Winter Backpacking - A Story And Lessons

Jamie and I were both thirteen years old and decided to do some winter backpacking without adults (the times were different). Far from the nearest road, in a single-wall pup tent, we tried not to move too much that night. When we did, it resulted in a shower of icy crystals raining down on us from the roof of the tent - the frozen condensation from our own breath. In the morning the thermometer read ten degrees below zero - we liked that.

Outside of the tent everything was glittering with those same crystals, the type which only seem to form on the coldest days of winter. Jamie suggested that we should take off our coats, sweaters and shirts and jeans to shake them out and fluff them up. They were flattened from sleeping in them, and this would make them warmer - that was his theory anyhow. Standing there almost naked in the snow at ten below zero our bare skin turned red as we shook the clothing.

We dressed again before we lost the feeling in our fingers. This fluffing-up trick did seem to help our clothes trap more air and insulate better, so we warmed back up quickly. This may have been a better idea after we had the fire going, but it worked in any case.

I'll end this very short story there and suggest that you add that trick to your list of ways to stay warm when backpacking in cold weather. Of course you might want to do it before you leave your tent (as long as it's dry inside). Now let's look at what else can you do to stay warm in winter.

Winter Backpacking - Six More Ways To Stay Warm

1. Proper Clothing

Notice that in the story above we had jeans on. This is not a good idea. They are too difficult to dry if they get wet. Hiking pants made of brushed nylon (nylon that feels soft and comfortable), dry much faster. My pants usually dry in less than thirty minutes after getting wet. Long underwear is a good idea in winter, of course. Try to use polypropylene or some similar material that will stay warm when wet. Look for similar materials for other clothing, and above all avoid cotton when it's cold out.

2. Keep Dry

Stay as dry as possible when backpacking in winter. I often I see hikers walking right through streams without rolling up their jeans. This usually means being wet long after the sun goes down, so roll up those pants! When walking through dew-covered tall grass and bushes put on rain pants. Wet socks can be hung on your pack to dry them.

3. Use Layers

Having several layers of clothing traps more insulating air. Layers of clothing, rather than one thick coat, also means you can more easily adjust for differing conditions, so you can avoid sweating. Clothes wet from sweat can cause you to get chilled once you stop exerting yourself, so wear layers and remove them as you warm up.

4. Proper Food and Drink

It's certainly no surprise that hot liquids will warm you up, but many people don't realize that foods are not all equal in their ability to produce heat. In fact, fats actually produce heat as they are digested, which is part of the reason whale blubber is popular in the arctic. Soldiers are taught to eat large chunks of butter to stay warm in winter conditions too. That may seem too extreme, but you can have olive oil on your pasta or eat oily foods like corn chips to get the same warming effect internally.

5. Shelter Skills

If you know how to make a shelter of sticks covered with piles of dry leaves and grass, it can insulate you and save your life if your tent is lost or destroyed. Knowing how to make a few simple shelters is smart planning for possible emergencies, but even if you have a tent, you should know where you set it up. Though it's often colder the higher you go, cold air also collects in the bottoms of valleys at night. Try for a level area somewhere in-between, and find a place out of the wind.

6. More Winter Backpacking Tricks

There are basic principles of staying warm, but there are also a lot of little tricks you can learn. For example, unpacking and fluffing up a sleeping bag as soon as the tent is up makes it more insulating. You can do sit-ups in your bag before going to sleep to give yourself a warm start to the evening. Water bottles or canteens can be filled with hot water and kept in the bag with you (regular pop bottles will distort if filled with boiling water, so experiment at home). If you put your water bottles inside your clothing during strenuous hikes they'll stay warmer, so later you won't have to drink cold water, which can suck away some of your heat. Understand a few important principles and learn a few tricks and you can stay warm easily when winter backpacking.

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