frist winter camp out

[the hunter]

so this is going to be my first winter camp in my tear drop looking for advise . ive got my heaters electric blanket my main concern is if this its enough to stay warm what to do . also how do you keep the snow and mud out of the inside . putting up a canopy is not going to work as we do get high winds at times . also iv read about leaving a window open a bit for freash air how much do you need to leave open ? thanks for you help

[S. Heisley]

Each situation can be different. In the past, I've seen where some people put a sturdy, low wooden, slatted box in front of their door, to stand on while they shake off the rain or scrape off snow and mud. Many people sit on the edge of the bed at the doorway, removing their shoes or boots and putting them in a lidded tub or plastic box before they sling their legs onto the mattress. If you use a lidded tub, you can put your shoes in the bottom and your coat above them, inside the tub.

You only need to barely crack one window. If there is a window near your bed, that would probably be the best one to open (just a tad) as the fresh air will be most available to breathe and will most likely feel good to your lungs. Time for an "Oops!" story.... In the hills near the base of Mt. Lassen, underground lava-tubes that are filled with ice that never melts. Because of that, the day-time temperatures can even be in the upper 80's; but, when the sun goes down, those temperatures can plummet like a refrigerator took over. One time, it was in the eighties and, to get a cooling draft going, I cracked two windows. When I went to bed, the cabin was still warm and the windows were cracked so slightly that I forgot to close one. When I awoke the next morning, it was 28 outside; and the normally 60 degree morning interior temperature had fallen to 37 degrees!!! So, at night, cracking one window should be sufficient. Cracking two will create a draft.

[S. Heisley]

Hunter, I do hope you have a good quality sleeping bag and not just an electric blanket. Otherwise, if your electric blanket stops working for some reason, you could be in sorry shape!

[the hunter]

thanks for the advise but yes ive got a good sleeping bag but the heaters should do good

[atahoekid]

I learned this little trick when camping under the stars as a Boy Scout. When you get ready to change out of your clothes include changing your underwear and socks and put on a new set and then whatever you normally sleep in. (There's a bit of moisture in the stuff you've been wearing). Also put on a knit cap of some sort. You lose a lot of body heat off the top of your head. These two tricks really help you stay lots warmer. If you're traveling with a companion, it seems that sharing a sleeping bag for two seems to be warmer than two separate sleeping bags. No scientific evidence of this, just what my wife and I think. Lastly, a sleeping bag with a cloth liner seems warmer than one with a nylon liner. It seems like you hit a cold spot every time you move around in a bag with a nylon liner but a cloth liner seems to stay warm once you get in.

[Vedette]

As a tent camper for over 50 years, I can confirm everything that Mel has suggested in the previous post.
Good Roads
Brian

[GerryS]

I'll confirm too not to trust an electric blanket....technology is nice to have, but especially in remote camp grounds electricity fails...and when it does the utilities last concern is a remote recreational area.

A good sleeping bag, and a head cover will go a long way to making a cozy night.

[Modstock]

Well here's what I learned from my first winter camp.
Don't stay up way late drinkin beer. Ya end up colder.
Bring some extra warm boots and socks. Keep by the heater in your car .
Change socks just before bed .
If your toes or body is cold before going to bed . Jump in you vehicle with heater on till you are warm . Then get in teardrop . Goin to bed with shivers sucks and takes forever to get warm . I ended up getting in my ride at 3am. cause my toes wouldn't warm up even with fresh socks. Once my toes warmed up I slept like a baby.

I woke up to 3 degree's outside in the morning.. Brrrrrrrrrrr .

Get a good sleeping bag . Mine was rated for 15*
and a heater buddy. wich I bought after my first time.

[atahoekid]

I've also resorted to those heat packs when I was tent camping in night temperatures in the teens. It at least helps you get warm if you're cold to start with. I also get a bag that's rated for colder than your expected coldest temperatures. I don't know who rates sleeping bags but that person sleeps warmer than me. I never use a bag that's rated for higher than 32 degrees, even in the summers here in the Sierras. I think that same person also figures out capacity for tents. I don't know who said my last tent would accommodate 3 but it would be tight for the three smallest people I know. I am so happy that my trailer is well insulated and it has a nice warm bed and a heater.

[mandy]

I've also resorted to those heat packs when I was tent camping in night temperatures in the teens. It at least helps you get warm if you're cold to start with. I also get a bag that's rated for colder than your expected coldest temperatures. I don't know who rates sleeping bags but that person sleeps warmer than me. I never use a bag that's rated for higher than 32 degrees, even in the summers here in the Sierras. I think that same person also figures out capacity for tents. I don't know who said my last tent would accommodate 3 but it would be tight for the three smallest people I know. I am so happy that my trailer is well insulated and it has a nice warm bed and a heater.

This post made me laugh because I have been saying that for years and I had no idea others felt the same about those stupid rating systems.

[PaulS]

I've also resorted to those heat packs when I was tent camping in night temperatures in the teens. It at least helps you get warm if you're cold to start with. I also get a bag that's rated for colder than your expected coldest temperatures. I don't know who rates sleeping bags but that person sleeps warmer than me. I never use a bag that's rated for higher than 32 degrees, even in the summers here in the Sierras. I think that same person also figures out capacity for tents. I don't know who said my last tent would accommodate 3 but it would be tight for the three smallest people I know. I am so happy that my trailer is well insulated and it has a nice warm bed and a heater.

This post made me laugh because I have been saying that for years and I had no idea others felt the same about those stupid rating systems.

I think they are rated by Santas elves

[Mary C]

I use a king sized down comforter and fold it on top of me and under me, pile on other blankets and I stay warm as toast. My feet tend to be cold and I cant go to sleep with cold feet so after long consideration I decided to make a feet pockets, on the inside i sewed little pockets that I can stick four of those foot warmers in and so my feet get really warm and sleep comes real fast.

Mary C.

[celticquetzel]

Oh feet pockets. Clever. And there's always the good old hot water bottle to warm things up.