have you ever spent a winter nite in the woods

[mosbysmen]

have you ever spent the night in the woods in the winter time with just the clothes on your back ,
a knife and some matches ?

[Enquiring Minds]

NO, but it makes for good stories in Reader's Digest.

I did once get conned into snow-caving above treeline in Colorado, by some mountaineering buds who knew what they were doing. Even with all the right gear, it was a very long night.

Whenever you're in a place where "there's no one for miles around", there's usually a good reason, lol.

[JoeLad]

I did spend a night sleeping in the woods of SW Wisconsin. Air temp was -25 degrees F with a biting wind. At that temp the snow freezes into ice. We chopped snow into blocks, and stacked them 24" high creating a rectangular area large enough for three men to sleep, leaving the top open. We covered the top with pine branches (lots of them). Crawl inside, light a candle, it's suddenly 32 degrees above zero in there.

We did have sleeping bags. I woke that night looking at a sputtering pile of melted wax. Too comfy cozy to crawl out of my bag, find my pack, and light another candle, I fell back asleep. We awoke a 0400 to a freezing little igloo. The outside air temp had dropped considerably. Not at all fun trying to roll up a sleeping bag on frozen snow with no mittens on. I had no mittens because it was impossible to roll it with them on.

Methinks a human with clothes, a knife and some matches would not survive overnight in those conditions.

JoeLad:D

[fastfreddy]

Went winter camping in Scouts once with 0 temp and 8 " of snowfall during the first night. Had a USGI arctic down sleeping bag and other cold weather gear. Not an easy thing even with the gear. Being in the wild in winter with the shirt on your back would not lead to a long life expectancy.

[mosbysmen]

i spent the night in 28 deg weather, i did have all day to build a debris hut , i was able to pile the leaves on from my finger tips all the way up to my shoulders .. every kid should be schooled on how to build a debris hut , we have had 8 year olds do it ..
of course we were in the perfect spot for a debris hut , another area we would have been in trouble.

[Cummins_4x4]

Used to do it often. We coon hunted alot, this was in Iowa in the 70's and 80's when the fur prices were close to $45 a hide average. We'd let the dogs run and hole up in a downed treetop if available. We'd normally have a space blanket or 2 and some coffee or tea to make and mess kits. It was great fun and very profitable. I sure miss it.

[uscgjason]

Had survival training up here in Alaska during the latter part of January. Fairly brisk temps here in the Sound. 3 days 2 nights and jus tthe clothes you floated in to the beach with plus a 1 gallon ziploc for survival supplies. Was fun. Learned what was important and what you could do without. No fires allowed the first night.
Jason

[cabofdoom]

Due to circumstances, I was homeless for two winters during high school. That I am typing this says that I made it through. Never went to the local shelters. couldnt bring myself to it. Urban camping in northern VT is not fun. slept in boats, sheds, snowbanks. No better teacher of winter survival skills than practical application.

COD

[Rifle_Guy]

I don't think winter survival camping is any kind of fun but winter camping with proper gear is the best. The woods are mostly empty and you have them all to yourself.

[Deltaten]

Another fella and I spent a cold nite in the NorthWoods the eve before deer season, 1969. 'Bout 15 mi. N. of Saranac Lake, NY. That's ,what?, 30 mi NW of Lake Placid? Gets mitey cold up there.

We went out w/naught but our guns, a school issued blanket per, and one poncho. Dressed w/one layer of thermals, jeans/flannels, and an old Navy Arctic bridge coat.

HIked into the woods in the almost-dark, found a likely spot amongst the Hemlocks and burtrowed in. A small fire was all tyhat could be kept going, and as it burned the frozen "ground" below melted and kept it damp and smokey.

We had intended to hunt out a bog the next day, but ended up camping at the edge...hence the "wet" fire! Worst part was the [unknown] dump, just 100 yd or so away. Lotsa noise, but no bears, thankfully.

By 1:00, we were both so cold that "spooning" was the only answer to stay warm, or should I say "unfrozen" Not real comfortable, switching positions and "who get the fire in the face next?", but we made it.

DIdn't see a damm'd deer for three hr after sunup, and gave up. MOre pissed off about that than cold.

Regards,
Paul

[No Dog]

The Soviet Army required every officer to spend an overnight in the Siberian winter with nothing other than their regular clothing and their greatcoat.

[Windustsearch]

Yeah, but w/o the knife or matches. I did have a flashlight and a 96 mauser to keep all the damn bears at least 30 feet away though. I dont recommnd it. Rained all night, cold.

[W.E.G.]

I remember one night when it was so cold, we had to put the little 7 oz. Budweiser "pony" bottles under our armpits, under our coat to keep them from freezing, so we could drink them. I don't remembe being particularly bothered by the cold. I'm sure we had matches. :devil: :wink: :beer: :shades:

Know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn’t get much higher

Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire!

All right, all right!
All right!

[Artful]

Yep, once with not much gear - not matches, boy scout training - used dried leaves to insulate wasn't smelling too well in the moring but enough musty/moldy leaves will keep you alive if not entirely comfortable.

once better prepared but was tryiing what I read in a survival book about using plastic bags as improvised sleeping bags. The work after a fashion but not as well as they seemed to think.:p

[ftierson]

I've done a fair amount of winter camping over the years, often in -25 degreeF overnight weather.

You do need some equipment to be safe, including a warm sleeping bag (and a way to keep it dry), stove, light, and good food/water.

With just the clothes on your back, a knife and some matches, you could survive a few days (but you better not let your fire burn out or run out of matches). However, it would not be pleasant and, if no matches, you'd be toast (and I don't mean that in a good way...).

It somewhat depends on how cold/wet it is, what clothes you have and your activity levels. If it's extremely cold and you have to sleep much, you can probably kiss at least your feet goodbye... Any circulation problems will exacerbate the problem.

Forrest

[redrum007]

yes and it was friggin cold! but those survival blankets do work

[fusalautoleger]

i had been involved project use in my teens i was cool did all kinds of camping .. what project use did was teach you the same things that ser school would teach this was in the early 80s . in north western nj long hikes with your pack (what ever you brung no one told us what to bring)im 16 read a bunch sof and new breed and eagle mags.. gleaned some ifowe went camping in jan 82 no snow forcast we were supposed to cross country skie.. no snow ..no sking.. but latter in the week it snowed and bad we slept under tarps had ground clothes sleeping bags.. it snowed all nite long till around 4 am then it turned to rain ..we had about 6 inches of snow allready .the rain came and melted the snow..got every thing wet 4 of us under the tarp..we just moved colser together ..i had a big blanket to cover all of us .. we made it thru alright.. the consulers ask us why we did nont got to their tents to get dry or warm ..we used what they showed us.. witch brings me to a nite about 5 years latter i was crossing over a mtn at nite in blizzared i knew there was stone shelter there all i had was the things on my back. and a bic storm getting worse i found the shelter a lean too ..lot of pine lot of hemlock i knew where to dry kindlen to state a fire got one going and rode the storm out still beat my friends home and they where in a van

[Treborer]

Yes.

Altough somewhat dangerous, I suggest that hunting, camping, hiking alone is essential to understanding of nature. No cells phones, trucks, tents, buddies.

Lite gear, no weapons.

:eek:

After you've reached that One with Nature kind of thing, increase your kit some.

[varmithntr]

in high school I was able to take a winter survival course put on by Eagle Scouts
temps in the -40 range.
we had 2 days of winter training and then they dumpeed us out in the Boundry Waters of northern Minnesota.
aslept in igloos, fished, snared rabbits. and just had FUN==
still to this day pass on the info I remember about it to my sons.:fal: :fal:

[Abominog]

Well, a few years back when my marriage was going to pot, one particularly rough night dictated that I get out of the house. So I suited up, went down the hill, and walked a mile across the frozen lake to the local pub.

Come 2am, pub closes. I walk back across the lake, and notice that the temperature has risen from about a comfortable 5 F to 15 F. I got to land sweating a bit, gloves off, jacket open. I looked up that hill, and said NFW was I going to melt climbing that SOB. So I put on my gloves, closed up my parka, and went to sleep.

Woke about 6am, nice and toasty, but with 4" of fresh snow covering me.

Does that count?

[Treborer]

Originally posted by Abominog
Well, a few years back when my marriage was going to pot, one particularly rough night dictated that I get out of the house. So I suited up, went down the hill, and walked a mile across the frozen lake to the local pub.

Come 2am, pub closes. I walk back across the lake, and notice that the temperature has risen from about a comfortable 5 F to 15 F. I got to land sweating a bit, gloves off, jacket open. I looked up that hill, and said NFW was I going to melt climbing that SOB. So I put on my gloves, closed up my parka, and went to sleep.

Woke about 6am, nice and toasty, but with 4" of fresh snow covering me.

Does that count?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for your Wise Service!

F-ing 'A" that counts, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" or "Cornholed is man by his own issue and beloved, that he might come to know a measure of loss as the lord did in Eden.

"A night in the snow,is worth two in some bush"

My byline says it all.

:biggrin: :] :bigangel:

[machinist]

Tell me if this is bad timing, my ? is about women and aren't they supposed to get hornier at 40 +[42], she has had a partial hysterectomy and just does not seem to give a damn if we do it or not. I,m 47 and horney as a bear. Married 22 yrs with 4 boys, is that it? I'm loyal, I assume she is.
Got pissed and said she needed hormone shots or something, and then she got pissed. I'm ready for the long walk in the snow over a lake if possible, WTF,WTF,WTF. Sorry, but I feel better. 3rd son, Joel needs to do homework, gone. Thanks Mike

[Windustsearch]

Hormones out of wack, bad juju.

[brownknees]

I've never had the desire to suffer like that willingly!
I'd personally add all the goodies that make show camping in the mountains, in winter FUN!
& probably take a little of my camping buddies, Mr. daniels & Mr. Beam along for company!:biggrin:

[randy lee]

I was a forward observer in the army reserves(extreme cold weather unit) we always trained in the winter time. The biggest challange was to take( or should i say leave) that first terd and drink enough water. Clothing was not a problem we had the best. Always keep an extra dry pair of socks all the time (trench foot is bad from sweat) We would train for two weeks in Jan outside in northern MN. Cooooold- always cold there. We would sleep in tents One guard on duty if you had heat or it was to be turned off. Sleep was more imprtant. One year it got down to -40 and never got above -10 the whole two weeks. God that first day was tough getting your exposed skin conditioned. The best tips EVER I learned in winter servival: 1) Keep your chest warm and the rest of your body will stay warm also. Those little feet warmers work great. 2) powder shower- powder yourself then wipe off with a towel. Can you imagine two weeks without a shower and only water for drinking.

[Infantry Marine]

Originally posted by mosbysmen
have you ever spent the night in the woods in the winter time with just the clothes on your back , a knife and some matches ?
I don't go into the woods without at least a pistol. Don't want to fight a bear with a knife. That would be friggen nuts!

[ftierson]

Originally posted by Infantry Marine

I don't go into the woods without at least a pistol. Don't want to fight a bear with a knife. That would be friggen nuts!

I don't go into the woods without a pistol either. But it's not for the bears...

Forrest

[Volksjaeger]

We used to camp out in the winter all the time when I was in the Boy Scouts back in the 80's (Camp Agawam near Pontiac, MI)...It was cold as hell but the best advice I got for staying warm was to strip to my underwear and huddle in the sleeping bag in the tent. Worked fine...but getting up in the morning was a shaking, shuddering and chattering experience! I'd dress and then would run right out and get the fire going, believe me.

Oh yeah...Fire is GOOD...!

[olsarg]

Guess no one ever visited Graf in Germany

[ftierson]

Originally posted by olsarg
Guess no one ever visited Graf in Germany

Visited, eh?

:)

Forrest

[Andy the Aussie]

Yep I have spent mor ethan just afew nights out here.....some i was sober.....errrr some I was not.....:whiskey: :p

The coldest night I can recall spending (sober and in control of all bodily funtions etc etc) was when I was around 15 and went camping in the mountains near where I grew up....although we had a tent and I a sleeping bag, by the early hours of the morning I was about unable to feel from mid thigh down, the cramps that followed were bloody terrible. It is one reason that I have always bought the BEST outdoor kit I am able to afford. My sleeping bag these days is rated down to -25C (expedition type) which for here in Australia is great.

Andy:beer:

[Will+1]

Have spent MANY nights in frozen elk camps at 8,000-9,500 feet. Was much better prepared though than matches and a fricken knife! One night near Chama, New Mexico we had to take turns every half hour brushing snow off the tent- all night long. We had over 30 inches of new snow on the ground the next morning. No big deal, we had 9 days worth of food, several days worth of firewood, real good clothing and Wiggy's sleeping bags. It did put a crimp on our hunting for a couple of days but it all worked out.

[FranzLiebkind]

To answer your question.

No.

You?

[Temp]

Some quilted long johns and a pair of canvas duck Carhart coveralls will keep you pleasantly warm down to a temperature in the teens.

I've been in a hunting came in the Cumberland mountains when it got down to 15. I had no problems keeping myself warm with the above mentioned clothing.

[Story]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091203/ap_on_re_us/us_tree_hunt_missing

MEDFORD, Ore. – Keith and Jennifer Lee were driving home on a remote mountain road, their prized Christmas tree strapped to the roof of their all-wheel-drive, when they rounded a backcountry corner and found themselves suddenly mired in snow.

Out of cell phone range, and unaware a search was under way, the couple spent three days and two cold nights before Keith Lee finally freed the Subaru and drove home, the tree still tied on top.

They soon heard new reports on the radio about a search that had begun Wednesday with a helicopter, Sno-Cats and ATVs. They called 911, then phoned a close friend who was taking care of their four children.

[mosbysmen]

wow ,this is a old thread .
i guess i have been lucky cause i have never seen a bear or wolf near my camp heard a few coyotes but they stay away from the fire.

doing it with the least amount of equipment i know i can do it with no
problem with my bob . it was like in the 20's here which is warm for you
northern guys but thats cold for louisaiana .
which is why i now drive up to the ozarks for the national bob weekend for some cold weather.

we do the national bob campout every year in jan ,i just pull the bob out of the totebox and go .

when i get back i repack it and replace the food for the next year and stick it back in the tote

[kullavan]

USMC COLD WEATHER MEMORY:

Spent 2 weeks in the Winter of Virginia in the USMC. That was back in 1982. I remembered how cold it was, and only with "shelter halves".

The hardest part was trying to stay warm. Those canvar tents did not have any kind of protection from the elements, and the pancho liner did not offer any protection from the cold off the earth as it penetrated the down sleeping bag. Getting up to take a leak was a terrible thing. Just went outside the tent.

It was not until the morning when the first cup of coffee made me warm. Then we marched and marched and marched after the sun came up. Long forced march was a true rememdy to bone chilling cold.

[SmokeEater2]

It's a tradition for me to head to the woods for a couple of days (all I can get :( ) during the Dec. deer season. If my tags are already filled I go anyway just for a little cold weather woods bummin'.

I'm a big believer in wool bibs,shirt and coat for those temps. A feathered friends down sleeping bag and a tarp and I'm set. A couple of times I've gotten lucky and had some snow fall while I was out,There is nothing finer than listening to snow "hiss" and coat the woods when you don't have a darn thing you have to do except enjoy it. :)

I've gotten caught a couple of times by staying a little too late and overnighted with just what I had with me but that always included a gun and at least a poncho to make a hooch out of.

[Jaxxas]

Me and a friend (not the cuddly kind) spent a very cold night in northern Arizona (Flagstaff) lakeside one night in late fall around about 1973. This was in Arizona on the rim just before snow set in for the winter (thank God!) We were about 17 and decided to go fishing at this 'new' lake we had heard about, and when we got there pretty early one morning there was a bunch of road work happening on the road into the place, and they wouldn't let any traffic in. Well we talked to some ol'timer who told us about a back door 4wd road and we went for it.

What was supposed to be a 1 day fishing trip turned into two. The 4wd road took us about 5 hours. The hike down (very very down) to lake side was another 2 hours or so. Got to the lake with fishing gear, jackets, couple of knives, and we did have some matches. We also had a one quart canteen between us, but water was the least of our problems. We fished for a couple of hours or so with no luck and noticed (we were young and very dumb!) it was getting kinda dark. Well we figured we should get while the getting was good, only it wasn't! We were in a pretty narrow mountainous canyon with a stream that fed the lake and as we started to hike back to the vehicle it quickly got too dark to navigate the boulder strewn stream, so we turned back to the lake and prepared to stay the night.

There was a pretty ferocious wind coming down the canyon that chilled us right to the bone, so getting a fire going became a priority, so we built a fire. Just as we were getting toasty, a big wind dumped a bunch of leaves and debris across our fire threatening to burn the forest down. We worked our butts off containing that fire. We spent most of the night either freezing, fighting fire or building our fire pit walls up with rock. Come first light, our fire pit was nigh onto 3 feet high.

Soon as we could see; tired, half frozen and very hungry, we headed back to the vehicle. The 2 hour hike down took us probably about 6 hours to get back up. Mostly the only thing I remember about the trip to the vehicle is that it was very steep going and I was very very hungry! Back at the vehicle we didn't have any food save a little jerky, and we had some more water. It was another 6 hours to nearest convenience store. As I remember they only had junk food, but we ate all we could buy.

[skeeterbay]

Not sure what your looking for here exactly but...

I have spent many nights in the woods in very harsh winter climates. Both in the lower 48 and in the interior of Alaska. Some of it was with just normal cold weather clothing. Other times I had extra gear such as a sleeping bag and several changes of clothes. I recall temps of -54 below on one such outing.

Years ago I attended arctic survival school. I am not up on all the new clothing they have out now days. But up here in Maine I use wool during the winter in the woods. I have wool long johns, wool shirts, wool pants, wool coats and wool socks. I dress according to the temp but it's with wool. I never use cotton in the winter period! Also I always have a small tarp, flint, compass and knife in my coat pocket. Along with an extra compass on my coat. That is my bare bones kit and it's all I need for a night in the woods. Building a snow shelter and having a tarp or poncho to use. Will make the difference between a rough night and a good night. You can get by without it, but it makes things a whole lot easier and better. If I knew I was going to be in the woods over night then I toss a sleeping bag and a hatchet in a trap basket or a pack.

In extreme cold weather such as the arctic. I still prefer wool inner layers but I also use goose down.


Skeeter!

[jnc91]

I'm posting from my blackberry as I lie in my hennessey hammock on a scout campout. It is supposed to get down to 24 degrees tonite. I will let everyone how it turns out in the morning.

[Firestarter]

Where you pick a place for shelter is key. Not just the building of the shelter.

Never camp in the bottom of a canyon if it can be helped. Try to at least get 75 to 100 feet above it if possible. The air that is warmed during the day rises. At night the cooling air pools down into canyons. There can be 15 to 25 degree difference.

Any large rock faces handy that have been soaking up any sun during the day? They will radiate heat back at night and can be helpful to pitch shelter next to. You radiate heat also and therefore lose it as well. Get layers of debris under you. As much as possible. The ground will pull heat from you faster than the air even. You can't heat up the Earth so guess which is gonna win.

Look for natural cover as well. A debri hut built under a low hanging tree is better than a debri hut alone. It helps keep your heat from radiating out into space. Loosen up your boots. The extra air that is allowed will act as insulation in itself. Tie or tighten sleeves and pant cuffs. This keeps the warm air inside your clothes better. Cover your noggin! Did I say cover your noggin? Yeah that one could do to be said twice.

Stay dry! Don't exert yourself to the point that you sweat. Period! If you don't have a fire to warm yourself and you are wet, you will likely die.

Anyhow just a few points.

[Bawana jim]

Why would I put myself in a position that I would let the elements kill me?

jim

[Firestarter]

Originally posted by Bawana jim
Why would I put myself in a position that I would let the elements kill me?

jim

To prepare yourself for that rare instance that you were not given the choice.

People tend to put themselves in unfavorable positions all the time, whether it involves financial, emotional, legal, or survival.

That's why.

[Bawana jim]

Originally posted by Firestarter


To prepare yourself for that rare instance that you were not given the choice.

People tend to put themselves in unfavorable positions all the time, whether it involves financial, emotional, legal, or survival.

That's why.

I normally learn from the mistakes of others so I feel no need to put myself in a position to let the elements kill me. While I have lived and worked outdoors most of my life and understand what the weather does I see no reason to challenge it in an unprepared manner. I am not about to risk my life and my family over a challenge. I guess some people need the challenge but I ain't one of em.

Plus how are you going to prepare for the other problems you listed?

jim

[Firestarter]

Originally posted by Bawana jim


I normally learn from the mistakes of others so I feel no need to put myself in a position to let the elements kill me. While I have lived and worked outdoors most of my life and understand what the weather does I see no reason to challenge it in an unprepared manner. I am not about to risk my life and my family over a challenge. I guess some people need the challenge but I ain't one of em.

Plus how are you going to prepare for the other problems you listed?

jim

Then if this doesn't pertain to you, why are you posting here other than to start an argument over something that is not for you?

My point was that life throws things at us. People DO prepare for those other problems listed. These tend to be personal and individualistic however.

There are formats for those as well. However we are talking about cold weather survival. If you don't have anything to contribute other than an argument then politely bugger off. :beer:

[308bolt]

Originally posted by mosbysmen
have you ever spent the night in the woods in the winter time with just the clothes on your back ,
a knife and some matches ?

It's been a long time since I've slept out in the Winter.
As of late I've been thinking about trying it again just to see......
I've never done it without a sleeping bag.
Coldest I ever camped out was about -5 F .
It's a learning experience even when you have what you think you need.

The coldest I've ever hiked was -25.
A friends husband who was a very experienced outdoors-man died of exposure around that same temperature.

For what it's worth.
I'd advise easing into it with proper gear before you try jumping into it with just the clothes on your back.

[brownknees]

There is nothing finer than listening to snow "hiss" and coat the woods when you don't have a darn thing you have to do except enjoy it.
I don't even remember where it was, but I'd forgotten that sound till I read your post.
Thanks for the memory.:beer:

[longhair51]

When I lived in Anchorage, I bought a new -20 deg. sleeping bag. I tested it by sleeping in the bed of my pickup on a -20 forcasted night. It worked. I also built a snow cave in my backyard, and spent the night w/ same bag. The worst part of both tests was getting out of the bag in the morning.

One thing that worked to my benefit, was that I was acclimated to the temps, having lived there for some time.

[Firestarter]

Originally posted by brownknees

I don't even remember where it was, but I'd forgotten that sound till I read your post.
Thanks for the memory.:beer:

It was the pool.

It was yellow and hissing. Did you enjoy the sound on your tent? :tongue:

[7.62srbest]

Only in the army. Keep moving if you can. We went on a night recon in Feb. one time when it was in the mid to upper 40's and not a cloud in the sky to hide the stars. We took minimal equipment, as directed by our platoon NCO's, and within 2 or 3 hours of walking into the woods it clouded up and began to rain. A combination of being 18/19 years old, wearing those great "OG" wool shirts and staying on the move all night made a miserable night survivable.

Same thing for a snowy night recon a couple of years later. I was on the team at the rally point so we weren't doing much moving. It started to sleet/rain on top of about 6" of crusty/frozen snow. I was watching the creek side of the rally point and crawled up under the only thing with leaves on it, a big holly bush. If you'd told me I could fall asleep in those conditions I'd have said you were crazy but I dozed off and the sound of the rest of the squad coming back and breaking through that frozen crust woke me up. The "walk" back warmed me up and I made it fine.

We slept in our sleeping bags many times inside those GI shelter halfs and I never got cold in that bag.

I did build a fire (it was a small one) in the bottom of a big crew served weapons position one night in Feb. I cut some cedar branches and used the matches in from the C rations/cigarettes to start the fire. I burned it most of the night. It was in the corner and we just snuggled up as close as we could and tried to keep our hands/feet/faces warm.

[ppo84]

yep, and it doesn't take long to begin thinking of murdering the little bastard that talked everyone into taking a "short cut". Who is now in his tent snoring away in his down sleeping bag while you're running around like a caveman using your undershirt as a torch to find firewood. Don't know how that 50lb rock landed there, lots of rock slides around. The rest of us just built a fire so big it could be seen from space.

[torquemada055]

How about stupid on a beach on Itsukushima Island in Japan in January?
We (4 young Marines) missed the last ferry back to Hiroshima and had no where to stay. So we found a empty spot of beach on the leaward side of the island and camped out all night above the high water mark.
Made a fire(dug paper out of trash cans to start it)and collected driftwood that we placed next to the fire to dry.
Some old fisherman came by and saw us, we kind of talked and he brought us some dinner and we traded him a bottle of whiskey I had bought in Hiroshima that morning.
Turned out to be a very expensive trip.........I had won the money for the bottle of Ballentines 75 year old Scotch in a game the night before and went to Hiroshima to buy it. My buddies talked me into the trip out to the island.
Only time in my life I ever had enough money and I only got 2 drinks out of the bottle.

Yeah, you live and learn, but that old guy made on heck of a deal on dinner...
He also brought us coffee and breakfast in the morning on the way to his boat.

Japan has some really great people.

[parisofthewest]

Had winter survival courses in N. Michigan in winter. Cold as a witch's teet. Camping in N. Michigan & N. Wisconsin. Cold as previously mentioned teet.

Did have good gear and packed it in. Biggest thing is to get out of the wind, even if it is by a small trench (shovel). Get a bivy cover for your bag. Down works best but only when it is dry. The good sleeping bags are worth the money. I have a Mountain Hardwear from about Y2K, 775 Down -40 degree. Has served well, in normal temps you sweat laying ON TOP of it. Use at least a closed cell foam sleeping pad.

Matches are alright. Lighers are good. Flint/Steel/Magnesium are better. Steel wool burns real nice. Try it with a battery sometime.

If in bear country, put your food up a tree with para cord. If you have a water filter, make sure it is as dry as possible to prevent cracking of the element.

Sleep with your clothes on, boots off, but put them inside the bag with you. A good set of snowshoes will go where skis never will. ATLAS makes the best besides MILSPEC. Wear gaiters.

Get a set of goggles w/ tinted lenses for the snow glare and to save your eyes. Yes you can get a sunburn off the snow.

If SHTF, move at night when coldest and bunker down come daytime. Almost all headlamp mfg. now sell red lenses. Batteries do not like the cold. Some lamps have a corded battery that you keep close to the body. Uses those goofy pronged batteries.

Last but not least. Have at least one bottle, marked/ribbed to be easy to identify in light or dark. Use it when nature calls. Holding it all night robs body heat, as does climbing out of your kit to write your name in the snow.

Parisofthewest

[Tuscan Raider]

Not lately, but I did sit in 15 degree weather last night for
1 1/2 hours to watch a Christmas parade.

[Bawana jim]

Originally posted by Firestarter


Then if this doesn't pertain to you, why are you posting here other than to start an argument over something that is not for you?

My point was that life throws things at us. People DO prepare for those other problems listed. These tend to be personal and individualistic however.

There are formats for those as well. However we are talking about cold weather survival. If you don't have anything to contribute other than an argument then politely bugger off. :beer:

:beer: yep, carry on.

jim

[W150]

My basic rules are.
1 Stay dry.
2 Stay out of the wind.
3 Acclimate
4 test your gear.

[Jez Cruzen]

I hate cold weather! More so the older I get. I dropped down into the lower 20's here last night. Not as cold as some of you speak about, but cold enough for me to know that I would prefer not having to stay out in it all night without the proper gear. Hell, I wouldn't look forward to staying out even WITH the gear!

I remember reading a book once titled "The Long Way Home". It was a factual account of a frontier woman in the early 1700's who was taken prisoner by an Indian raiding party while in western Virginia and forcefully marched to a main village somewhere on the Ohio River. She escaped, and the story tells of her harrowing journey back to her home. She was finally found and rescued as she wandered the wilderness naked and almost frozen close to where she was captured. Great story, and it demonstrates what a person can endure and still survive.

[sportsnut]

Originally posted by jnc91
I'm posting from my blackberry as I lie in my hennessey hammock on a scout campout. It is supposed to get down to 24 degrees tonite. I will let everyone how it turns out in the morning.








I hope you had some sort of insulation on the bottom side of your Hennessey. Let us know how it worked.

[Firestarter]

Originally posted by sportsnut









I hope you had some sort of insulation on the bottom side of your Hennessey. Let us know how it worked.

+1 Mine got pretty cool at Gunner Pool!

[bulletslap]

I had a car breakdown on me in the middle of northern Kansas over 20+ years ago, on some back road. My wife and kids stayed in the car under some wool blankets and every stitch of clothing that they had.

It was snowing, about a 20-25 mile an hour wind and somewhere around 10 degrees.

I took two cans of Coca Cola, and the winter clothes that I had on and started walking the 19 miles to the next town, about 2 or 3 miles from the town as the sun was coming up I caught a ride into town and found a wrecker.

Longest most miserable night I have ever spent, the Coke Cans froze in my coat pockets. As long as I kept moving I knew I wasn't going to freeze to death, so that motivated me along. Brrrr Brrrr....

[LAFAL]

Dad use to take us hunting/camping on our weekend trips to Ark when we were growing up. He'd pack along a large quilt and at dark we'd make a fire, a deep bed of dried leaves, lay down the quilt, fold it in half, cover the top with another layer of dried leaves/dried pine straw and crawl in. The 4 of us nestled in there was rather toasty.
Spent a cold spring night on a hillside foxhole at Ft. Riley in '82 on a night exercise. Only fatigue uniform (greenies) and a poncho to keep warm and it got down to a windy 30 that night. that was miserable for a Louisiana boy.

[ratas calientes]

Originally posted by machinist
Tell me if this is bad timing, my ? is about women and aren't they supposed to get hornier at 40 +[42], she has had a partial hysterectomy and just does not seem to give a damn if we do it or not. I,m 47 and horney as a bear. Married 22 yrs with 4 boys, is that it? I'm loyal, I assume she is.
Got pissed and said she needed hormone shots or something, and then she got pissed. I'm ready for the long walk in the snow over a lake if possible, WTF,WTF,WTF. Sorry, but I feel better. 3rd son, Joel needs to do homework, gone. Thanks Mike Depending on what was done for the hysterectomy, she may need synthetic hormones. She needs to see her Dr.

[Bwana John]

Had a couple of winter bivys (no tent, no bag) at and above 14,000 ft.

My buddy lost toes!

[sportsnut]

Originally posted by jnc91
I'm posting from my blackberry as I lie in my hennessey hammock on a scout campout. It is supposed to get down to 24 degrees tonite. I will let everyone how it turns out in the morning.




Originally posted by sportsnut

I hope you had some sort of insulation on the bottom side of your Hennessey. Let us know how it worked.


Haven't heard back from jnc91 yet..... Maybe he is froze inside his hammock.:wink: :uhoh:

[Dean P]

In the 11 years of trucking though all types of winter cold, I kept 5 things in my sleeper.

2 sheets & 3 GI thick wool blankets, sleep on one wool blanket & one sheet.
Then cover with one sheet & 2 wool blankets.

To do this for fun? No way in hell, but I still keep clean Gi wool blankets around.
And wool underwear handy

[Firestarter]

Originally posted by Bwana John
Had a couple of winter bivys (no tent, no bag) at and above 14,000 ft.

My buddy lost toes!

No wonder you don't find the thought appealing. :beer:

What were the temps?

[chromestarhustler]

i did winter camping once. huge bon fire, girls, booze, i chugged a whole bottle of jack daniels on a dare. i woke in the morning, sleeping on the frozen lake. now i dont winter camp or drink jack daniels.

[Firestarter]

Originally posted by chromestarhustler
i did winter camping once. huge bon fire, girls, booze, i chugged a whole bottle of jack daniels on a dare. i woke in the morning, sleeping on the frozen lake. now i dont winter camp or drink jack daniels.

So you got drunk while your buddies got the girls. They outsmarted you!
:rofl:

[mosbysmen]

Originally posted by Bwana John
Had a couple of winter bivys (no tent, no bag) at and above 14,000 ft.

My buddy lost toes!

wow, where was this i have only made it above 14k once so far

[Bwana John]

Originally posted by Bwana John
Had a couple of winter bivys (no tent, no bag) at and above 14,000 ft.
My buddy lost toes!
What were the temps?
wow, where was this i have only made it above 14k once so far

In the Sierra Nevada - Mt Whitney (twice), once at 13,800 on the wheelchair route in March(~ 20f) and once at 14,300 in January(~10f)after topping out on the Mountaineers route. My buddy lost the toes on Gannett Pk in the Wind River Range (~-20f) after getting pinned down in a snowcave at Bonney Pass after a winter assent.

I used to think it was cool to play the hard man. Stuff like Walter Bonatti sleeping in slings, on route, at altitude, while having small avalanches pour over you all night was bitchen (if you were hard enough). My hero's were and still are guys like Todd Skinner, Tobin Sorenson, Doug Scott, Dougal Hastons, the Lowe brothers, and other "Greater Range" climbers who regularly pulled off stuff like 8,000 meter plus bivys. Unfortunately many of them are dead now.

[hagar]

Originally posted by ratas calientes
Depending on what was done for the hysterectomy, she may need synthetic hormones. She needs to see her Dr.

My wife had cancer when she was in her 20's, had a hysterectomy, and is taking a small dose of premarin daily. She does not need "help" to get turned on, in fact I need help to turn her off.. ;)

And no, I am not looking for volunteers! :eek:

Having grown up in South Africa, I cannot comment on cold, since the coldest temperature ever recorded there was like -9C. I do remember ending up in a hellacious hail storm on my way from Johannesburg to Durban on a motorcycle, and sitting under a bridge for 4 hours smoking about a pack of cigarrettes to keep warm, and it was no fun.

Coldest temps I ever been in was a real -40 in Rochester NY, and I knew that it would kill you if you stay out in it long enough, it was beyond belief. Froze up the radiator on my new Honda, and the engine started overheating. Had to stop on a bridge to thaw it out, a trooper stopped next to me and offered help, told him I think it would be OK, but to make sure I'm gone next time he comes by.

Second coldest was -30C in Calgary Alberta, but I spent the time inside the ski lodge drinking egg nog with rum and eyeing the ski bunnies while my stupid friends went skiing.

I did spend a night in the tent elk hunting with the wife when it was snowing like crazy, and it was around 0F. We had a nice double sleeping bag, and it was actually pretty cozy. Just woke up every couple of hours when the snow was sliding down the side of the tent, sounded like a bear was clawing it's way in (according to the wife).

[bykerhd]

Lots of Arizona hunters getting the winter nite(s) in the woods experience right now according to the News. Quite a few have been rescued but there are still supposed to be more of them out there.
It's probably time for a few prayers for those so inclined.
Search for Missing Hunters (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,579930,00.html)

[Story]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_STORM_HIGHWAY_RESCUES?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- More than 100 people who spent the night in snowbound cars and trucks on a closed stretch of New York State Thruway were guided off the highway Friday, but travel remained treacherous in the southwest corner of the state and into Pennsylvania.

"It was very difficult. The weather was not cooperating," state police Capt. Michael Nigrelli said of efforts to clear the way for motorists to exit a 52-mile stretch of Interstate 90 between Dunkirk, N.Y. and Erie, Pa., which was closed because of howling winds and blowing snow about 1:30 a.m. Friday.

"People were cold, they were hungry and they were tired."

[mosbysmen]

thats why we always carry sleeping bags and bobs when we travel up north.

[torquemada055]

8,000 meter plus

So these guys routinely camp out at excess of 31, 680 feet give or take a few feet?

I think you made a BIG mistake on the height's, be more like FEET not meters.
But I got the picture and I wouldnt do it. Just not what I would consider fun.

[Tango 1Zero]

AR15 19 degrees on the arctic ocean shore in AK. Watching Griz and Caribou walk around in the snow fall. It made for a fun night. No wood there to burn.

[kullavan]

Originally posted by torquemada055
How about stupid on a beach on Itsukushima Island in Japan in January?
We (4 young Marines) missed the last ferry back to Hiroshima and had no where to stay. So we found a empty spot of beach on the leaward side of the island and camped out all night above the high water mark.
Made a fire(dug paper out of trash cans to start it)and collected driftwood that we placed next to the fire to dry.
Some old fisherman came by and saw us, we kind of talked and he brought us some dinner and we traded him a bottle of whiskey I had bought in Hiroshima that morning.
Turned out to be a very expensive trip.........I had won the money for the bottle of Ballentines 75 year old Scotch in a game the night before and went to Hiroshima to buy it. My buddies talked me into the trip out to the island.
Only time in my life I ever had enough money and I only got 2 drinks out of the bottle.

Yeah, you live and learn, but that old guy made on heck of a deal on dinner...
He also brought us coffee and breakfast in the morning on the way to his boat.

Japan has some really great people.

I left the USMC in 1982. That was a long time ago. Does the Corps has new gear now, or were you issued the canvas shelter halves that we used back then? I imagine the you probably are now issued with the latest all weather gear that is thermo insulated with much better weather protection for all weather. I had been out for so long now that I can only imagine all the fansy gear that your generation is now issued. Back in those days, we were still eating leftovers from Korea and Vietnam, C-rations. Finding can openers was one of the first priorities. That was when the MREs were being phased in. We were still carrying the M16A1, and using the M60 GPMG back then.

[Bwana John]

Originally posted by torquemada055


So these guys routinely camp out at excess of 31, 680 feet give or take a few feet?
I think you made a BIG mistake on the height's, be more like FEET not meters.
But I got the picture and I wouldnt do it. Just not what I would consider fun.

Try the math again Torky.

Doug Scott and Dougal Hastons bivyed at 8760 METERS on the South Summit of Everest after a successful first accent of the South-West Face in September, 1975. They came off the mountain with no cold or altitude injurys.

Doud Scott is still alive, but Dougal Hastons died in a avalanche in Leysin in 1977 while skiing the NE face of La Riondaz.

(8k m = 26,246.7 ft)