OK, Thanksgiving is past, I hope y’all had good times with family and friends. Back to the matter at hand. Winter camping in all it’s splendor, and how to make it the most enjoyable and survivable. If winter camping is something you already enjoy, I hope you find at least a few tidbits of information learned through my experiences and/or failures.
We have talked about clothing, shelter, water, food and food preparation so at this point you should be just about ready to get out there and give it a whirl. So let’s talk about the different ways you can get to where you want to be and how to elect your first destination.
The first time you go out in the winter, no matter how much you read or how well you prepare, you will learn something new. When selecting your first destination keep this in mind. You will be testing your gear and your resolve for the first time, make it somewhere easy to get in and out of, don’t over commit. You need to make sure you can get out safely should you experience distress or a catastrophic failure. Be safe, not sorry!
Now how do we get there? You have several options, one of which I prefer. Fresh snow is the best experience so I tend to base my biases on that. My preferred method of transportation in the winter wilderness is snowshoeing, there are other options e.g. cross country skis, Telemark or snowmobiles, etc. But I find the most cathartic experience comes from embracing the journey, it’s not a race to a destination, it’s an experience best viewed at a slow methodical pace.
Remember I mentioned that weight in the winter was not as important as it was in the summer? Here is why, in the winter, when you travel by snowshoe you can carry a large portion of your supplies on a sled, this reduces the load on your back and your snowshoes. A simple runner-less plastic sled is perfect for this application. Simply run two lines to the waist belt of the person if front and behind. Lines to the person behind keep the sled on track when you hit sloped areas without the need for rigid attachment poles. And I strongly recommend you travel with at least two people in your group, remember safety first.
There is so much more to talk about on this subject, I expect that you will do more research.
Staying warm in the wild isn’t as difficult as most believe. That’s not to say that it is easy
Winter wonderland
and should be done without some thought and planning. It is just a matter of understanding the forces at work and how to use them to your benefit.
There are 4 primary ways your body loses heat; Evaporation, Radiation, Convection, Conduction. Let’s examine each of these.
Evaporation of water from your skin if it is wet (sweating). If your clothing is wet, you will also lose some body heat through evaporation, and through respiration (breathing) when the body temperature is higher than 99°F (37°C). During intense exercise, the body loses 85% of its heat through sweating.
Radiation (similar to heat leaving a light bulb). This normal process of heat moving away from the body usually occurs in air temperatures lower than 68°F (20°C). The body loses 65% of its heat through radiation.
Convection (this is how a fan cools you, by pulling the heat from you with the air, like wind). The body loses 10% to 15% of its heat through convection.
Conduction (such as heat loss from sleeping on the cold ground). Heat is lost in air temperatures lower than 68°F (20°C). The body loses about 2% of its heat through air conduction. However, water causes more heat loss from the body than air does, so heat will be lost from the body very quickly when it is in cold water.
The air is sooo cold
Now that we have identified the four primary causes of heat loss from our bodies, we can prepare ourselves to control each one. This is where the practice of dressing in layers comes from. We choose the material and fit of each layer to provide protection from each of the four enemies to our body heat.
Base layer (the one right next to your skin), this layer should be a snug fit, not tight just snug. Moisture management is the job of this layer, it needs to be made of a nonabsorbent wicking material, that moves the moisture away from your skin. Like, polyesters such as Power Dry or Capilene or merino wool, NEVER cotton.
Middle layer, this is your insulation layer, I like to have it loose fitting, not baggy, just nonrestrictive. Wool and goose down are fantastic natural insulators. Wool keeps you warm no matter what, while goose down is the most efficient insulator, it is worthless if it gets wet. My Middle layer of choice is a dark-colored, mid-weight, wind-proof fleece, it dries faster than wool and works when wet. It also keeps the biting wind at bay when you take your shell off.
Shell layer, this is your protection from the wind, rain and snow. Your shell is your first line of defense, it needs to be waterproof and windproof yet breathable to allow perspiration to escape, you don’t want to freeze in your own sweat. Make sure it is big enough to accommodate your base and middle layers worn together. I prefer one without insulation, with a hood, it is just more versatile out in the wild. Don’t skimp on this one, it is not fun being wet out in the woods, even if you are warm.
You need to do this for both top and bottom, your lower half represents 30-33% of your body mass.
Up on the ridge
Now we just need to apply the layers judiciously. You will always have your base layer on. If
you are involved in strenuous activity, you will want to remove your middle layer, maybe even your shell top. Just be sure to put them back on when you stop, you want to keep most of the heat you just generated.
When I am out in the winter wonderland I spend most of the time at camp with all three layers on the bottom (I spend a lot of time sitting in the snow) and my base and middle layers on top. this usually keeps me warm enough. You will find your own comfort zone.
Last but not least, we need to take care of out extremities. Head, hands and feet.
Head, I spend a lot of time without head-gear, I just run hot. But, I always carry these two things. A Ear-band (a headband designed to cover your ears) and a fleece hat. Combined with the hood on my shell, they have my covered.
Hands, I recommend all three layers for these guys. Get yourself a good pair of silk glove liners, worth their weight in gold, not only do they keep your digits toasty, they are fire-proof. A good pair of fleece mittens with matching shells. When you keep all your digits together they are warmer. But, gloves are good too.
Feet, These are your most valuable assets, they got you here and they’ll get you out, if you take care of them. Silk sock liners are my personal favorite, but merino wool and polyester work too. Just make sure they fit well, you don’t want these bunching up. Nice mid-weight over the calf boot socks, these work great to join your sock liners with your lower base layer, cozy. A good pair of boots will be your best friend, no one is happier than the person with toasty toes.
I’m home – NW Survival founder
Well, there is my seven cents, based on my own personal experience. I have not yet spent a cold miserable night in the wilderness while following these principles. Your greatest tool is your mind. Study these concepts and prepare yourself for the journey, gear doesn’t save your life if you don’t know how to use it. Your body generates all the heat it will ever need. All you need to do, is manage how you lose it, and keep it to a minimum.
I once put a water bottle in my sleeping bag with me, so I would have water in the morning for drinking and coffee, It froze solid overnight. The lesson here, I generate my own heat, so I was never cold. The water bottle however does not, so it froze solid.
When the weather gets nice, it’s time for the hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts to come out of hiding… which happens to correlate with an uptick in snake activity (including venomous ones).
First things first, I’ll say that I’m not one of those people who believes all snakes should be killed on sight. If a snake is non-venomous, I’ll let it slither on it’s way every time. If it’s venomous, and too close to my house or yard, that’s when a decision has to be made.
In order to make that decision, I first need to identify the species of snake and determine whether or not it’s a venomous snake.
Despite the fact that we only have 4 major species of poisonous snakes to deal with in North America, it can be surprisingly difficult to calmly ID these snakes in the heat of the moment. In fact, that’s why I’m writing this article, to make it easier for the non-snake experts among us to avoid a nasty and potentially fatal bite.
The 4 Big Ones
These are the 4 groups of poisonous snakes that you may run across in the US:
Rattlesnakes
Cottonmouths
Copperheads
Coral Snakes
When I say that there are 4 major species of venomous snakes, that’s a bit of an oversimplification, BUT that actually makes the identification process easier.
You see, it doesn’t matter much if you’ve spotted a Texas Coral Snake or an Arizona Coral Snake, both are deadly poisonous. So stay away.
Sadly it has been awhile since you have heard from me, but that doesn’t mean I have been stagnant, I bring word from the batcave.
I have been busy in the field, we have completed a couple of gun safety classes. I really enjoy these classes because I feel very strongly about how important they are. If you feel that you need to own and/or carry a firearm, I believe it is your responsibility to become highly proficient with its use and safe handling. I believe you should have to show competence, not just a written exam. Just like an automobile, show me you can parallel park.
My steadfast partner in crime has been insistent that we start offering pre built Bug out Bags. So we have been doing a lot of research so we can be sure to offer what we feel are the best solutions for the different type of bags we all should have. In the not too distant future you should see a selection of prebuilt solutions being offered. We believe everyone should be prepared for the unforeseen, and look forward to offering the best bags you can get. Stay tuned.
We live in a society that has trained us to eat meat on a daily basis. Fortunately we are moving away from this paradigm, as we have learned it is both unnecessary and problematic to the long-term health of our planet. That being said, when we are in a survival situation it may become necessary to our survival to harvest some fauna from the earth. Chances are you will not be packing around your hunting gear, if you even have any, when the need arises. So this will focus on methods that use your natural surroundings and a few basic tools.
There are many types of traps at your disposal. Snares, deadfalls and pits to name a few. If you are reading this I am assuming you have a certain level of readiness, like a pocket knife and some paracord.
Lets talk about snares, the two we will talk about today are spring snares and drag snares. Of these the spring snares are the most complicated of the two.
This is an illustration of what I call a drag snare. it is designed so that all that is needed is a well placed loop of cordage and the animals instinct to flee for successful operation. If you look closely you will see the loop is fashioned with a slip knot that will become tight when strained. This ensures that your prey does not escape. Placement is the key ingredient to success. Try to find an animal trail and place the loop so that your prey will pass through it while traveling normally. Make the loop the size of your intended prey. 3-4 inches for rabbits 2-3 inches for squirrels. You don’t want to catch a bear.
spring snare is quite effective but way more complicated in the setup and reduces your chances of releasing an unwanted captive, as it is more aggressive. But it tends to be more successful because it uses the critters body weight to maintain tension on the snare once it is tripped.
The single most important message I want to pass on is;
Traps are indiscriminate and must not be forgotten!
If we decide we need to set traps for our survival, we must be responsible in their placement and management. Taking life to maintain yours should never be taken lightly, be a good steward.
Are you hungry? Are you out in the backcountry without your normal food stores? Never fear, the NW is stocked full of all sorts of options to keep you fed and strong.
Probably the most abundant source of protein rich food is fish. In my opinion, we are blessed with having some of the best native fish in the country but then, I’m biased.
There are several methods you can use to secure your share and more of fish in the streams and lakes of the NW. If you are traveling away from your home, you should have supplies with you that can aid you in dealing with unexpected events. I call it a vehicle preparedness kit (VPK), which we will be talking about later.
Fishing gear is one of the tools I recommend having in your VPK. My kit has fishing yo-yo’s, a good supply of fishing line , assorted lures, weights, and hooks. However, you can catch fish with nothing more than paracord and a knife to start. Enough chit-chat? Let’s get specific.
Catching fish with a few twigs – If you know where to put them, you can catch fish with just a few twigs by setting up a trap near the bank in the slack water. You want to make the entrance wide on the outside and narrow on the inside, like so – \ /, this will keep the fish in the corral. Be sure your twigs go far enough up the bank and are tall enough to keep the fish in the trap. Now, just get yourself a grasshopper or a worm – both of which you could eat yourself. But doesn’t a nice trout sound better?
You can also use rocks and the natural lay of the river or lake to trap the fish (see diagram on left). This is a great way to feed a large group seeing as it gives you the best chance of catching a considerable number of fish with minimal effort. It is relatively non-invasive and easy to remove once you have what you need. Remember to respect the natural flow of the world around you or it just might stop providing for you.
Using fishing Yo-Yo’s – I love these things because you set them and forget them. In case you didn’t know, fish like the water beneath the trees on the shore. This is to our advantage because Yo-Yo’s are basically automatic reels. You hang the reel from a branch hanging over the water, bait your hook, pull out enough line to put the hook where you want it, and set the trigger. When a fish hits the hook it trips the trigger and the Yo-Yo reels them in – all the way out of the water. So, once it is set you can go set another one, start boiling water, or work on whatever other chore needs doing. Check the Yo-Yo occasionally until you have caught something.
Of course, you can always just get yourself a long stick and use it like a pole, as long as you have your fishing kit.
These are just some of the ways you can catch fish in the wild, but I consider them the most practical.
Leaves are a great and underused resource – they can be used for food, shelter, water collection, medicinal purposes, etc. – and they are readily available here in the Pacific NW.
Food and Medicine: We are lucky to be in a bioregion that flourishes with edible plant life. It is important to study up on native plants and their uses. An entire culture flourished here with the natural environment not too long ago.
One of my favorite medicinal plants here in Cascadia is Plantain. You can find plantain in your backyard and it is easy to mash up and turn into a poultice. To use: place the poultice on minor burns, stings, small cuts, etc. and cover it with another leaf. It is full of antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties.
A great reference book for this region is “Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast (Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alaska)” by Pojar and Mackinnon.
There are also great communities that practice these skills… Trackers Earth PDX even has a wild edibles talk coming up March 9th. Check out the group here: trackerspdx.com
Water Collection: There are multiple ways to collect water using leaves and both require some patience and creativity.
You can harvest rainwater by positioning large leaves so that they collect and drain water into a container. Stems placed in the container will leave more surface area available for water collection and the water will conveniently run down the stems into the container.
You can distill water by taking advantage of the transpiration that occurs naturally all day, everyday. All you need is some clear plastic – a clear plastic garbage bag would work well. While still on the tree or bush, gather up a large amount of leaves and wrap the bag around them. Tie the bag closed around the stems, making sure not to break them (you want the leaves to stay alive). Then let them sit in the sun. Water will transpire and collect in the bag. Important: Collect water from plants you know are safe. For example, you don’t want to collect water from poison oak or plants sprayed with pesticides. Stick to plants you can identify as safe and have many leaves (the more leaves the more transpiration).
Shelter: Shelter is something very important and also very comforting. A nice roof over your head is sometimes necessary to stay dry in this climate and it is also very comforting to be shaded from the sun and hidden from view. Leaves make great shingles and fine insulation. You might even think about setting up a water collection system with your shelter – keep yourself dry and hydrated!
It’s important to remember the value of the resources around you and to let your creativity flow. You can find most of what you need in our natural environment.
You should know by now one of my favorite topics is fire. I believe it is the most important tool outside of what you carry. Being able to start a fire can be the difference between life and death or just simply make your life a lot more comfortable and tasty.
So let’s get started with my favorite fire hacks:
Empty toilet paper rolls stuffed with dryer lint: This is my favorite because of both its simplicity and thrift, it is completely free and way too easy to make, to not have one on hand. Simply collect the dryer lint from your dryer, if you use communal dryers you could collect everyone’s, then simple stuff it loosely into an empty toilet paper tube. You can also cut a paper towel tube in half and make two. These make excellent tinder.
Cotton balls smothered in petroleum jelly: Ok, this one isn’t free and uses new materials, but it really works well. Just like it sounds, take a few cotton balls and saturate them with petroleum jelly – I usually stuff them in an old pill bottle, but a film canister would work, too. Oh wait, we don’t have those anymore but you get the idea. This is also excellent tinder.
Tea lights: These are so cheap and light that you should carry a few and they have so many uses that I consider them indispensable. For example: they replace tinder with a self-sustaining mini fire.
Of course all of the above hacks assume you have a lighter or matches, they are not ways to make fire without the former, they are simply aids. Which gives me the idea – we should talk about how to start a fire without a match or lighter. Keep your eyes open for that in an upcoming post.
We have talked about clothing, shelter, water, food and food preparation so at this point you should be just about ready to get out there and give it a whirl. So let’s talk about the different ways you can get to where you want to be and how to elect your first destination.
the best experience so I tend to base my biases on that. My preferred method of transportation in the winter wilderness is snowshoeing, there are other options e.g. cross country skis, Telemark or snowmobiles, etc. But I find the most cathartic experience comes from embracing the journey, it’s not a race to a destination, it’s an experience best viewed at a slow methodical pace.
Remember I mentioned that weight in the winter was not as important as it was in the summer? Here is why, in the winter, when you travel by snowshoe you can carry a large portion of your supplies on a sled, this reduces the load on your back and your snowshoes. A simple runner-less plastic sled is perfect for this application. Simply run two lines to the waist belt of the person if front and behind. Lines to the person behind keep the sled on track when you hit sloped areas without the need for rigid attachment poles. And I strongly recommend you travel with at least two people in your group, remember safety first.
You must be logged in to post a comment.