Hot answers tagged camping
15
Bears don’t really hibernate, although they lower their activity during winter. Here’s one sample study of Black Bear winter behaviour in Sierra Nevada, California:
Thirty-nine (62 %) bears were winter-dormant for at least 2 weeks; the
remaining 24 (38 %) remained active all winter.
Here in Czech Republic we don’t have many bears, most of them cross ...
14
I see three priorities:
Make sure no one gets hurt
Make sure possessions needed for survival (food, tents) are not destroyed
Make sure the fire doesn't spread further and become a forest fire
If the campsite you're using is an officially-sanctioned one, this last is probably the least likely to be a problem. You have a large group of people, so you can ...
14
Should I understand a water source to mean a spring/well, or any place
where hikers may collect water (streams, lakes, etc.)?
Yes. Any source of water - no matter how large or small - should be avoided when choosing a camp site. 100 meters is just a guideline, 200 meters is better. 200 meters and out of sight is great.
The reasons are several-fold:
...
13
How cold are you talking about? When you woke up, was there ice on your tent? Or was it 50F outside?
Anyways, to sum it up, sleeping bags generally boil down to this tradeoff:
Pick Two: Warmth, Small Size, Low Cost
If you are car camping, you should be able to find sleeping bags that will go down to 15F for $50-$75, but they will occupy well over 40-50 ...
13
Yes, it is definitely doable. -20°C is only -4°F. The real question is whether it is doable by you at the level of discomfort and hassle you are willing to put up with. Only you can answer that. At best we can point out what the hassles and discomforts will be.
First, your fear of dying of cold in your sleep is silly. You'd have to do something ...
11
I hadn't seen any of these but a quick Google does indeed seem to bring up a few!
From a quick glance around, though this isn't an authoritative answer, it seems that 5 season tents are specifically designed for the harshness of Arctic-like climates, rather than a 4 season tent being designed more for your average winter in non-arctic conditions. I guess in ...
11
Depending on your activity level, access to water, etc, the types of food you carry should change accordingly. Some points to consider:
Dehydrated foods are great in that they are light-weight since they have no water in them. But they might not be a wise choice if you are dry camping with no water available (e.g. in the desert) since you would just have ...
11
I cannot answer directly if you are risking your life or not, however, it is quite possible to tent in -20C weather, given appropriate preparations and gear. Condensation, possible wind and snow-load are a few of the environmental factors to consider in your preparations and gear selection. The condensation one is critical, as damp gear (in general) loses ...
11
It's difficult to tell exactly how long wood you've gathered will last you, unless as an expert you can gauge an accurate estimate due to the type of wood, weather conditions and other contributing factors (theoretically possible, but above my ability level.)
However, there are different ways of constructing a fire, and one in particular is designed to burn ...
10
ALWAYS bring a patch kit for an air mattress. If your airpad is
going flat something is wrong (though perhaps the wrong part is just
getting a cheap mattress).
Get a pump that you can plug into your car (you're car camping after all).
Buy memory foam to lay out on top of your pad.
Do not inflate your mattress until completely taut. You want some
give ...
10
I think you mean "light" the fuel. "Lighten" means to reduce it's weight. It seems you want to ignite it.
The basic problem is that the vapor pressure of ethanol goes down significantly with cold. Keep in mind that liquid doesn't actually burn, it's the gas the liquid gives off combining with atmospheric oxygen that actually burns. If you have a fuel ...
10
Bear canister rules are often relaxed in the winter. However, this will depend on where you are camping. On the east coast, in the Adirondacks, the rule is:
NYSDEC Regulation Requires The Use of Bear Resistant Canisters by
Overnight Users in The Eastern High Peaks Wilderness Between April 1
And November 30. NYSDEC encourages campers to use bear ...
9
To get a long lasting fire, you have to limit the cumbustion somehow. Think embers as apposed to much flame.
Wood stoves are specifically engineered to allow you to control the rate of combustion. This is done by controlling the air intake to the fire, which limits oxygen, which limits the combustion rate. A wood stove can be built nicely sealed, so the ...
8
Here's a few, some are mentioned in comments but I figure I would elaborate.
Clothes This was mentioned and you noted it wasn't particularly worthwhile on a shorter trip because you don't have many clothes. I typically go ultralight, so my spare clothes are close to nothing but I always have some sort of insulation (unless it's going to be 70+ degrees the ...
8
This has now been brought up on skeptics.stackexchange.com.
Presumably you were looking at the contraindication for before surgery:
Not recommended for:
Upcoming Surgical Procedure
Large amounts of garlic may increase the risk of bleeding by thinning your blood.
Thinning the blood like that is precisely the same effect that makes it ...
8
I'm going to assume and interpret a little, and forgive me please if I put words in your mouth. What you really seem to be asking is: "Do I have to spend mad cash to stay warm?" I would say, in 50F (10C), certainly not!
With each item, I give my "cheap", and "good but costly" options (I have no associations with any company)
Make sure you have a ground ...
7
My experience tell me this: sleep naked always if there's no sign of a possible avalanche.
I've been in many high altitude expeditions in three Continents and have explored many vertical and horizontal caves and underground systems. Sleeping bags are best when they're good. Don't try to get a cheap offer and trade it for your safety or comfort.
In ...
7
I camp in the Appalachians (pretty darned wet). We have had the same Kelty tent for over four years with anywhere from six to twelve trips per year. We've never waterproofed it. It still repels water and performs very well. It poured rain for over 12 hours our last trip and the kiddos in the tent stayed dry.
I'd say waterproof when you have an issue. ...
7
The simplest ones are like this, and even the more complex ones are typically broadly similar.
Usage is to have set your peg at a useful distance (ie not too close to the tent, as it won't hold the pole/skin out, and not too far away as you might trip over it) and pop the loop round the peg.
Then just slide the tensioner up the guy rope until tight.
...
7
Hydrostatic rating on a tent is the highest column of water a material can withstand for up to one minute before the water starts to penetrate (assuming good seams, no damage etc)
The ratings translate as follows (have seen these quoted in a couple of places, this is from campingcrazy.com)
1000mm or less is considered shower resistant and will soak up ...
7
A sleeping bag is like any other purchase, you'll get exactly what you pay for! Unfortunately, sleeping bags are used in many different situations/climates. A sleeping bag you carry and use in the summer months when the lower temperatures are 60 or 70 degrees at night, won't begin to work when you camp in the fall/winter/spring and the temperature lows are ...
7
In addition to great strategy advice by Kate Gregory and berry120, there are some technical points.
Take a deep breath
If there is no immediate health/life risk, take a deep breath and think a little. 1-5 minutes of planning beforehead will help you do important things first, and avoid doing unnecessary or dangerous things.
At this time, you will decide, ...
6
When we car camp the night before a canoe-camping trip, we bring an extra comforter from home and put it on top of the Thermarests, under our sleeping bags. We also bring pillows. These combine to produce a luxurious sleep as far as we're concerned. I've also slept on my fair share of air mattresses, mostly in houses, and if they don't go flat they're fine. ...
6
Sometimes, regardless of the pins, it's simply impossible to put pins into the ground no matter the technology. In such a situations, boulders may be your friend:
Raising a tent between Baugevatnet and Sijdasjávrre, near Narvik, Norway, ~68.1°N, 1 October 2012. The ground was frozen solid and it was completely impossible to drive a peg into the ground.
...
6
The big advantage that classic dome tents will have with strong winds is the addition of the guy ropes. With a popup tent, in high winds the stress will be on the tent itself, with guy ropes the stress is on the ropes and (when erected properly) a certain amount is channelled down to the ground via the pegs.
Now this isn't to say popup tents will break the ...
6
Camping on a slope is really quite common, and while an extreme slope can cause problems a mild one shouldn't and is all part of the experience! I find it comfier to set the tent so I'm sleeping at an angle rather than rolling against one side, so that may be something to consider.
Likewise if there's just a relatively rocky surface you should be ok - if ...
6
No. It's a good thought, but I have had one that I have inflated by mouth for over 10 years. I usually store it valve open partially inflated. I live in Arizona and the temp in the shed can get to over 150 degrees F some days so valve closed would cause the bubble to pop. It has never given me trouble.
I have heard that this is an issue from people who ...
6
I am not really an expert in winter camping but I do live in the northern part of the Appalachians. You should base your decision on the following criteria:
Snow: what is the amount of snow that you could expect in one day? If it is more than 10 cm, you should probably choose a 4 seasons tent because snow accumulation can make a roof collapse
Winds: will ...
6
Make sure your fuel container is not in direct contact with the ground. It'll suck the heat right out of your fuel, reducing vapors.
Warm your fuel first (armpits work, closed container obviously)
If you are using actual alcohol, you're going to have trouble below freezing. As Olin mentioned, the vapors are what burn, and alcohol just doesn't produce ...
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