Winter SurvivalWinter camping Quinhzee building

Keep hydrated in the winter• Water sources >> water found beneath the frozen

stream or lake• Purify the water, by boiling it >>> water pumps

will freeze and break (at least three to five minutes, adding one minute for every 1,000 feet above sea level).

• Iodine and chlorine ineffective at colder temperatures

• Melt snow >>> too long and will use too much fuel• Eating snow takes up too much energy• Water bottles need to be insulated > leave in the

snow as insulation

Clothing• Layering is so important for winter camping• When you start to sweat, you’re over dressed• You must change your layering to minimize the sweat factor• Change into dry clothes when you’ve stop doing physical

activity

• Examples of clothing materials:• Wool• Fleece• Polypropylene• Wicking material• Shells >> Wind barriers• Down – feathers are insulating

• Radiant Barriers – space blanket is important for sleeping

Body and clothing• Head - you loose 70% of your heat from your

head > heavily vascularized• balaclava, facemask and toque

• Hands - mittens are warmer that gloves • Fingers keep each other warm, rather than being isolated

in gloves• Shells are good • Layering > fingers sweat!!!

• Feet – Wool socks are key, layering is important. Socks that are too tight will make your feet freeze >>> there’s no air around your feet to keep warm

Boots• Boots > insulated boots, with a wool liner that you

can pull out to dry out

Clothing for the day• Morning: activity level is low, all your levels are

needed• Starting to be active: Take off layers till you start to feel

cool, zippers and ventilation are important to keep from sweating

• If you stop for a snack, put on another layer before you get cooled, keep a layer close at hand

• When you fall or when your covered with snow, brush it off immediately, you don’t want the snow to melt and cool you off.

• At the end of the day, you will need to add layers. Add more than you think, stay warm the temperature will continue to drop

Sleeping bag/ sleeping pads• Has to fit your size• Too large > too much air to heat up and lost • Mummy style is the best with a hood• Down or synthetic fibre filled• Minus -20 degrees is a standard temp• Sleeping pad must be (at least) ½ inch thick

FOOD• Burn at least 4500 calories!!• Dehydrated food is best > vegetables/fruit will

freeze• Breakfast > oatmeal!!! Not complicated and fast• Lunch > Eat on the run > snacks, meats, cheese,

if you stop and make a lunch you’ll get cold• Dinner > Start with a soup or hot drink to get

instant warmth, stews or one pot meals are a good follow up and end with another hot drink

Video• Video of survival winter skills• Video: Winter Survival Gear - Tom Murphy - Christ

mas in Yellowstone | Nature

Snow shelter• Quinzee – snow cave• Video