July 17th, 2018
Need an opportunity to get out of the house and enjoy the Alaskan summer before it's over? Maybe the...
Just to make your life outdoors in the cold just a little easier...
Before you turn in, turn your water bottle upside down so it freezes from the bottom up. Score some drinkable, AKA liquid, water at the top. Insulate it for best results!
Using a quality water bottle such as Nalgene - heat some water over the campfire, pour it into your water bottle (might want to test this before camping) and sleep with it at your feet. Bonus: non-frozen water to drink in the morning.
Shove tomorrow’s clothes into your sleeping bag tonight. Avoid that cold climb out to put on cold clothes.
Switch your alkaline batteries to lithium ion since they do much better in cold temperatures.
Keep it on the cheap and use a simple closed cell foam pad (old yoga mat) or two to separate you from the cold ground, works wonders under an air pad as well to keep the chill away.
Feet always cold? Carry disposable stick on toe warmers on every cold weather outing, you will likely find multiple opportunities to use them.
Bring ready to go tinder for fire starting such as steel wool/vaseline, cotton balls/vaseline, or sapwood shavings. Tip - any petroleum based lip salves will burn in a pinch.
Wrap metal fuel canisters with duct tape so you don’t get frostbite when you touch them.
Bring an extra stove in case one fails in the frigid weather. Having instant warmth is crucial.
Every person on the trip should pack a reliable headlamp for those loooong, dark winter nights. Bring extra batteries!
