Cold

"The goal of life is living with nature"

Cold Weather

Introduction ... ... I have spent a lot of time in the extreme cold in the mountains and inside the Arctic Circle, in both Military and civilian roles. My favourite time to be outdoors is when it's cold and crispy. I hate the wet and damp! but one has to be ready for it. I have two main categories of cold weather. Wet and Dry. There's many variations inbetween and it's possible to have them all in one day, especially in the UK hill areas! I hope the tips below will make you more comfortable in the cold. They are mainly aimed at being in the moors, hills or mountains. ... Mick Fitzpatrick

A Hot water bottle ... ... In your sleeping bag is a very welcome luxury.

Bad weather ... ... If the weather is looking really bad. Stay at home

Communications ... ... Can be very difficult in remote places. A satellite communications device might be the best money spent!
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Early start ... ... as the days get shorter you need to start your day hike sooner. If you're camping the last thing you want to be doing is putting up you tent in the dark when it's cold!

Eat and Drink ... ... A LOT! You need those extra calories to keep warm.

Eat before sleep ... ... A warm high calorie meal before sleeping will help boost warmth.

Everything takes ... ... A lot longer in the cold and snow. Budget for that when you are moving from A to B.

Fuel ... ... Take extra fuel. I normally double the amount I would normally take. You need more hot food/drinks and it will be very useful in an emergency.

Gaiters ... ... Don't think about wearing them, wear them coz you'll need them.

Hypothermia ... ... It can creep up and bite you. Learn to spot the symptoms early:

Shivering - Pale, cold and dry skin – Skin and lips may turn blue or grey (on black or brown skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet) - Slurred speech - Slow breathing - Tiredness or confusion
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Keep waterproofs ... ... Quickly and easily accessible. You really don't want to be digging deep into your pack in heavy or even mild rain

Layer up ... ... Inside your sleeping bag. Not everyone can afford/justify an expensive winter sleeping bag. Wearing dry/clean clothing in your bag really will help boost the warmth.

Layers ... ... A few layers of clothing is better than one thick layer. Why? They trap warm air between them. You can also add/remove layers as the temperature rises/drops. Most decent outdoors clothing manufacturers take away the guess work by naming their layers in a logical sequence.

Let people know ... ... Where you are going to camp. Better still leave a route card

Loft/Shake your ... ... Sleeping bag and any other qulited gear before using. More essential with down filled items.

Long nights ... ... In the tent during winter. Take a book etc. 10 hours+ in a tent is a looooong time!

Microspikes ... ... Or crampons are pretty essential kit. The difference a pair of minispikes can make on even mildly icy surfaces is amazing!

Mountain Rescue ... ... Are very busy people. Why make them busier? If in doubt stay low or maybe go when the weather is better!

Navigation ... ... GPS are the biz, but electrical devices loose power quickly in the cold. Learn to navigate with a map & compass. They will never run out of power.

Pack size ... ... Your pack will be heavier and bulkier in the colder weather. It's just how it is.

Packing list ... ... A methodical and well practised packing list will help you to stop forgetting stuff
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Pee ... ... Before getting into your sleeping bag. DO NOT hold it in if you need another during the night. This is where a 'P' bottle comes in handy!

Practice ... ... Close to home or in your garden if you have never camped in harsh conditions

R-Value ...

... The higher it is the colder the sleeping mat will go down to.
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Remove ... ... Wet clothing as soon as possible.

Shelter ... ... Even if you're not camping some form of emergency shelter is essential

Stay low ... ... Stay safe. If the weather is looking really bad in the hills. Drop down and be safer.

There is no rush ... ... Forget about big mileage or getting there fast. Just enjoy every foot step. It will be a good workout.

Transport ... ... To get to more remote places can be a nightmare. Check road and rail conditions, they aren't always open!

Warm feet ... ... Warm you. Tent/bothy boots are superb for the end of the day to get out of boots and keep your feet cosy.

Warmers ... ... Like handwarmers etc really do give an extra boost. They can also keep your electrics warm!

Water bottles ... ... Keep them insulated and warm

Weather Forecast ... ... Always get one before heading out
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Winter skills ... ... If you're getting out a lot in cold weather, try and get on a winter skills course. They are money well spent
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