Dress like an onion. As described in my story in the Sunday Outdoors section Feb. 10, the layering of clothing (how much and when) coupled with the [...]]]> “Tips for Winter Campers” By Peter Antos-Ketcham of the Green Mountain Club appeared in the Rutland Herald.  Pete Antos-Ketcham is GMC’s Education Coordinator and expert spokesperson on winter camping.

Dress like an onion. As described in my story in the Sunday Outdoors section Feb. 10, the layering of clothing (how much and when) coupled with the clothing material are critical elements of a safe and pleasant experience. What you need to remember is the axiom, “Dress like an onion.” What this essentially means is dress in layers, three distinct layers to be exact. Start with a base layer of long under wear made from wool or one of the many synthetic materials out there like polypropylene. This base layer serves to “wick” or transport moisture away from your skin which helps to keep you warm and dry. Next, add an insulation layer of wool or synthetic materials to help trap and keep the warmth you generate against you. A good example would be fleece pants and a wool sweater. Your top layer should be a waterproof and windproof shell made of nylon or another synthetic and breathable material. Breathable fabric is key to help keep your moisture levels down.

Stay comfortably cool. Perspiration management is the name of the game. Being able to add and remove these layers depending on your activity level is essential. At all times you should aim to be “comfortably cool.” Carry extra clothing in case you or someone in your party becomes wet from sweat, melting snow, or an accidental fall into a stream.

Put the summer hiking boots away for the season. The right footwear is essential to safe trip. Summer hiking boots will not keep your feet warm and dry in the winter (neither will sneakers, for that matter). You’ll need to get a pair of insulated boots.Felt-lined pac boots are sufficient for lower elevation snowshoe travel. These boots have an insulated removable liner with a leather and rubber outer shell. For higher elevation travel or travel above treeline, a plastic mountaineering or “double boot” may be advisable. They have the appearance of a rigid downhill ski boot but are designed to flex for hiking. They have a synthetic insulating liner that can be removed and used as a bootie for inside a shelter or tent. The outer plastic shell is waterproof and is perfect for wearing crampons.

Fuel your body. Plenty of food and water are critical to maintaining energy levels and warding off the two main threats of cold weather: hypothermia and frostbite. Bring as much water as you think you will need, keeping in mind that the demands of breaking trail may cause you to work harder than you do in the summer. Your natural inclination is not to drink when it is cold – fight this! Don’t let the cold weather keep you from drinking. Not only will you sweat from the exertion, but the cold, dry air will sap moisture from your body with each breath.

Keep your water bottles in an old wool sock or an insulated container to prevent freezing. Fill your bottles with warm water before you leave to help slow the freezing process. Another trick I employ is to keep my water bottles upside down. Water freezes from the top down so if I keep my bottles upside down the area around the lid will be the last to freeze. If you intend to be on a long day hike make sure you bring along a stove so you can melt snow for additional water.

Food is largely personal preference with hikers. I will say that winter outdoor activities are not for diet food. Bring plenty of high-calorie snacks like gorp, chocolate, cheese, and peanut butter to keep your internal stove cranking out the heat. Another way to get sugar and keep warm is to bring along a thermos of hot chocolate or hot Tang. Tea with sugar is good as well but avoid caffeinated tea as caffeine dehydrates you and dehydration can hasten the onset of hypothermia.

Know where you are going. Another key area of winter trip planning is to know the area you intend to travel well. Go there in the summer and become as familiar with it as possible. In winter the trail and the woods will look very different. Pay attention to the height and frequency of blazing; signs and blazes could be buried in the deep snows. Remember that access and bail-out options could be more challenging in the winter. Contact the GMC to find out if the trailheads to your route and your potential bail out trails are plowed in the winter. What is a short two-mile bail out to a road in the summer could be a much longer ordeal in the winter if the parking area and road to it are not plowed. Make sure you plan for all potential contingencies and how you will get out of the woods in an emergency.

Keep an “eye on the sky.” Weather is a greater concern in the winter. Make it a habit of frequently checking the weather forecast because, as we all know, it changes rapidly in Vermont. Elevation influences temperature. A forecast of 0 degrees in the valley can translate into -20 on the higher summits. You’ll lose three to five degrees Fahrenheit for every 1000 feet of elevation climbed. When you add in the factor of wind chill and exposure above treeline, the temperature could be much lower. One thing winter hikers are apt to forget is that it can rain every month of the year. If rain is in the forecast or there is a chance of rain, reconsider your trip. It will be nearly impossible to stay warm when soaked from a rainstorm. Always carry a waterproof shell to help you keep dry should you get caught in an unexpected winter rain.

Hypothermia-know the signs. Hypothermia is the potentially deadly reduction in body core temperature. Hypothermia is brought about by dehydration, fatigue, wet clothing, and cold temperatures. We all know the best way to deal with hypothermia is to prevent it. The best way to do this is to stay well hydrated, well fed, and dry through proper clothing choices and conscientious moisture management (minimize sweating). Chemical heat packs and hot water bottles placed inside clothing can do wonders if you have a hard time staying warm. Another key to avoiding hypothermia is not exhausting yourself. Start out by taking short hikes and working your way up to climbing bigger summits when you are in better condition. Some warning signs for hypothermia include: the inability to keep fingers and toes warm, uncontrollable shivering, stumbling, extreme fatigue, trouble with fine motor skills (e.g., unzipping a jacket), slurred speech, vision problems, forgetfulness, confusion, and fainting. I tell folks to watch out for the “umbles.” Pay attention for mumbling, fumbling, and stumbling. Hypothermia is insidious and can overtake you without you realizing it. If you find someone in your party is in the beginning stages of hypothermia the best course of action is to stop whatever it is that is causing the cooling of that person’s core. Get him or her into dry clothing, allow time to rest, eat, and drink warm, (but not hot) sweet fluids. This should help reverse the trend to the point that they can travel and you can evacuate immediately. When winter hiking, team up with another person and check in with each other frequently because you may not be able to recognize that you are in the beginning stages of hypothermia. Once it sets in it robs you of your ability to problem solve and reverse the situation. The GMC recommends that the minimum number in a winter hiking party is four people – up to ten is ideal. This allows folks to pair up and check in with each other.

Frostbite-know how to prevent it. Like hypothermia, frostbite is another big concern. It is the localized freezing of bodily tissues and, like hypothermia, frostbite can be prevented. The best ways to prevent it is to be aware of the conditions that cause it and avoid them. Avoid exposing skin, getting wet, wearing clothing that constricts, or dehydrating yourself. Also be cautious of the wind and take note of previous frostbite injury. It is worth checking with people in your party to see if anyone has had frostbite before. Generally people who have been frostbitten are more susceptible to cold injuries. Here is a mnemonic from the ADK’s Winterwise – A Backpacker’s Guide: To prevent frostbite wear WILD (Windproof, Insulating, Loose, and Dry) clothing and watch out for DAMP (Dehydration, Altitude, Medications, and Previous injuries). Very mild frostbite or as it is more commonly known, frostnip, can be re-warmed in the field and covered to prevent refreezing. More serious frostbite should not be re-warmed in the field rather these folks should be evacuated as soon as possible. The potential for refreezing is high and studies have shown that the damage from freezing, thawing, and refreezing is worse than if the frostbite was left alone until it could be treated in a hospital.

Know first aid. Ultimately the best way to protect yourself from winter medical concerns is to get basic training in prevention and wilderness first aid. The GMC frequently offers Wilderness First Aid courses and we highly recommended it for anyone who travels in the backcountry regardless of the season.

Walk lightly…. The means by which you will travel over deep snow is as an important consideration as your clothing. Unless a trail is very well packed or only covered with a few inches of snow, you’ll need snowshoes or skis so that “post-holes” are not left in the trail. When post holes are frozen and filled in with fresh snow they become a tripping hazard for other hikers. Post holes have also been found to hasten the melting on snow on a trail on warm sunny days. Post-holing is extremely fatiguing and unpleasant. With today’s lightweight aluminum snowshoes, safe winter travel is easier than ever and trails can remain post-hole free. Most areas  are more appropriate for snowshoes than skis but there are many areas that make for fine backcountry skiing and touring. Climbing skins will likely be necessary for many ascents along the trail.

Leave No “Waste.” Leave No Trace practices are just as applicable in the winter as during the rest of the year. The most important area of Leave No Trace in winter is protecting water quality. Always bring a shovel to dig out privies on the trail in the winter and use them. If no privy is available, use your shovel to dig down to bare ground and dispose of your waste in the “cathole” fashion, if possible. Make sure you are 250 feet (75 adult paces) away from trails and water. The cold weather will preserve your waste until spring. Make sure you take the time to dispose of it properly so as not to have it appear in trails or campsites in the spring when the snow melts.

Preventing cabin fever. Winter can seem to be a long season and outdoor adventures are a great way to keep cabin fever at bay. Are you new to winter travel? Winter can be a dangerous time to be in the mountains but by planning ahead, and preparing properly, a winter outing in the back country can be a safe and enjoyable experience.

Please keep the following in mind when planning your outing:

• Trails marked with blazes, may be difficult to see against a snowy background and frequently buried beneath the snow.
• Deep snow may obscure all signs of the trail. Topographical maps, a compass, and the knowledge how to use them are essential.
• Daylight hours are short in the winter. Darkness may come on suddenly. Begin your trip early in the day and be prepared with a headlamp just in case.
• Stay alert for the signs of hypothermia and frostbite. Know the signs and symptoms and how to treat them before you set out. Consider taking a Wilderness First Aid class.
• For safety, never hike alone in winter. Plan on a group size of four to ten people.
• Be prepared to keep warm with nothing more than the equipment you carry. Never count on a wood fire or stove to keep you warm.
• Plan to encounter winter weather at the higher elevations anytime from early fall through late spring.
• Use skis or snowshoes. Post-holing is tiring and makes the trail unpleasant and dangerous for the next hiker.
• If you are not an experienced winter hiker, make your initial trips day hikes in areas that you are familiar with from your summertime hiking.
• Go on trips with experienced winter hikers or sign up for an Introductory Winter Hiking and Backpacking class.
• Dress in layers like an onion and add and remove clothes to minimize sweating.
• Eat and drink frequently. Dehydration hastens the onset of hypothermia.
• Properly dispose of your waste.

Suggested Reading: AMC Guide to Winter Camping (2nd edition) by Stephen Gorman and ADK’s Winterwise – A Backpackers Guide (2nd edition) by John Dunn. Additional books include Backcountry Ethics and Wilderness Ethics by Laura and Guy Waterman and Winter – Notes from Montana by Rick Bass.

The original article can be read here.

“Pine Orchard Trail begins on private land in James Flater’s front yard leads to a knoll with an unusual history. A very old road that traversed the knoll dates back to the early nineteenth century. Parts of the forest [...]]]> From Adirondack Day Hikes: Pine Orchard by Barbara McMartin reprinted in Adirondack Sports and Fitness, June 2000.

“Pine Orchard Trail begins on private land in James Flater’s front yard leads to a knoll with an unusual history. A very old road that traversed the knoll dates back to the early nineteenth century. Parts of the forest along the road were logged a long time ago and, in fact, there are parts that today appear as if they never had been logged. For a strange reason Pine Orchard was spared. Nature had destroyed the forest on the knoll with a tremendous windstorm. These winds came from the hurricane of 1815 and they leveled the knoll. Pines reestablish best when the soil has been disturbed and thus many pines sprouted on the knoll. They were of course too small to attract early lumbermen. Then nature dealt a second blow. Sometime, when the trees here were fairly small, a blight hit. The trees kept growing, but because the tops of many were gone, the trees branched, making two or three trunks in a clump. Now, lumbermen don’t want pines that do not have tall, straight, single trunks. So they never cut these trees. They probably would not have logged them anyway, because sometime early in the nineteenth century this land became Forest Preserve, meaning that no trees could ever be cut there again. So, this short walk will lead you to a stand of the largest pines you will find in the southern Adirondacks. One tree is so large that three people, arms outstretched, cannot reach around it. Other trees are filling in among the old pines. On the southern slopes you will find spruce trees of enormous size for spruce (they never get much above 30 inches in diameter). On the knoll’s northern slopes you will find magnificent hemlocks. Also interspersed among the pines are large maples that came along after the pines were big enough to shade them when they were young.

To find the trail, drive to Wells on NY 30 and just before the road turns to cross the Sacandaga River, head straight ahead on Griffen Road. Follow that road for 0.7 mile and turn right on Windfall Road and follow it for just over a mile to a fork. Take the right fork and follow it for two miles. The dirt road narrows and climbs until you see a sign at the side of the road “visitors parking.”

Mr. Flater, retired Colonie police chief, and his family have put that there for walkers. Park and continue on the road, following it across his front lawn until you reach state land. Just beyond the state land boundary, a snowmobile trail comes in on your right and the marked trail continues generally northeast. The first 0.8 mile of trail is generally downhill through young forest to a bridge, then the trail winds through more mature forest to a second stream crossing in another 0.6 mile. After the trail makes a sharp bend to the northwest, it begins to climb the knoll. You will find the tallest pines near the top of the knoll.

The walk to cover the knoll and return is less than five miles, quite easy, and should take under three hours. You won’t find much better stand of forest in the Adirondacks that is so accessible.”

WinterCampers.com made this our camping destination on Jan 26-27 as Matt, Mark, Len Sparky and I dragged in the tipi for a pleasant overnight in the woods. Given the easy trail description Matt and Jim experimented with sleds. The Otter II sled proved just as easy to pull and with it’s deeper tray was less likely to get snagged on branches and overturn than the Paris Company Expedition Sled.

It was an easy hike in, below Matt confers with Len, Mark and Sparky.

Once we were among the large white pines we set up camp. These trees are 300 year old giants that centuries ago would have warranted protection by the English Crown for the sole use of the mast makers of the Royal Navy; straight-grained white pines six feet in diameter and perhaps two hundred feet tall. Mark got cozy with a white pine on the hike in.

We arrived at our campsite shortly after noon and had our lunches. While most of us packed our own lunch at least one newly wed had theirs packaged and labeled.

While Len prepared a fire site, Mark & I cut wood and Sparky and Matt set up the tipi.

After much coaxing and the sacrificing of the small dry tipi wood, Firemaster Len finally got a decent blaze and we sat around the fire until 9pm.

There was a little snow during the night which periodically slid down the tipi leaving slightly banked sides in the morning.

We packed up, marched out and had a great breakfast at the diner in Wells.

The truth is: “This adage was probably based on an infant’s head size, which is a much greater percentage of the total body [...]]]> This is always worth a discussion as there is widespread misconception regarding heat loss through one’s head.  CNN published a set of 10 health myths including this one on heat loss through one’s head.

The truth is: “This adage was probably based on an infant’s head size, which is a much greater percentage of the total body than an adult head,” says Pollack. That’s why it’s important to make sure an infant’s head remains covered in cold weather. (This also explains those ubiquitous newborn caps at the hospital.) But for an adult, the figure is more like 10 percent. And keep in mind that heat escapes from any exposed area (feet, arms, hands), so putting on a hat is no more important than slipping on gloves.

Please choose your preferences in the following [...]]]> It’s time to start thinking about some preseason backpacking trips and wanted to throw out a possible dates.  Weekends of October 2nd, October 9th, October 23rd, October 30th, and/or November 6th.

Please choose your preferences in the following poll: http://www.doodle.com/87zsrichicusk3v9

Wilderness Survival Skills for Safe Wilderness Travel covers the gamut on survival skills including basic rules for survival, basic concepts, preparing for your trip, gear, a survival kit, survival knife, building shelter, building a fire, finding getting [...]]]> Looking to test your wilderness survival knowledge?  Bored?  Try these quizzes on Wilderness and Winter Survival.

Wilderness Survival Skills for Safe Wilderness Travel covers the gamut on survival skills including basic rules for survival, basic concepts, preparing for your trip, gear, a survival kit, survival knife, building shelter, building a fire, finding getting water, survival food, signaling for help, navigation, first aid and predicting  weather.  They culminate in two very good survival quizzes:

• 15 questions in a Basic Wilderness Survival Quiz
• and 30 questions in an Advanced Wilderness Survival Quiz

I liked the Billings Gazette interactive Winter Survival Quiz with 25 questions.

Field and Stream Magazine has 18 questions on wilderness survival from the perspective of a lost hunter and 10 questions specific to winter survival.

Unita County, Wyoming has two Winter Weather quizzes of 20 questions each for coping with extreme winter weather in your home or vehicle

• Winter Weather Quiz One
• Winter Weather Quiz Two

If you are looking to check out your skills on Cold Weather 1st Aid there is a quiz on extreme cold exposure.  You can set your level of difficultly from easy (4 questions), to medium (6 questions), to hard (8 questions) to very hard (10 questions) to expert (20 questions).

The Nicomekl Scouting Troop from British Columbia has a 13 question cold weather survival quiz with answers/explanations as a .pdf file.

Group Survival Quiz: This winter survival quiz is popularly given in college classes for group dynamics / organizational behavior with the objective being to match your (or your group’s) score against that of the expert’s.  I have read it in books but I also found the quiz online.

Situation: You have just crash landed somewhere in the woods of southern Manitoba or possibly northern Minnesota. It is 11:32 am in mid-January. The small plane in which you were traveling crashed onto a small lake. The pilot and co-pilot were killed. Shortly after the crash, the plane sank completely into the lake with the pilot and co-pilot’s bodies inside. Everyone else on the flight escaped to land dry and without serious injury.

The crash came suddenly before the pilot had time to radio for help or inform anyone of your position. Since your pilot was trying to avoid the storm, you know the plan was considerably off course. The pilot announced shortly before the crash that you were 70 kilometers northwest of a small town that is the nearest known habitation.

You are in a wilderness area made up of many lakes and rivers. The snow depth varies from above the ankles in windswept areas to more than knee deep where it has drifted. The last weather report indicated that the temperature would reach minus 10 degrees Celsius in the daytime and minus 25 degrees at night. There is plenty of dead wood and twigs in the area around the lake. You and the other surviving passengers are dressed in winter clothing appropriate for city wear — suits, pantsuits, street shoes and overcoats. Assume that the number of persons in the group is the same as the number of persons in your group, and that you have agreed to stay together.

While escaping from the plane, your group salvaged 12 items listed below:

1. Ball of steel wool
2. Newspapers
3. Compass
4. Hand axe
5. Cigarette lighter without fluid
6. Loaded .45-calibre pistol
7. Waterproof section aerial map
8. One 20-by-20-foot piece of heavy-duty canvas
9. Extra shirt and pants
10. One can of shortening
11. One quart of whiskey
12. One family-size chocolate bar

Instructions
1. Rank the above items according to their importance to your survival, starting with 1 for the most important one and proceeding to 12 for the least important one.
2. Calculate your final score by adding the absolute difference between your rankings with that of survival experts. For example, if you ranked an item as 2 while the expert ranked it as 5, your score for the particular item is 3 and not minus 3. The lower your final score, the better chance of survival you have.
The answers with explanations from the survival experts can be found here.

Survival Technique Quizzes present 10 questions on various survival topics:

• Ultimate Survival Test
• Would You Survive in the Desert?
• Cold Weather Safety Quiz
• A Walk in the Woods: To Eat or Not to Eat
• And finally one on the unlikely occurrence of a landslide

Real Kids has a survival quiz oriented towards teenagers.  Would You Know How… to Survive in Extreme Cold?

Finally, the University of Alaska has a short 9 question avalanche quiz.

Backcountry.com has published a article on the basics of winter camping.  The article approaches essential items of gear from a  how it prevents your body from losing heat through evaporative,  convective, radiant and conductive heat loss.  The discussion covers standard winter-camping gear,  clothing  layers, sleeping bag, pad, and tent  to help combat [...]]]>

Backcountry.com has published a article on the basics of winter camping.  The article approaches essential items of gear from a  how it prevents your body from losing heat through evaporative,  convective, radiant and conductive heat loss.  The discussion covers standard winter-camping gear,  clothing  layers, sleeping bag, pad, and tent  to help combat these four types of cooling.   Access the article here – Winter Camping 101 or here.

David Johnson from Utah Adventurer has a nice article “Enjoy the Solitude Only Offered by the Frozen Outdoors”.  He captures the essence of winter camping.  “Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be the only person on the Earth?  Some people may ask what would it be like if only a handful of people were left on the planet? You can get close to that answer by going camping during the winter.  As a matter of fact, you may even get the tingle that you are the only living thing on Earth. Sometimes when you are just sitting in a snow-filled valley miles away from civilization, it becomes so quiet you can hear snowflakes hit the ground. Few people will brave sub-zero temperatures for a chance to get away from the hustle of big cities to experience the solace that winter camping has to offer.  Camping in the winter is an amazing experience. Like summer camping it can affect you in many ways. You may feel renewed, relaxed and scared. Unlike warm-weather camping, it isn’t something that you can just do with minimal experience, knowledge or preparation. Winter camping has significantly greater consequences and challenges.  First, and foremost, is experience. Getting lost in the summer isn’t too bad. Many people are out and most of the trails are frequently traveled. In the summer, you have warmth and are less likely to have to provide warmth for survival. “

David goes on to talk about essential gear and concludes with some winter camping tips.  Read it here or here.