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Camping Hints -- Winter Camp Part 2
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Many parts of Montana are avalanche country and as winter campers we need to be knowledgeable about these dangers and how to avoid them. Avalanches can move slower than a walk or reach speeds over 100 miles per hour. Keep an eye on the weather reports and be aware of snow storms and other weather systems as they arrive in your area. Avalanches are of two general types: loose snow avalanches and slab avalanches. Most loose snow avalanches come down during or shortly after snow storms. If temperatures are near freezing danger can be avoided by delaying travel a few hours. In colder temperatures the danger lasts longer. On sunny days the most dangerous times are late morning and late afternoon. Slab avalanches are caused because the snow does not adhere to the hill and slab avalanches are started by shock waves from motor vehicles, loud noises or even footsteps. The most dangerous slopes for avalanches are the those that are between 45 degrees and 30 degree angles. If we travel in avalanche country we are going to travel along the tops of the ridges. http://nsidc.org/snow/avalanche/ http://www.isu.edu/outdoor/avahints.htm
Snowshoes and cross-country skis are great for transportation in snow country and a tobaggon is great for transporting gear. Some types of snowshoes are the Alaska snowshoe, the standard Bearpaw, the Green Mountain Bearpaw and the Maine snowshoe. Skis for back country travel are the touring ski (the traditional cross country type ski) and the telemark ski, which is closer in design to the alpine ski and is an excellent ski for cross country use in the mountains. http://www.ustsa.org/new-site/ http://fwp.mt.gov/education/video/view_75.aspx
The Maine snowshoe looks like the Alaska snowshoe but is shorter in length.
For our winter camp kitchen we will not bring fresh foods that spoil easy except for butter, cheese, cookies, brownies, nuts, salami and pepperoni, all of which are OK. We will bring dried foods like dried veggies, dried onions and garlic, sunflower seeds, ramen noodles, oatmeal, granola bars, beans, dry milk, dried fruit, herbs and spices, M & Ms and popcorn. Simplicity is the rule when it comes to our winter camp kitchen. I currently have 1 frying pan and 1 pot for making coffee. One of the books I referenced recommends 1 frying pan and 2 pots -- that is all! I have one metal fork, one metal tablespoon and a sharp knife. Drink 3 to 4 quarts of water every day when you are winter camping.
This is the type of white gas stove that is recommended by some authors. It must sit on a firm, flat surface -- if you put it in the snow it will tip and spill your pot of beans.
For clothing, the experts say wear three layers: an inner layer, an insulation layer and an outer layer. My inner layer is likely a cotton T-shirt. Others may prefer thermal under garments. Of course, your personal preference is going to make the final cut for your choice of what you will wear. I may wear a long sleeve cotton shirt over my cotton T and then a warm vest (gift from Jen) and then a lined, short jacket. When the temperatures really drop my outer layer is an old Greenville High School Ski Team parka. The type I have is made by Bugaboo with a removable felt lining and a water repellent shell. I have never gotten cold wearing this parka. Another thing I want to recommend are the knit insert fingered mittens like the olive drab U. S. Army type because these make good inside glove liners. In northern Maine the proven winter footwear is the felt lined rubber pack boot. My grandfather had a pair of these type of boots with zippers instead of laces and I have liked this type ever since. One more thing to mention: a warm hat will help prevent body heat loss and keep your thinker thawed. http://bugabooparka.com/ http://www.hoffmanboots.com/Category.aspx?CategoryID=20
Keep and open mind and plan for and be ready for emergencies and other contingencies. Know about any regulations for the area where you camp and have any permits required. It is best not to go solo winter camping but sometimes that might not be avoidable. Keep your vehicles in good running condition with periodic preventive maintenance. http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-10832-Billings-Sightseeing-Examiner~y2009m11d6-Camping-Hints-Winter-Camp-Part-1
Gregan Wortmann
Books in the Parmly Billings Library for more information on winter camping: http://ci.billings.mt.us/index.aspx?NID=258
N.O.L.S. (National Outdoor Leadership School) Winter Camping by Buck Tilton and John Gookin; Stackpole Books; Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania (2005); ISBN: 0-8117-3183-9.
Car Camping for Everyone by Mary and Bill Burnham; Globe Pequot Press; Guilford, Connecticut (2009); ISBN: 978-1-59921-505-1.
Walk into Winter by Gary Wolfram; Charles Scribner's Sons, New York (1977); ISBN: 0-684-15597-4.
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