Though camping is a year-round activity, cold-season excursions involve much more preparation than summer trips. Procuring adequate cold-weather camping gear and acclimating yourself to survive in harsher conditions than usual are considered the basic winter camping tips. Without them, you’re far better off staying home than risking damage to your health by prolonged exposure. For the full guide on winter camping safety, read the article below.
Winter Camping Safety – 5 Things to Know
Ensuring your survival in the harshest conditions possible is no joke. Without proper preparation and foresight, things can go awry quickly, with dire – and possibly fatal – consequences. While we have covered some basic seasonal hiking tips before, you’ll want to do your absolute utmost diligence before setting out to camp in winter conditions, where temperatures may fall to ruthlessly low levels
Below, you’ll find essential winter camping safety tips to stay safe and warm:
Wear Insulating Layers
Retaining body heat should be your top priority at all times. Synthetic fibers are best for this, as they have plenty of capability of trapping warmth in between individual layers. Invest in high-performance clothes, including a base layer and mid layer, and top it off with a puff parka or thick shell jacket.
Additionally, make sure your layers offer at least a degree of protection against water. Moisture is the enemy of preserving warmth, as even small amounts of condensation will quickly freeze and lower your temperature. To that end, bringing extra clothes to replace a base layer with something dry is also a wise tactic.
Understand the Risk of Hypothermia
Hypothermia is by far the greatest danger you’ll face while winter camping. It occurs when your body temperature drops too low, though following the rest of these safety tips should suffice for prevention. However, accidents may happen despite prevention methods. Recognizing early signs such as numbness and shivering is crucial for an appropriate response
It’s also worth noting that individuals with severe hypothermia may experience confusion. In this state, the body may start to wrongly feel extremely warm, causing the person to start removing clothes, which can be fatal.
Proper Shelter Building
Setting up a campsite in winter conditions requires more thought than usual. Without proper insulation, cold air entering the interior of your tent can drastically lower the temperature, increasing the risk of hypothermia or, at the very least, leading you to wake up shivering. In addition, when choosing the right tent for camping in winter, opt for something more compact to prevent excess air from entering in case of a leak.
On top of preventing airflow, secure your tent against unexpected, powerful gusts of wind. Extra tent stakes and a windbreak on top of your tent can provide additional stability.
Keep Yourself Nourished
Your body can keep you warm only as long as you provide it with sufficient energy to do so. With colder temperatures surrounding you, maintaining core temperature becomes harder for your body, as it requires more energy, thus burning more calories. Therefore, proper nutrition becomes that much more important when winter camping.
As such, pack sufficient amounts of calorically dense foods and snacks to consume regularly throughout the day. Protein bars, chocolates, and jerky are among the staples but remember to consume warm meals as well. Proper hydration is equally crucial, and replenishing your fluids, especially in the form of broth or hot teas, helps to keep warm and energized.
Use Hot Water Bottles
When heading to sleep, place a hot water bottle with you in the sleeping bag. It’ll produce extra heat at night, keeping you warm for longer. Though it may seem simple, it can make a significant difference.
Essential Cold Weather Camping Gear – Your Must-Haves for Survival
There are additional considerations for winter camping gear needed to guarantee a successful trip:
- Winter Sleeping Bag – Seasonal sleeping bags suitable for winter camping require an appropriate temperature rating certification to shelter you from the cold. A simple 3-season sleeping bag may not cut it.
- All-Season Tent – As explained above, winter tents can’t offer too much room to not allow air to rush in and condensation to form. Opt for practical and compact rather than spacious.
- Tent Brush – Snowstorms happen, and when they do, ice crystals may form on the sides of your tent. You’ll want to brush them off before the heat generated inside the tent radiates outward and causes them to melt.
- Camping Stove – Don’t take starting a fire in icy conditions for granted – sometimes, it may not be possible. Still, warm meals are a must, so rely on a gas or electric stove to meet cooking needs.
The Takeaway
Properly selecting Insulated camping gear and clothes while observing these winter hiking safety tips form the foundation of a safe and rewarding trip. If you’re planning to go on a winter getaway, you’d do best to take this advice to heart, as negligence could put you and your companions in unnecessary danger.
You may also read: Wildlife Safety: How to Respect and Protect Nature While Hiking