Snow Camp Wit and Wisdom

from Troop 464’s 1996 Venture

 Patrol Snow Training Sessions

 

Training by Mike Brandt

Summarized by Dave Rozelle

 

·        Be Prepared

o       Get Exercise - Especially adults

o       Conditioning hikes:  minimum 2 backpack trips

o       Day hike to a peak with backpack loaded with weight for training

-         1500 to 2000’ gain

o       Practice!!!

o       Most accidents don’t just happen. They’re caused.

-         Don’t let yourself get too tired

·        Winterize your car

o       See notes. Also Auto Club has info on winterizing your car

·        Make Trail Rules Clear and Set in Stone

o       i.e. put pack down when you leave the trail - that way the leader running sweep can wait.

·        Ski poles are good for balance

·        Everyone needs to carry a map - at least Xerox copies of the topographic maps

·        Always carry extra fuel, stoves, extra clothing

·        Cancel the campout/hike if a storm is coming – it’s not worth it

·        Treating all water, even melted snow

o       Boil water

o       Filter

o       Iodine treatment

·        Sunscreen - SPF 15+ at least, 25 recommended - also lip protection (chap stick) w/ sunscreen

·        Eye protection – use good UV blocking sunglasses - side flaps for serious hikes

·        Avalanches - if any danger be sure to hike early in the morning.

·        White outs - always know where you are and how to get out.

·        Gloves - poly pro days, wool for nights

·        Bring a good 7 to 9mm rope good for mountaineering

o       Don’t need a 11mm

o       50 to 75 ft OK

·        Mountain sickness - typically above 8000’ - headaches, fatigue, vomiting, nausea

 

First Aid

·        Be trained & have a book with you

·        Mountain Miseries:

o       Sunburn

o       Blisters

o       Sprains

o       Altitude sickness, (pulmonary edema)

o       Head injuries (no meds, treat for shock, evacuate!)

 

o       Hypothermia –

§         Core temperature drops

§         You need a thermometer that goes to 74°F

§         Get warm liquids (don’t burn, chocolate, warm jell)

§         Get dry

§         Watch out for each other - inadequate clothing, changes of weather

o       Frostbite

§         If they thaw they can’t refreeze or else you’ll lose them

§         Get to medical help

o       Frost Nip - skin color change - hat

o       First Aid Books:

§         Peter Hacket “Mountain Sickness” (Mountain Travel)

§         “Snow Camper’s guide”

§         “Mountaineering First Aid” **

§         “Mountaineering Medicine”

 

Gear:

·        Packs

o       For Winter camping/climbing - internal pack frame better but external frame fine for occasional trips

·        Make (and use) a Pack Check List (one attached)

o       Cross off items not necessary

o       Revisit to shave weight

o       Check list before leaving home and again at trailhead

·        Canteen - need two

o       one plastic bottle w/ insulation

o       one a small steel thermos
(thermos is for warm water for night)

o       Bury plastic water bottle deep in your pack at night to keep from freezing

o       Need to drink LOTS of fluids!

o       Leads to night bathroom problems

o       Suggestion: keep a small bottle 8 - 10 oz with you at night ( be sure to mark well!)

·        Cups

o       Brings two insulated cups for eating (Auto cups with non-spill tops)

o       Spoon tied to the cup

·        Use TWO sleeping pads!!

o       Thermarest + Insulite pads good

o       More insulation helps keep you warm

o       DON’T use a Cot or Air mattress – the cold air circulating under you will make you freeze

·        Boots

o       Leather - seal well!! (use snow seal – several coats at least)

 

·        Socks

o       synthetic - NOT COTTON!!

o       One per each day + one for night (extra if you expect to get wet)

o       Small bottle of foot powder (desenex) works well to dry feet out

o       Damp socks can be placed between sleeping pads to dry some

 

·        Gloves

o       Poly Pro to start + cover

o       Wool for more protection -  Wood Mittens for really heavy duty

o       Waterproof Shell over gloves – keeps dry and blocks wind. Cinch down & keep in heat

·        Hats

o       Necessary to keep from losing heat from head

o       Balaclava’s good, stocking caps OK

 

·         Ditty Bag (“essentials”)

·        Lip balm (chap stick) SPF 15+

o       tape to string & wear around neck!

·        Suntan lotion SPF 25+

·        Sunglasses or snow goggles - side shades good

·        Compass & Map

·        Flashlight/Headlamp - reverse batteries so you don’t accidentally run down

·        Moleskin for blisters

·        Towelette’s

o       Use to wash before you eat. Always!

o       Also used for “showers” - Take lots!

·        Knife

o       Tie to pouch or keep on cord
Pliers types (Leatherman) are good

·        Matches in waterproof container

·        First Aid Kit

 

·        Pants

o       Running tights – lycra

o       Rain/windpants/goretex/snow pants

o       Long underwear/hiking shorts

·        Underwear - capilene - lightweight - expedition weight

·        Pack clothes in plastic bags (old sports chalet bags or large Zip-Lock are good)

·        Sleeping bags

o       20° synthetic at least

o       Clean bags regularly

o       Your metabolism/food intake can effect your sleeping warmth (chocolate-warm liquids).

·        Shirts

o       Poly Pro, Capilene - next to skin

·        Vest - PolyPro/down – layer

·        Pile coat

o       Wind jacket/Goretex/Ski jacket/Parka

o       Goretex if possible- pit zips good

o       Idea: put tabs on zippers to aid opening w/ gloves

·        “Towel”

o       Cotton washcloth is all you need

o       Pack Towl is good if you have one

·        Bandanna

·        “Sit Pad” square of insulite

·        Extras - down booties

·        Bring a change of clothes & snacks for the return trip in the car

o       Keep separate from your trip clothes

 

Crew Gear

·        Tents

o       3 season troop tents OK

o       Pegging – use snow stakes or cross two sticks and tie to tent steak loop with cord (be sure to bring cord you don’t mine cutting up)

o       Tamp down snow around sticks and let sit before applying force

·        Stoves

o       Bring extra stoves and fuel bottles

o       Duct tape wrapped around fuel cans will keep hands from freezing to the can

o       Support stove on insulite or wood pad (we found insulite melts)

o       fuel - 1 pint/cook group (4-5 people) + 1 extra (for two meals during snow camp)

·        Pots

o       Two per stove

§         Bring and use lids!!!

·        Snow shove

o       Needed to prepare tent & cooking areas

o       Heavy plastic kinds are good

 

 

Winter Camp Menus and Cooking:

·        Need two large cups of food for each meal

o       4000 to 6000 calories - to stay warm

·        Menus ideas

o       Soups!

o       Breakfasts:

§         Swiss Mocha Coffee/hot cocoa

§         Dry milk

§         Granola bars

§         Wheatina

§         Oatmeal

·        2 packs/person each breakfast

·        margarine if really cold

§         Dry fruit (banana chips)

§         Stay away from Eggs and hash browns (messy & complicated)

o       Lunches:

§         Crackers/cheeses/Liver Pate/Salami

§         “Cotlit” Fruit bars  -  Power Bars

§         Gorp (nuts, raisins, M&Ms etc.)  Trail Mix  for all! candies - girl  scout cookies

o       Dinners:

§         Soups (at least one)

§         Box macaroni & cheese, (easy to cook but messy to clean)

§         Rice meals - cook in bag

·        NOT real spicy meals - spices not good in backcountry

§         White rice

§         Schillings packets

§         Tortalini

§         “Milk Shakes” (??? & Gatorade)

§         Top ramen

§         Canned chicken & Veges

§         Stove top stuffing(add peas, corn, can chicken, chicken bouillon cube)

§         Instant potatoes

§         Instant puddings (mix in canteen) – pre-mix with instant milk

 

o       General Food/Cooking Information

§         Seal-a-meal bags good - cook up at home - bag – freeze

·        Mr. Rozelle has one for our crew

§         Dry milk - “Milkman” brand only kind w/ butterfat (i.e. calories to keep you warm)

§         For a Long Term Camp you need 3000+ calories/day, cold 4000 to 6000/day in the cold

§         Always have extra food!

o       Drinks:

§         Instant Crystal Lite - Summers OK but not in winter - you need the sugar

§         Beef Bouillon  -  hot cocoa  -  Instant soups (packets)  -  cider

o       Blizzard Meals (i.e. no cooking - stay in sleep bags - food digests better if you’re warm)

§         Beef jerky -(teriyaki good)

§         Fig bars  - Granola bars

§         Gorp