Now that the temperatures are dropping quickly, it's time to quit camping for the year. Or is it?
Winter camping can be an incredible experience, with sights and activities to delight the senses.
The key is to stay warm, especially at night. Here are eight keys to staying warm on those
frigid nights in the wilderness:
1. Get a warm sleeping bag. For a long time down was the standard for the combination of
warmth and light weightedness. And down is a still a good choice for those two reasons. On the
other hand, down has its drawbacks, and chief among those is its ability to retain warmth when
wet. Synthetic fills, such asPolarGuard 3D, Lite Loft, Hollofil, or Quallofil will retain loft and
warmth even when wet.
2. Get a good sleeping pad. Key to staying warm is getting yourself off of direct contact with
the cold, hard ground. For warmth, avoid air mattresses and stick with a closed-cell foam pad
or foam-filled inflatable.
3. Eat something high in calories prior to going to bed. This fuel will continue to feed your body
long after you lay down in the bag, helping you to stay warm during the night. If you wake up
cold in the middle of the night, eat another snack. Caution: in bear country, don't keep food in
your tent.
4. Wear a stocking hat to bed. Most body heat is lost through the top of the head. As far as
other clothing goes, a nice clean set of long underwear or pajamas will help you to keep warm
during the night. Don't go to bed with sweaty or wet clothing. It would be better to be naked
than to do that.
5. Get warm before going to bed. A brief but quick hike around the camp or some calisthenics
would be great. Don't exercise enough to sweat, but just enough to get warm, then climb into
your sleeping bag.
6. Fluff your sleeping bag before going to bed. When the microfibers in the bag get compressed,
they can lose their warmth. Fluffing increases the air pockets in between the fibers and gives
the bag more warming ability.
7. If your feet get cold, consider buying an "elephant foot" or "half bag". This is a bag that's
designed to give your feet just a little extra warmth and can be fit inside your regular sleeping
bag.
8. Use the "buddy system". Sleeping in the same bag with your significant other can help keep
both of you warm. Shared body heat is actually one of the best ways to retain heat.
So there you go. Winter camping can be a great way to have a lot of fun, and reducing
exposure to freezing temps at night is key to enjoying your wilderness experience. Planning
ahead is the most important thing you can do for a quality outdoors experience.
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