Snow overnighter
- Thread starter belti02
- Start date
Liam_j10
Member
Use your skis to stomp the snow down and make a flat area. A tarp is nice for under the tent. Bring a thermal safety blanket and lay it down under you inside the tent (it'll keep you toasty). Bring extra socks cus they probly won't dry well
Boiling snow for water uses a ton of fuel - so be weary of that.
Obv make sure youre not set up in any avy slide paths.
Boiling snow for water uses a ton of fuel - so be weary of that.
Obv make sure youre not set up in any avy slide paths.
ajbski
Active member
If it’s one night, and around -10c, I use my light weight -5c bag and mat with an electric vest and electric socks on the lowest setting. They usually work till the morning. I can fit pretty much everything in a 30l bag.
if it’s multi night or like -20c, bring some much thicker stuff. Down although packs away better and lighter, it tends to stop insulating when it gets wet. It’s very likely the condensation will get almost everything in your tent wet. 50l bag gets me through a couple of nights.
your head is the best at losing heat. I like to sleep in a fleece hat (sometimes two), down puffy hood from bag or coat.
if you’re still having a hard time getting warm, boiling water and throwing it in a Nalgene and in your bag between your legs does wonders and will give you a couple hours of warmth.
If you’re using a jet boil, sleep with your fuel. Iso doesn’t really work if it’s cold.
throw wet stuff into your sleeping bag with you. I generally sleep in my boot liners just so I don’t have to put them on frozen.
if possible, use sticks for your tent/vestibule anchors. The stakes are just too small for powdery snow. You spend more time fixing them and packing down snow than just cutting some small branches.
Don’t depend on dry frozen meals as your entire nutrition. Bring other dry stuff too. My go to is oatmeal, soup powders, hot chocolate. Nuts and granola bars have good energy a fibers too. I always have beef jerky.
find a spot with wind cover. Or dig yourself a wall or something like that.
idk, the first time is nerve racking, but three or four times in and you get used to it and know the deal. Good luck and enjoy. It’ll def be memorable.
if it’s multi night or like -20c, bring some much thicker stuff. Down although packs away better and lighter, it tends to stop insulating when it gets wet. It’s very likely the condensation will get almost everything in your tent wet. 50l bag gets me through a couple of nights.
your head is the best at losing heat. I like to sleep in a fleece hat (sometimes two), down puffy hood from bag or coat.
if you’re still having a hard time getting warm, boiling water and throwing it in a Nalgene and in your bag between your legs does wonders and will give you a couple hours of warmth.
If you’re using a jet boil, sleep with your fuel. Iso doesn’t really work if it’s cold.
throw wet stuff into your sleeping bag with you. I generally sleep in my boot liners just so I don’t have to put them on frozen.
if possible, use sticks for your tent/vestibule anchors. The stakes are just too small for powdery snow. You spend more time fixing them and packing down snow than just cutting some small branches.
Don’t depend on dry frozen meals as your entire nutrition. Bring other dry stuff too. My go to is oatmeal, soup powders, hot chocolate. Nuts and granola bars have good energy a fibers too. I always have beef jerky.
find a spot with wind cover. Or dig yourself a wall or something like that.
idk, the first time is nerve racking, but three or four times in and you get used to it and know the deal. Good luck and enjoy. It’ll def be memorable.
snomaster
Active member
In my handful of winter camping missions, I much prefer properly ventilated snow caves to tents. But you need the pile of snow to sit for 4hrs minimum before carving it out. It's great if you can claim the spot, throw enough snow into a pile, go for a 4 hr tour, come back and dig out your cave [with ventilation].
jompcock
Active member
If your tent is big enough dig a pit by the door so the lowest point in the tent is not where you are sleeping. I have a 10 degree bag and sea to summit liner that claims to lower the rating by 20ºF and when I camped in 0ºF I was way too warm. Wear as much wool as possible, it doesn't smell bad after days of wear and doesn't get super cold when wet like cotton. I put my boot liners at the foot of my sleeping bag so they're not frozen in the morning.