Re: [at-l] My first winter overnighter

["Cora Drake" <cora_drake@hotmail.com>]

Minor contribution, (but I could call witnesses!) word is taking a 
near-boiling Nalgene of water to bed (with its lid on REAL tight!) gives 
long-lasting bed-warming.


>From: Trailmixup@aol.com
>To: at-l@backcountry.net
>Subject: [at-l] My first winter overnighter
>Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 22:13:25 EST
>
>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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