28
votes
Under what conditions does heating a tent artificially make objective sense?
The general rule I use is if your tent needs to be heated to be comfortable, then you're "doing it wrong" and should have gotten a better tent. There isn't really any weather (especially backpacking, ...
- 2,800
19
votes
Under what conditions does heating a tent artificially make objective sense?
I would say there really aren't any. Even a hypothermia patient would get wrapped in a hypo wrap and the stove would be used to boil water to go into Nalgene bottles.
The problems with running a ...
- 69.4k
19
votes
Accepted
Why did people rub snow on frozen feet?
Was there any logic behind this practice (rubbing frostbite with snow)? Is this method encouraged /
discouraged by modern medicine?
According to Hypothermia, Frostbite and Other Cold Injuries: ...
- 24k
19
votes
Can one acclimatize to cold -- and remain healthy -- by enduring some chilliness at the beginning of the cold season?
There is some merit to acclimatisation, but you have to be careful if you're out in the cold for prolonged periods. It's also unclear to what extent you acclimatise in terms of just comfort, and in ...
- 26.8k
15
votes
Accepted
What is the most efficient strategy to melt snow using a stove?
For maximum efficiency (i.e. melted water per used fuel) make sure the following things are always true:
Always have some water in the pot.
Never have only water in the pot.
Having water increases ...
- 21.8k
10
votes
Accepted
Tricks for dealing with fingers numb from cold
Cold numbing extremities is partly due to cold actually at the extremities, and partly the blood reaching them not being very warm.
I've often seen winter runners wearing gloves and short sleeves. I'...
- 26.8k
10
votes
Accepted
Under what conditions does heating a tent artificially make objective sense?
This question seems dead, but I felt I had to chime in here. As a specialist expeditioner of Arctic regions as a photographer, sometimes heating a tent becomes a necessity over time. Damp boot liners ...
- 116
10
votes
Can one acclimatize to cold -- and remain healthy -- by enduring some chilliness at the beginning of the cold season?
I personally would take the safer perspective, and start wearing long underwear earlier than others, and adjust my outer layers as necessary. Long underwear is functionally little more than tight ...
- 4,822
9
votes
What is the most severe temperature that a proper snow cave can protect you from?
TLDR: -148 °F including windchill has been survived inside of a snowcave.
I went looking for cases of people surviving extremely low temperatures while inside a snow caves, and it looks like the ...
- 69.4k
8
votes
Drinking very cold water in cold weather at what temperatures is it dangerous?
As others commented, it depends. But unless you are at camp 4 on Everest or in a similar extreme situation, it won't actually matter much.
If you do the math or let online calculators do it for you (i....
- 1,067
8
votes
Under what conditions does heating a tent artificially make objective sense?
Assuming you do not count putting a hot water bottle in a sleeping bag as heating a tent (although it will eventually heat the tent), it only makes sense to intentionally heat a back packing tent if ...
- 10.7k
7
votes
Under what conditions does heating a tent artificially make objective sense?
Many adventurers have a stove on them, though not necessarily for the purpose you describe.
From "Obtaining Water from Snow and Ice" by Dryad (who offer bushcraft and wilderness courses:
Most ...
- 3,566
7
votes
Using liniment / heat rub to warm up feet
Depending on how cold the rest of you has got, warming the extremities by increasing blood flow to them may be a bad idea. They're probably numb in the first place because your body prioritises ...
- 26.8k
7
votes
Can one acclimatize to cold -- and remain healthy -- by enduring some chilliness at the beginning of the cold season?
I am more sensitive to cold than the average person, in fact more sensitive than anyone I know. I have very little natural insulation.
On the specific point about acclimitization: people vary a great ...
- 24k
6
votes
Why do my Scarpa Phantom Techs boots feel cold even in mild weather?
Because the proper mountaineering boots are not designed to keep your feet warm, but to keep your feet dry. It's the role of the socks to keep your feet warm, and the role of the boots to keep your ...
- 9,507
6
votes
Tricks for dealing with fingers numb from cold
A fast method that works if you are not really cold but just have cold/clumsy fingers:
Flick your hand, as if you want to shuck off a glove. This will get the blood rushing into your hand, just enough ...
- 4,700
5
votes
What was the temperature without windchill for the climbers that "Minus 148 Degrees" is written about?
From an ad for the book on the website of the AMC Store:
In 1967, eight men attempted the first winter ascent of Mount
McKinley, now known as Denali. They faced winds in excess of 150 miles
per ...
- 24k
4
votes
Under what conditions does heating a tent artificially make objective sense?
After reading the "you're doing it wrong if you need to" I'll take a contrarian view:
I've camped several times using an outfitter's tent -- canvas walled, barely liftable dry, and barely dragable ...
4
votes
Adapting feet to the cold?
Try wearing a pair of wool socks inside your footwear. I used to hike and canoe in MEC reef boots -- basically a neoprene boot with a rubber sole. I would wear a thin pair of polypro socks and a ...
4
votes
Accepted
Lightweight vacuum flasks / ways to carry hot liquids
A smaller flask is of course lighter, but loses heat faster and holds less. Your whole drink strategy needs to be considered.
A litre is a lot though, unless sharing - there's plenty of choice of 500-...
- 26.8k
4
votes
How does layering differ for cold weather vs extreme cold weather?
The layering system refers to technical properties, not to individual, single items of clothing.
base layer: something wicking moisture away from you
insulation: something keeping warm air around you
...
- 2,700
4
votes
Accepted
How can you judge the warmth of a synthetic/down insulated jacket?
Let's start with some general technical info, and then we'll get to the specific questions.
One way to judge the warmth of a down/synthetic "down" jacket is the type and amount (by weight) ...
- 4,073
3
votes
Tricks for dealing with fingers numb from cold
If you exert yourself to a high level or extended duration, blood flow is restricted in muscle groups you are not using (and certain tissues/organs not involved in the activity). It is therefore that ...
- 131
3
votes
Tricks for dealing with fingers numb from cold
I like to go trail running in the mountains in southern California. Sometimes in the spring or fall it's cold, and I have problems similar to yours. The following are not really tricks, but mainly ...
- 41
3
votes
Fact or Fiction: "If you want to keep your feet warm, wear a hat." (and the various explanations for it)
I'm trying to answer in a more empirical way than through scholarly articles but I think it's a good method to prove it to yourselves that wearing a hat does affect other body parts.
While there is a ...
- 5,065
3
votes
Under what conditions does heating a tent artificially make objective sense?
In my humble opinion, there is no condition where heating a tent makes objective sense. The impracticality of heat generation usually means that travelers who would benefit or need heating the most (...
- 5,065
2
votes
Under what conditions does heating a tent artificially make objective sense?
Never in place of sleeping bags and pads, or even extra dry clothes, but maybe as a backup.
If it’s a weather situation where you need the heat to avoid hypothermia, reliability might be your ...
- 3,476
2
votes
How does layering differ for cold weather vs extreme cold weather?
For extreme cold, I will put more emphasis on the extremities. For example, I might add:
Thin gloves as inner liners to gloves or mitts.
Skull cap or headband under regular hat.
Thin inner sock under ...
- 992
2
votes
The thickest neoprene suit for swimming?
5mm wetsuits are fine for swimming in water temperatures down to around 3 or 4 Celsius. For water around freezing, you will want a dry suit if you plan to spend much time immersed.
Be aware that there ...
- 25.1k
2
votes
Adapting feet to the cold?
You can definitely train cold resistance, yes. It’s mostly a case of continuous practice.
But in your case you might find it much simpler to just move your feet more. It’s very easy to shuffle about a ...
- 25.1k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible