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Cold camping
>> Winter offers challenges even seasoned
outdoorsy types need to respect
PUTTING THE “WHITE” IN WHITE MOUNTAINS: Sleeping...by ERIK LEIJON
When braving the outdoors in -20 degree weather, preparation is all that separates the seasoned winter camper who comfortably acclimates to nature and the novice who must retreat to the cabin. Anything from a wardrobe malfunction to frozen appendages can befall an inexperienced winter camper. Stephen Gorman, a Vermont nature photographer and author of the Winter Camping Handbook (the third edition was released this year) and David Guinard, a 25-year old McGill physical education student with a passion for mountaineering, have both experienced the harshness and beauty of the frozen wilderness.
Conventional nomenclature associates the cold climate as something to be conquered; a harsh, soulless competitor only the most virile of weekend warriors can slay. “That kind of attitude will get you killed,” says Gorman, who has a deep affection for Quebec, having explored such spots as the Torngat mountains near Labrador and the Chic Choc mountains in the Gaspé. “You have to carry an attitude of humility when you’re in the winter wild. The minute you stop listening to the signs nature is giving you, you will get yourself in trouble.”
. ..climbing...Sweat, snow and water
Most important when planning for a winter camping expedition, irrespective of the trip’s length, is staying warm. Guinard, who also works at the Fairview mall’s outdoor clothing retailers Atmosphere, and Gorman are in agreement that staying dry is the way to stave off hypothermia or other cold weather ailments. Dressing right means wearing three specific layers of clothing. The first is a skin layer that clings to the body and allows for sweat wicking—the process of sweat being absorbed into the clothing. The second is a warm, fleece layer, and the third, outer level should protect against wind and rain.
“If you’re doing aerobic activities, make sure you get a little chill when you’re idle, so that when you start working, you’re not going to overheat,” says Guinard, who practises ice climbing and has trekked Mount Katahdin in Maine as well as the White Mountains in New Hampshire.
Snow, both omnipresent and abundant during the winter months, can be either friend or foe. If backcountry skiing around mountains, Gorman says paying attention to snow formation is key to avoiding getting caught in an avalanche. Cracks in the snow, ski poles puncturing through dense layers of snow or minor slides on the same slope angle as your own should be telltale signs to vacate for safer ground.
It’s also possible to become severely dehydrated, and since any water you bring will freeze quickly, melting snow and ice is an effective way to replenish the body with liquid—and a few pollutants. Guinard boils snow with a small liquid fuel stove. He recommends drinking two litres in the day and guzzling several more litres at night. “You don’t feel as thirsty in winter, but the truth is you need even more water than in summer because your body is working extra hard to stay warm,” he says.
Nature trip
Gorman doesn’t recommend using a stove on extended trips because building a fire uses tools provided to him by nature, and it gives a much larger heat source. To reduce the effect of human involvement on nature sites, common camping etiquette requires one to practice the Leave No Trace Principles, which were set by the nonprofit organization of the same name.
Both Gorman and Guinard have tackled some pretty tough mountains and climates, from the Arctic to Appalachians respectively, but recommend first-timers get a feel for the outdoors before hitting a difficult trail. “You need a margin of error,” cautions Gorman. “Go to a municipal or local park first and try out the equipment, so if something goes wrong you can get in the car and drive home.”
...and eating. |
