[at-l] Snow camping questions

[kdpo at pacbell.net (Ken Powers)]

I agree with Jim on 1, but I have a different take on 2. If you are melting
the snow through the tent you are losing a lot of valuable heat. I prefer to
put foam mats, stacks of newspapers, thermarests, etc under my sleeping bag
to prevent such heat loss. I still put down a groundsheet and compress the
snow.

Ken

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim and/or Ginny Owen" <spiriteagle99@hotmail.com>
To: <at-l@backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2004 6:39 AM
Subject: [at-l] Snow camping questions


> Amy wrote:
> >1)  When setting up a tent in a snowy area, do you brush/shovel the
> >snow away first?  Do you compact it instead?
>
> If you can brush (or shovel) it away, do so.  If it's too deep for that,
> then compact it.
>
>
> >2) Is a groundsheet important on snow?
> >
>
> Yes - it'll retard both heat loss (not much) and water seepage from the
> snow/ice you melt (with body heat.)   Of course if you trust the tent
floor
> to "really" be waterproof..............  I don't.  Been there, done that
and
> been fooled.
>
> We don't generally use a ground cloth anymore unless there's snow on the
> ground.
>
> Walk softly - and sleep softly on that snow,
> Jim
>
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