Snow camping techniques provide adventure

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Good snowcamping techniques are critical for a fine adventure

CAMPERS KEEP IT UP IN WINTER
Equipment Critical To A Rewarding Cold-Weather Trip

The Bulletin
By Deanna Darr
January, 2000

Throughout the summer, campgrounds and forests are teeming with people who will take any excuse to get back to nature.

On any weekend during this season, throngs of campers can be seen fleeing the confines of town - tents, coolers and lawn chairs in tow.

Of course, the situation is slightly different in the winter. Once snow blankets the landscape, the majority of the population is happy to curtail its outdoor activities to brief daytime excursions, returning to a cozy home each night.

But for a few die-hard campers, winter is the perfect time to grab the tent and head to the hills. Winter camping is more than just a night outside for these enthusiasts, it's the evolution of camping, providing a new challenge for them to master.

"It appears kind of an insane thing to do," John Gonter, clinic coordinator at Tri Mountain Sports, admitted. "It's the next level of challenge for campers."

"It's a much more challenging game to play," said Kent Howes, promotions coordinator at Mountain Supply of Oregon. "It's a challenge to get it right."

Getting it right is the key to having an enjoyable winter camping experience. "If you get out there and you get cold, it takes all the fun out," Howes said.

Staying warm and keeping dry are the most important considerations for the activity, and to achieve this, campers need to be prepared.

First on the "need-to-have" list is a good, four-season tent. The four-season designation means the tent is constructed of sturdier materials than an average three-season tent and can withstand the strong winds and heavy snows that winter campers often have to endure.

Howes warned against trying to stretch a three-season tent for winter purposes, because heavy, wet snow can cause lightweight tent poles to collapse.

A good sleeping bag is the next consideration. A lightweight summer bag isn't going to cut it for cold-weather camping. Every sleeping bag has a temperature designation, approximately marking the coldest air temperature at which the bag will keep the user warm.

These designations are just a guide for consumers. Howes said the type of bag that will be adequate for the situation depends greatly on the user's gender and body type.

In general, women tend to, need a heavier bag, as do children or anyone who is smaller than average. Howes urges future buyers to take this into consideration before heading out.

Another issue is the bags filling. Robert Speik, Central Oregon Community College mountaineering instructor and an avid winter camper since the early 1970s, said he prefers down-filled bags, which tend to be the warmest bags available.

Unfortunately, if a down filled bag gets wet, "it' a death trap," Speik said

To help avoid that predicament, a wide variety of synthetic filled bags ;are available. While they might not be as warm, they handle getting wet much better.

Just as important, if not more than, the sleeping bag itself, is the sleeping pad. These pads offer far ore increased comfort; they act as insulation between the ground and the camper and are the main reason a sleeping camper will be able to stay warm.

Speik said the best winter pads tend to be made out of closed-cell foam, which will help maintain the camper's body temperature. Gonter added that many serious campers will use two pads to keep themselves off the ground.

ALPINE CLIMBING ON SNOW AND ICE
Winter mountaineering hazards - streams and lakes
Is long distance backpacking part of "traditional mountaineering"?
How long is the traditional alpine mountaineering ice axe?
What about climbing Mt. Hood?
What is a good personal description of the south side route on Mount Hood?
What should I know about travel over hard snow and ice?
How can I learn to self belay and ice axe arrest? 6 pdf pages
What should I know about snow caves?
What should I know about climbing Aconcagua?

AVALANCHE AVOIDANCE
Young Bend man dies in back county avalanche
What is an avalanche cord?
Avalanche training courses - understanding avalanche risk
How is avalanche risk described and rated by the professionals? pdf table
How can I avoid dying in an avalanche?
Known avalanche slopes near Bend, OR?
What is a PLB?
Can I avoid avalanche risk with good gear and seminars? pdf file

AVALANCHES
Climbers swept by avalanche while descending North Sister's Thayer Glacier Snowfield
Three personal experiences with avalanches
Mount Hood avalanche proves fatal for members of climbing group
Climbers swept by avalanche while descending North Sister's Thayer Glacier Snowfield
Snowshoer dies in backcountry avalanche in Washington State
Young Bend man dies in remote backcountry avalanche
Recent deaths cause concern over avalanche beacons
Skilled member of The Mountaineers killed in avalanche
Basic Responsibilities of the cross country skier
Avalanche avoidance a practical approach to avalanche safety
Tumalo Mountain a wintertime treat
Fatal Mount Hood avalanche described by Climbing Ranger

SNOWSHOES AND CRAMPONS
Why do you like GAB crampons for traditional mountaineering?
What should I know about the new snowshoe trails
What are technical snowshoes?
Which crampons are the best?
What about Boots and Shoes?

YOUR ESSENTIAL SUMMIT PACK
What are the new Ten Essential Systems?
What does experience tell us about Light and Fast climbing?
What is the best traditional alpine mountaineering summit pack?
What is Light and Fast alpine climbing?
What do you carry in your day pack?    Photos?
What do you carry in your winter day pack?     Photos?
What should I know about "space blankets"?
Where can I get a personal and a group first aid kit?    Photos?