Someone once accused me of being crazy for camping in Idaho when it was 25 below zero out. I called them a wimp. In other words sometimes people get a kick out of camping in impossible conditions. This can be a great time if you have the know-how, but a terrible time if you make mistakes. This is a down to earth guide of things to steer clear of.
Don't underestimate the ground. The ground is a amazingly good conductor of heat, this means any contact with it can really suck the warmth out of you. to insulate you from the ground you need a big inflatable pad. Protect yourself because conductive heat loss is not prevented by a tent. Believe me a good pad worth the cost. I thought I could stay warm when it was 18 below zero with my Therm-A-Rest Prolite 3, big mistake, I had frostbite on my toes where they hung over the end, and I was shivering the entire night. Just bring a good pad. Also if you can find it, layering lots of leaves or hay under your tent can create and additional barrier between you and the freezing cold earth below.
Put your water bottles inside your sleeping bag. I didn't think to do this on another different outing and froze my Camelback, which split it along the side, so not only was my water now frozen ice, but my Camelback was destroyed. Since then, I have learned, when it is really cold, to only bring Nalgene's and keep them warm in my sleeping bag over night. Eating snow for water is dangerous, there is no good purification method for it, and it can lower your core temperature and make you really miserable.
Bring a stove you know you can light. On a camp-out when it was -15 I realized that my alcohol stove wouldn't ignite. This meant that I had no way to turn snow and ice into potable water, not to mention no way to make my dehydrated food. Freezing, hungry, and dehydrated I went to my local gear shop and bought a canister stove, because they will light in any weather. I chose the MSR Pocket Rocket.
Bring a bag made for your conditions. A good sleeping bag is never more important then when it is below zero, I once tried to stretch my 15 degree bag to a simple -5. I am almost positive I almost died that day. Before the night was through I had pulled in my belay parka, 3 beanies, two pairs of pants and my down booties, and still wasn't warm enough. It seemed like my bag wasn't even warming me. Lying there, freezing rather than sleeping, I told myself never to make that mistake again. Before buying a new bag, I built a foam insert bag and a down cover to extend the range of my bag, this was a good option in a budget situation, but has nothing on my ultra warm bag.
Get a fourth season tent. That mesh ultralight backpacking tent is great for going on a nice stroll when it is 70 degrees, not even going to help when it is below 0. Spend the money, get a fourth season tent. Black Diamond and The North Face make some great options. Because they are built for the wind and the cold, they are indispensable in these types of situations.
Remember you can go home. Too many times I have insisted that I could survive in the cold, even without the proper necessities. Lets be honest, no one is going to blame you when you come home and it is -20, but they just might if you get frostbite on your nose, or fingers and toes like I have. Trust me it is not worth saying that you are that tough. Even Shackleton didn't want frostbite.
This article was written by Brian Tecklenburg. For more outdoors excitement check out www.moosejaw.com. One of the best things you can do for your health.
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