This is nowhere near everything you need to know but is mearly a "small primer" on the absolute basic knowledge and gear you would need to help you survive whether you are an avid or adventurous winter camper or simply get stranded, stuck or your vehicle breaks down while traveling. Here in Utah we experience all four seasons and our winters can be dangerously severe; in cold temperatures, feet of snow, dangerously high winds, snow drifts, ice storms, etc. Here are some of the basics you need to know and should have in case it is need for emergencies or if you are simply going winter camping: Always let someone know how many people are going and where exactly you will be traveling, down to the trails you intend to take. Before leaving, know what the likely weather conditions will be in the area you will be in, how much snow is on the ground, what time the sun will set — and don’t forget to set aside time to break in those new boots; wear them around for at least a week to get them softened up and more comfortable. Make a supply checklist! Everything should be accounted for: proper clothing, shelter, food, water, and personal equipment/medications. The most important word to remember when considering clothing is layers!!! Adjustable layers will allow you to add or subtract insulation as your body temperature fluctuates. It is never a good idea to sweat excessively, since body heat is lost much quicker when wet, so adjust accordin- gly. Wool or synthetic clothing, like pile or polypropylene, are preferable — never wear cotton or jeans! Because up to 70% of the body’s heat can be lost through the head, a warm hat is indispensable. A ski mask is recommended for its versatility. Socks should be worn in layers, a gaiter is necessary to prevent snow from getting in boots, and mittens are much warmer than gloves. Protect against the elements with a well ventilated and weatherproof outer layer for the wind and the wetness, and sunglasses (or goggles) are an absolute must and so is sunscreen for the sun — which will be magnified by a snowy surface and could potentially result in snow blindness and burns. Inexperienced hikers are advised against attempting long trips. It’s better to begin with a day trip or an overnight as a way of testing one’s capabilities. For those embarking on a longer journey, shelter will be a fundamental consideration. You can make a snow cave or igloo for an effective way of getting shelter from the wilderness, although a tent will also work. Dome tents shed snow well and provide a good deal of interior space, which is all the more important in winter when there is extra gear. Just remember to never cook in a tent since this can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Be sure to eat, though. Appetites tend to diminish during wintertime activities, but the body actually needs more fuel than usual. It is also vital to keep hydrated, so put some thought into where to find water — a river, beneath the frozen surface of a stream or lake. Water from such places needs to be purified and the best way to purify water in winter is to boil it (at least five minutes, adding one minute for every 1,000 feet above sea level). Chemical treatments such as iodine and chlorine or purification tablets are rendered ineffective at colder tempera- tures. Another method is to melt snow over the stove, although this will use up fuel (and never eat snow, this takes up too much of your body's energy!). In terms of equipment, make sure to have a sufficiently warm sleeping bag, one that is rated for a temperature lower than that expected, and a ground pad at least one half inch thick. Internal frame back packs are generally better for winter use than external frames, and if this is a backcountry trip, it is likely to require either snowshoes or cross-country skis. This only covers the basics, actually, because anything could happen and one must be prepared for simply everything. When you choose to explore the wilderness, you experience the land on its own terms; there is no guarantee of your safety. Be prepared for any situation. Carefully read all backcountry guidelines and regulations, and know the limit of your ability. Being prepared for a wilderness trip means not only know- ing what to prepare for, but what to do if those preparations go wrong. Dehydration, food poisoning and diarrhea can all be severe, life threatening problems. These are relatively common afflictions that any wintertime traveler should anticipate and be ready to manage. Accidental falls, stove explosions, the col- lapse of a tent due to heavy snow, axe or crampon stabbing injuries. Learn how to identify dangerous crevices hidden beneath the snow as well as loose branches in the trees that, in high winds, could potent- ially fall on your tent in the middle of the night. Be able to recognize and avoid avalanche territory and know what to do during an ice crossing or a sudden whiteout. Don’t travel alone, bring a first aid kit, and, before leaving, be certain to inform a friend or family of the destination and expected time of return.
Winter Survival! Here is a short list of the absolute bare essentials you should have with you whether you are going on a winter camping trip or just driving a long distance where there will be or could be limited people or traffic such as a trip out of town and you are going through a canyon in the winter. Will you be prepared if you wreck because of a hitting a patch of black ice? What if your car breaks down and it is dark or is beginning to get dark? What if you experience heavy fog or a white-out and cannot drive and what would you do if you ran out of gas? 98% of these items will fit in a small plastic, grocery store bag or you can buy a small duffel bag and put everything in it so it is all in one convienent place and throw it in the trunk or behind your seat so you always have it: *Personal medications and meds for diahrrea, naseau and headaches (Pack an extra 7 days worth) *Knife or a multi-tool with a knife in it (such as a Swedish Army Knife) *Matches, lighter or magnesium and flint so you can make a fire 2 rolls of toilet paper Small flash light with good batteries Small dome tent (big ones are less stable in winds and collapse easily with heavy snow. Buy a small, one or two person dome tent. They are easy to set up with one person and being smaller will help keep more of your body heat towards you instead of rising up to the top of a taller tent away from your body) Sleeping bag (I recommend one rated to -20 degrees below zero and most of them now compress very small) Space blanket ($2.50 well spent and is good because they reflect heat and can be seen by night vision equipment if it is being used by rescuers or a rescue helicoptor) 1 or 2 boxes of Granola Bars/Power Bars (they last a long time in storage & are nutricous). Baked, rather than extruded, carbohydrate food bars work well for emergency food. Avoid meat products, because protein requires a lot of water to digest. Ensure that an identity card or tag is included in your equipment. If you are unconscious, rescuers can still determine who you are and contact your family for further infor- mation relative to any health issues. I highly recommend you also have a picture of yourself and of family members for motivation! Small packets of Honey (even if they crystalize, they are still edible and never go bad. Honey is also a natural antiseptic1 so if you get a cut or scrape, put a little bit of honey on it to fight infection. It is good to have because it is a complex sugar and high in carbohydrates which gives you energy. If you can't find the small packets in the store, you can grab a few extra when you eat out at KFC and some of the other fast food resteraunts such as McDonalds....just ask for several honey packets for your biscuit. It can also sweeten your emergency pine needle tea!) Bottled water (I take a gallon milk jug of water with me that has a screw top on it) A hand held, battery operated game (like yahtzee or poker). If you're a nervous person this will help en- tertain you and keep your mind off of the problem. A key part of survival in a bad situation is a posit- ive mental state of mind and being scared and nervous is not good. Play the game, have fun and remember you'll be rescued soon! *These items are absolute, never forget, items that you should always have no matter what!!! Personal meds need no explanation. With a knife/multi-tool you can cut branches for a lean-to type shelter and for a lot of other things that may need to be cut. Matches or a lighter or a magnesium and flint are obviously for making a fire which is essential to survival in cold weather and for cooking any food or boiling your water before you drink it to kill any germs and bacteria which can make you horribly sick and ill, espec- ially the bacteria known as H-pylori which causes extreme abdominal pain, cramps and massive amounts of diahrrea. 1UMF rated Active Manuka Honey or any other honey with a UMF rating of 10 or higher. All honeys have some antiseptic effect because all contain hydrogen peroxide, but they vary widely in potency. Some are no more antibacterial than sugar, while others can be diluted 100 fold and still halt bacterial growth. And while hydrogen peroxide is destroyed when exposed to heat and light, UMF is stable, so active Manuka Honey does not lose its potency in storage. All honey has health benefits. Every spoonful of honey has potent antiseptic and antibacterial qualities including the following: 1. Honey helps reduce chest disorders and coughs. It soothes sore throats. 2. It improves chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, sinus problems and allergies. 3. Honey hastens the healing of wounds. Reduces inflammation. 4. Honey helps sooth the skin and clears many skin disorders. Its amino acids and vitamin C speeds the growth of healthy tissue. 5. Honey facilitates the digestion and assimilation of other foods. If you find yourself in a situation where you're stranded and don't have any food you can make a fire using your "never forgotten" matches or lighter and find a can or use a pop/beer can you have in your vehicle, fill it with water or if you didn't take any, pack the can with snow and melt it and let it boil over your fire. Once the water is boiling throw in a small handfull of green pine tree needles and let them steep for a few minutes. This will have a pine flavor like a tea and is loaded with Vitamin C which will help get you through the night. How much day light is left? Don't know? Do this little, but accurate, tip. If it is getting late in the evening and you need to know how much sun you have left, extend your arm out & bend your hand at the wrist as if you're going to block the sun from your eyes. Hold the top of your index finger to the bottom of the sun and count how many fingers down until they touch the horizon. For every finger that is in the sky and above the horizon you have 15 minutes of day light left. So if all four fingers are in the sky you have 1 hour of day light left. If you have extra room, use your other hand under the first one or just estimate where your hand was and move it down. This can be a key element if you need to set up your tent or make an emergency shelter like a snow cave or a lean-to and to make sure you get a fire going! That is just a bare essentials list but you can take whatever you want or need to in order to suit your own needs for your trip. Even if you are only going for one day or one night you should at least have these with you because the simple fact is you NEVER know when an emergency will arise and these few basic items can help save your life!!!
The Essentials!
