Shelter: Weather

A section in Chapter 4 of the book:
Prep Lists for Camping, Hiking, and Backpacking

Think about how the weather is going to affect your time outdoors.

• Unseasonably warm or cold? Ideal clothing and bedding?
• Unexpected rain or snow? Proper shelter and footwear?
• Severe thunderstorms and lightning? Think safety first
• Potential flooding? Know where you are and where to go
• A change in the weather? Alternate plans or activities?

These topics and more are in the following sections.

Rain

When thinking about camping, hiking, and backpacking, you probably imagine clear skies and beautiful weather. But, eventually, it will rain. If you are prepared, you can still enjoy your time outdoors—even when it is raining.

Key Principles for Rain

• Wet = Cold
• Keep head dry; keep feet dry—especially when sleeping
• Keep gear dry; if wet, dry out as soon as you are able
• Avoid sweating under rain gear
• Keep wet things out of your sleeping area
• Use talcum powder or cornstarch to dry wet skin

Remember that rain makes rocks very slippery

Prep for Rain

Before you leave home…

• Keep clothing in a waterproof bag or container
• Take extra waterproof zip-tight plastic bags for wet clothing
• Use heavy-duty compactor trash bags to line pack or boots
• Test your rain gear to ensure it works as expected
• Use a dry bag/box for your electronics & fire starters
• Take food that does not require cooking or a campfire
• Review the weather forecast and plan accordingly
• Re-waterproof your boots if it’s been a while

Before the rain starts…

• Set up tent/shelter and protect gear
• Collect and cover firewood with tarp or evergreen branches
• Have rain clothing ready to put on
• Use extra tarps over and under to keep rainwater out
• Position tent & campfire away from low areas collecting water
• Camp on high ground, avoiding any chance of flooding

Remember that most waterproof clothing is 100% effective
at retaining sweat. :-)

Gear for Rain

• Hat: wide brim keeps rain off, or use a billed cap under hood
• Umbrella: collapsible, packable, versatile, moving or stationary
• Jacket/Shell: lightweight, pockets, hooded, waterproof
• Poncho: cheap plastic/vinyl, or durable nylon, best without wind
• Rain Pants: waterproof, best for heavy rain and wet terrain
• Boots: waterproof material/treatment, high water line, good grip
• Gaiters: keep feet and footwear dry and protected
• Pack Cover: if poncho doesn’t cover pack, or for use in camp
• Waterproof Stuff Sacks: usually better than leaky pack covers
• Paracord: Use as a clothesline to dry out your clothes and gear
• Lots of plastic bags: to keep things dry or put wet things in

If you see lightning or hear thunder, avoid being in water
and avoid high points like ridges.

Improvised Rain Protection

• Use any garbage bag for poncho, pack cover, or wet clothing
• A huge 95-gallon trash bag can be used as a sleeping bag wrapper, bivvy, full-length poncho, shelter roof, and more.
• Consider a large tarp canopy high over your entire campsite
• Newspaper can be used to start fires when everything else is wet, to help dry out the inside of your shoes overnight
• Collect rain water for drinking water to keep a full supply
• A spray can of Camp Dry Water Repellent can make most any fabric water resistant

Snow

There are great advantages to camping, hiking, or backpacking when there’s snow on the ground—no annoying insects, no biting reptiles, not as many people, and the splendid beauty of the season. There’s nothing quite like a hot drink by a cozy fire on a chilly night. Along with this comes additional planning to deal with the raw elements of winter.

Prepared people love winter camping.
Unprepared people hate winter camping.

Key Principles for Snow

• Snow melts into water: project your bedding, gear, campfire
• Snow hides things: gear, trails, landmarks
• Snow adds weight: remove buildup as needed
• Snow may freeze things in place: especially melt & re-freeze
• Snow may indicate frozen earth beneath it: driving stakes
• Snow is a fire inhibitor: can be good or bad
• Snow melted is drinkable: boil over fire before drinking

See also: the Sleeping Warm section in this book.

Prep for Snow

Consider these to deal with snow in your campsite.

• A compass and map may help if your usual hiking trails are covered and hidden by snow
• Avoid setting up camp under trees that are covered with snow that may fall during a windy night
• Angled tarp over tent or hammock to keep falling snow off
• Snow tent pegs, stakes, and guy lines (bury in snow rather than digging into frozen earth)
• Groundsheet under tent, hammock, etc. to keep your gear and footwear dry
• Pack down snow under your tent before setting up to make sleeping more comfortable
• If it is windy, dig or build a snow wall to block or avoid wind
• Bring a piece of corrugated cardboard or a car visor shade to stand on when you’re changing your clothes or boots
• With the increased risks related to camping with snow, be sure someone knows where you are and have reliable communication with civilization if you need help

Remember that if you leave your car to camp in the snow, you will need to get the car back out onto the road; so park in a way that makes that easier, and have good shovel ready.

Gear for Snow

Consider which of these might be useful on your trip.

• Boots: These may be higher and more waterproof than usual
• Crampons: Walking on ice
• Cross Country Skis: Faster than plodding through snow
• Gaiters: Keep snow out of your boots
• Ice Axe: Climbing rock faces
• Lip Balm: Wind and cold make for sore, chapped lips
• Shovel: Foldable, lightweight, use to clear out campsite
• Snow Saw: Making bricks for shelter
• Snowshoes: Trudging through deep snow
• Sunscreen: Yes, you can get sunburnt in a snowfield
• Thermometer: Know when it is above or below 32 degrees, when water will freeze or melt
• Toboggan or Sled: Transporting heavy gear over snow
• Trekking Poles: For skis, snowshoes, balance, or knee support

Improvised Snow

• Shovel out, mound up, or stack up snow as part of your shelter
• Use snow as a wind block
• Pile snow around your tent as insulation and reduce drafts
• Use snow under bedding to insulate you from the frozen ground
• Dig a trench in the snow for your feet so you can sit on one side and cook or eat on the other side
• Dig hole in front of tent to make getting in and out easier.
• Fill plastic grocery bags with snow and bury for tent anchors

Remember that your speed of travel will likely be slower in snow.

Cold Days

To stay warm in cold weather, consider the following.

Key Principles for Cold

• Keep out of the wind
• Keep your head, wrists, and ankles covered
• A warm hat can help retain nearly half of your body heat
• Adjusting layers of clothing keeps you comfortable when active
• Avoid sweating, which will make you very cold when resting
• Clothing loses its insulating ability when wet or dirty
• Try to always eat hot, hearty meals rather than just cold snacks
• Prep meals at home to minimize time with bare, wet fingers exposed to the cold air
• Cold toes may indicate boot laces that are too tight

See also: the Sleeping Warm section in this book.

Prep for Cold

• Layers: Better than a single coat for warmth, wear several layers that can be added and removed as needed
• Layers: Shed layers of clothing as soon as you start to sweat
• Synthetics: Avoid Cotton clothing and wear synthetics instead
• Calories: You will need to eat more calories for warmth, so take more fats and proteins instead of just carbohydrates
• Pot of Water: Fill cooking/coffee pot with water before going to sleep at night, since you can’t pour frozen water
• Water Bottle: Hang upside down so ice forms from bottom up
• A hot drink can warm your body and your spirits
• Create a wind barrier using a tarp, trees, snow, clothing, etc.
• Use a heavier sleeping bag or extra liners, like fleece or flannel
• Use an extra sleeping pad to insulate from the frozen ground
• Moisture: Don’t sleep with your face in your sleeping bag; the moisture in your breath will make you colder
• Lips: Wear plenty of lip balm (or Vaseline) when you sleep
• Drying: Quickly dry out your sleeping bag by turning it inside out and draping it over your tent or tree branches

Gear for Cold

Beyond the obvious warm clothing, consider these ideas.

• Scarf: Anything wrapped around your neck or head will help keep your entire body much warmer
• Hat: A hat keeps your whole body warm, including your feet.
• Extra Socks: Keep feet dry and switch socks when they get wet
• Thermometer: Know when it is above or below 32 degrees, when water will freeze or melt
• Heat Packs: Either chemical, combustible, or other types of hand and foot warmers
• Folded Saw: This type of folding hand saw is my preferred wood cutter in my backpack. Lightweight, strong, and portable, it’s a reliable method of quickly collecting dry firewood.
• Pocket Chain Saw: These pocket chain saws come in various sizes, weights, and strengths. The key for long-term use is keeping the chain straight when cutting.
• Hands: Wear latex or nitrile exam gloves as glove liners

Improvised for Cold

• Yoga mats can also be used as an insulating sleeping pad
• Extra Layer of Insulation: Use Car Reflector Visors by binding edges together with zip ties, twist ties, cording, or thread to create sleeping pad or sleeping bag liner
• Backpack Foot Box: Use your backpack or zipped-up coat as a foot cover for extra insulation while sleeping
• Socked Water Bottles: Wrap water bottles in thick socks (and other clothing) to keep from freezing as quickly
• Sleeping Pad: Sit on pad during the day to keep bum warm
• Zipper Pulls: Tie loops of cording around zipper pulls to make them easier when wearing gloves or mittens
• Oven Bags: Wear heavy-duty plastic bags like oven bags between your socks and boots to keep boots dry, or under socks to keep socks dry.
• Ice Melt: Make your own hand warmers with zip-tight plastic bags and ice melt pellets. Just add water to create heat.

Hot Days

To stay cooler in hot weather, these tips may be helpful.

No power cords are needed for these low-tech tips.

Key Principles

• You need water to cope with heat
• Your body sweats to cool down by evaporation
• Encourage sweat evaporation with a breeze (moving air)
• Moisten skin to encourage cooling evaporation
• Sweating uses water that needs to be replaced by drinking
• Caffeinated drinks pull water out of your body

See also: the Sleeping Cool section in this book

Prep for Heat

Clothing…

• Wear a wet bandana around neck or forehead to cool full body
• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored, synthetic clothing that breathes to stay dry. If you tend toward dehydration then maybe wear Cotton to keep skin damp.
• Wear a hat to keep direct sunlight off your head and face
• Wear sandals or flip flops instead of boots around camp

Skin…

• Prepare bug deterrents so you can expose more of your skin
• Use plenty of lip balm to keep lips from drying & chapping
• Remember the sunblock lotion or sunscreen spray

Food…

• Take food that does not require cooking or a campfire
• Use the Sun: Cook with a solar oven instead of a campfire
• Freeze a small cooler in a freezer or larger cooler to last longer
• Make ice blocks by freezing water jugs and drink when melted
• Ice packs can be strategically placed for extended life
• Large ice blocks last longer than bags of ice cubes
• Use two coolers: the one with drinks gets opened frequently, the one with food stays shut to last longer
• Avoid opening coolers too often so they stay cold longer

Location…

• Choose a campsite with afternoon shade (trees to the west)
• Camp near water, especially near moving water
• Air around a rippling brook will be cooler
• A campsite near a slope or hillside has more air movement
• Remove the tent rain fly if it’s not raining
• Protect tent from sun: Drape a reflective space blanket over it
• Stay in the shade and avoid direct sunlight when possible
• Create shade by hanging a tarp or sleeping bag like an awning
• Allow the air to move over you whenever possible
• Water: Know where & how to get plenty of safe drinking water
• Caves and rock outcroppings may provide cooler air

Activities…

• Avoid midday activities when the sun is hottest
• Schedule activities for early morning or evening when coolest
• Get wet to cool off during the heat of the day
• Use a misting system (or spray bottle) for evaporation cooling

Sleeping…

• Use an appropriate sleeping bag for the temperature
• Lightweight sheets are cooler than a sleeping bag
• Skip the tent and just take a bivvy or rainfly in case of rain
• Hammock sleeping in a breeze is much cooler than a tent
• Cot: Sleeping on a Mesh Cot with circulating air helps stay cool
• Line up your tent with the prevailing wind to keep it aired out
• Wear wet socks to bed, especially if exposed to a breeze

Dark Nights

Don’t laugh! If you’ve ever arrived at the planned campsite later than expected and had to deal with setting up a tent, unpacking your backpack, or looking for firewood in the dark, then you understand the importance of this topic.

Key Principles for Darkness

• Best Advice: Start setting up camp one to two hours before sunset to avoid dealing with darkness
• Ambient Light: If there is any starlight or moonlight, it may be better to let your eyes adjust to the dim light rather than struggling with limited artificial light like a flashlight
• Hurry! If it is almost dark when you start making camp, consider working on these priorities first.
• Determine where everything will be, like tent, hammock, campfire, firewood, cooking area, gear, trash, latrine, etc.
• Make sure everyone in the group knows where things should go and divide the responsibilities
• Collect firewood that is further from campsite first; stumbling through the woods in the dark is like asking for trouble
• Make a rough pile of firewood without taking time to break it down, cut it up, or sort it out
• Build a tall (not large) campfire to light the other activities

Be extremely careful using any sort of open flame for light,
which can very quickly become a forest fire hazard.

Prep for Darkness

• Cell Phone: Learn how to turn your phone into a bright flashlight using the camera’s flash—either in the phone settings or as an app
• Cell Phone: Find a bright white screen on your cell phone for moderate light and less battery consumption
• Batteries: If you have any sort of electronic illumination—flashlight, lantern, cell phone… you’ll eventually need batteries.
• Candles: If you can use candles safely, these are very helpful

Gear for Darkness

• Flashlight: Flashlights have various sizes, shapes, brightness, weight, longevity, battery efficiency, and many more options
• Headlamp: These head-mounted flashlights are best to keep both of your hands free for working and carrying things
• Lantern: Lantern lights use various fuel for basic illumination inside a tent or blinding light that fills the entire campsite