Winter Camping

1. Winter Camping Steve Allen Conference Commander Appalachian Conference, IPHC

2. Objectives • Discuss and Identify: • The factors regarding choosing a site to camp • General guidelines for winter camping • Supplies needed by the outpost • What clothing to choose and considerations of what to wear • Personal items

3. Deciding Where to Camp • Choose location: primitive or park • Ask if camping allowed in Winter at location • Permit requirements • Rules and regulations on trash, fires, firewood, etc. • Fee schedule • Based on site or per person per site • Consider amenities (hot showers, laundry, activities available on site)

4. Preparing to Winter Camp • Tents and Cloths • Army tents work well to accommodate large groups with cots and heaters. • Ventilation helps with use of heaters • Cots with blankets or pads under sleeping bag • Provides insulation better than an air mattress • If sleeping on the ground, need blankets under to provide insulation and on top for warmth

5. Consider • First Aid kit and provider • Nearest medical facilities • Medical release forms for all attendees • Weather forecast • Rope • Shovels • Camera

6. Scheduling • Plan activities • Sledding or sled race • Animal track • Flashlight tag • Bigger the better Snow ball • Hiking • Snow snake • Skiing • Snow Angels • Building Igloos • Snowshoeing • Snowball fights • Consider time for preparing food • Set meal time • Set worship time • Morning • Evening • Plan rotations of groups • Time for relaxation and visitation • Prepare for the schedule to change

7. Outpost • Plan menus • Prepare grocery list • Food • Water • Energy drinks • Energy food (bars, gels, chews, trail mix) • Hand sanitizer

8. Outpost Packing Cooking supplies • Propane tanks and fuel • Propane burners (on stand) • Pots, pans skillets (Cast Iron) • Dishes, bowels for serving • Spoons, utensils for cooking • Dish detergent, towels • Food storage containers

9. Prepare to Travel • Vehicle registration and current tags • Check the antifreeze • Check the spare tire, wrench and jack • Jumper cables • Tow and tire chains • Bag of salt or cat litter • Ice scrapers • Tool kit • Reflective triangles • Non-perishable foods and water • One copy of medical and permission form for each person in the van.

10. Proper Clothing is Key • Layering • Critical, especially with wind chill • Best protection from the cold • Start with light layers, and add layers • Can shed layers through the day and return layers as the temperature drops • Avoid cotton

11. Frostbite • Frostbite is damage to the skin and underlying tissues cause by extreme cold • White or grayish skin • Feels hard, waxy or numb • Blistering or becoming dark or black • Other symptoms: swelling, itching, burning, deep pain during re-warming/healing, “pins and needles” Wearing wet clothes, not wearing enough clothes and high winds increase vulnerability

12. Hypothermia • A medical condition characterized by a low core body temperature • Below 95 degrees • Signs and symptoms • Shivering • Lack of coordination (clumsiness) • Slurred speech or mumbling • Stumbling • Confusion or difficulty thinking • Drowsiness or low energy • Weak pulse • Shallow breathing

13. Fabrics and Brands of Clothing • Wool (check allergies) • Fleece • Coolmax polyester • Thermax • Gore-texwindstopper • Gore-tex • Polarguard • Polypropylene • Down • Thermastat • Smart wool • Underarmor • Avoid cotton

14. Clothing to Pack for 3 Day Campout • 1 set/day of shirts and trousers • 2 Fleece zip-ups or wool pullovers • 2 pair thermal underwear (tops and bottoms) • 4 pair underwear • 4 pair socks • Coveralls or insulated coveralls

15. Accessories to pack • Caps/toboggans – keep 1 dry for night • Hand warmers • Neck scarves and/or face mask (Balaclava) • Multiple pairs of waterproof gloves • Snow boots (waterproof) • Tennis shoes (optional) • Rain and snow gear • Winter coat • Swim trunks and towel

16. Toiletries • Toothbrush and toothpaste • Comb • Lotion for dry skin • Lip protection • Washcloths and towels (2 sets) • Shampoo (biodegradable) • Sun screen • Soap • Sunglasses

17. Personal Items • Bible • Cup, plate, spoon, fork, knife • Camp stool or folding chair • Sleeping bag (Zero degree bag) • Fleece liners • Wool blanket or winter blankets • Sleeping pad

18. Personal Items for Camping • Whistle • Compass or Map • Flashlight and extra batteries • Canteen • Extra money (canteen, laundry) • Survival blanket • Matches or lighter

19. Comfort Items – Optional • Pillow • Personal snacks • Personal sled

20. What Not to Pack • Radio • Anything needing WiFi • Anything needing electrical recharging • Electronic Toys, Games and Music Devices • Noise Makers • Bicycles • Uniforms