(Photo: thinair28/E+ via Getty Images) Key Gear for Cold Hikesįace shield Balaclavas are often overkill when you’re on the move. Pack a camp towel to wipe any frost and water droplets and frost that do form on the tent ceiling.
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Prevent condensation. Open fly vents or crack the door to allow a cross breeze. Have a midnight snack. Wake up cold? Eat a candy bar. (Just don’t cover your mouth, or risk waking up with a wet, frozen layer over your face.) Really cold? Cover the bag’s hood opening with a puffy jacket. Wrap a shell around the foot of your bag for extra warmth and condensation protection. Drape a puffy jacket or vest around your shoulders, like a giant neck gaiter. That way, you won’t crush their insulating power. Spread extra layers over you in the bag instead of wearing them, says Fierer. Wear a hat and make sure your bag is sealed.Īdd insulation. 1. Go to bed warm. Do sit-ups inside your bag to generate body heat.
Cook and eat, then warm up again as you finish the miles to camp.īring an extra pad. Double up on ground insulation: Put a closed-cell foam mat under a full-length, inflatable pad. Wear your bag to dinner. You’re suddenly sedentary, and temps are falling: Bring your sleeping pad and bag to the kitchen area, or retreat to the tent while your rice is cooking.Ĭook before you camp. In extreme cold, break up your sedentary evening hours by stopping for dinner an hour from camp. Limit breezes. Dig or stomp a tent platform six inches deep, so the edge of your rainfly is below the snow’s surface. ( Get inspired with our favorite hot chocolate recipes.) Then brew a hot, sweet drink to refuel, rehydrate, and reheat. In CampĬhange and sip first. When you hit camp, swap wet layers for dry to limit heat loss. Use chemical hand warmers. These have myriad uses beyond saving cold digits: Stuff them in interior pockets to increase core temp pre-warm a sleeping bag by tossing one in an hour before bed thaw frozen boots in the morning boost stove output by taping one to the canister. Always change into dry socks if your feet get sweaty. Keep your feet warm. Prone to cold toes? Cut a square from a closed-cell foam pad (light and cheap) to insulate your feet during breaks. Sit on your pack. Conserve energy during rest stops: Sit on your pack (read: insulation) with your back to the wind. Keep energy bars from freezing by storing them with a hot-water bottle or hand warmer. At breaks, put on an extra layer right away–don’t wait until you’re chilled.Įat fast. Stash snacks in each pocket of your puffy jacket, so that when you put it on during breaks you can refuel without digging around. Take short breaks. Maintain the body heat you’ve already generated by resting briefly (and more frequently if needed). Inhale through your nose and the air will warm up before it hits your lungs. Stash your puffy jacket and a shell in the top of your pack.īreathe through your nose. In temps below 20☏, some hikers experience chest pain from cold air. When you’re not wearing a hat or gloves, stow them in pockets, down your shirt, or clipped to a shoulder strap. Keep layers handy. You’ll take them on and off frequently. Starting to perspire? Slow down or strip. Stay dry. In extreme cold (below zero), manage your layers and pace with this legendary Arctic adage in mind: You sweat, you die. Instead, do jumping jacks or jog in place so you’re not chilled for the first 10 minutes. Lose layers. If you overdress at the trailhead, you’ll soon be sweaty. Get ready for a chilly trip with this advice. Learning to thrive in it is the key to unlocking winter adventures.
If you live somewhere with four distinct seasons, cold is just a fact of life.
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