I repeated 
this action til about 4AM.  I'm sure that somewhere in those last 2 hours or 
so, I got *some* sleep, but I also know that it was not much sleep.  

(Ala JohnO, I even brought the thermometer inside the bag to check for 
temperature so that I could a thorough report -- ahh, 'never had the presence 
of mind to check it, however!  I know that JohnO would have checked 
outside-the-tent temperature as well.  Hey, you get what you pay for.)  In my 
bleary state I recognized that nature was calling and I made the decision 
there and then, I was going inside to use the can and I was not coming back 
outside!   It was 4:05 AM.  Winter 1, Trailmixup zip.

I slept indoors for another 4 hours (sagging mattress in a midlew-laden room 
was still better than the bitter cold outside) and awakened feeling 
completely whipped.  It was a rough night for me.  While 4 hours in the cold 
was at least a partial victory, I also recognize that it was not a true 
victory.  I had been indoors prior to going outside for the sleep; how would 
I ever manage an overnighter on a trail where I would not have the warmth of 
a cabin to emerge from (or more importantly, retreat to)?   

I learned that I can at least *survive* outside with my gear, but I also 
learned that I've got some tweaking to do to make this a workable situation.  
I know that one needs to redefine what constitutes 'comfort,' but this was 
more discomfort than I am able to handle.  'Need a heavier bag.  'Need more 
than that.  (Would a bivy tent work better for me in winter?)

Wisperlight and I were talking about how one can acclimatize to the cold.  I 
think that is a plan I'll have to look into.  You know -- at the start of 
winter, fight the urge to don the sweater and turn up the thermostat.  Attune 
the body better to the cold.  The funny thing is that in Denmark, when it 
gets cold, the houses are traditionally colder and I manage just fine there.  
It must be a different *kind* of cold; I don't know.

Anyway, we hit the trails again today.  Donned the snowshoes and headed out 
for a quick tour of the lower regions of the camp.  It was an incredible day 
for it.  Sun shining and no winds.  It was gorgeous.  Show me where I can 
sign up for the winter daytime hiking thing.  I'm sold.  (I'll work on the 
overnighter on the side.)

Left about 11:45 AM and returned home around 2 PM.  Watched some tv, caught a 
few zzz's, caught up with my emails (only 100 since yesterday!)

End of trip report.

Trailmixup
aka Ice cube

Wisperlight, you gonna post a trip report, too?
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