- Eat foods with lots of fat content, like a handful of nuts,
just before going to bed to keep you warm during the night.
- Some say put on rain gear in bed if your are really cold.
It will act as a vapor barrier. Others argue that it will also
keep in moisture and your clothing will chill you in the morning
as the moisture evaporates. If you do use a vapor barrier, it
should be worn between a base and outer layer..
- Stop hiking before you are completely exhausted, especially
when it is cold and wet.
- In your sleeping bag, put on a balaclava hat and/or pull the
sleeping bag hood up and around your head.
- You will tend to hunker down into your bag when it is cold.
Just don't bury your head in the bag as breathing into the bag
will cause it to become wet and loose insulating qualities.
- If your back is hot and sweaty from your pack, but your front
is cold from the wind, wear your jacket in reverse with the
back unzipped. Put the jacket on before your pack and the pack
will hold it in place.
- After a day of hiking in cold wet weather, set up camp and
change into your dry clothing. Hang the wet clothing up to dry.
In the morning put the dry clothing in your pack and change
back into yesterday's clothes, even if they are still wet.
- Rather than take off clothing to keep cool in your sleeping
bag, unzip the bag and use it like a quilt. If still warm slide
it off part of your body.
- Air out your sleeping bag daily, especially if on a long hike.
Your lunch break is a good time to do this. Drape it over rocks
rather than vegetation for best results. Even wrapping it around
you as you walk will help if you can't take the time to air
it during a break.
- Carry wood, strike anywhere matches and some kindling, in
waterproof containers in your pack for starting a fire in an
emergency. I collect lint from our clothes drier, mixed with
Vaseline, for this purpose.
- The first week of winter spray your feet three times with
an aluminum chlorohydrate antiperspirant. After that, once a
week. This will stop 50 to 75 percent of foot wetness which
leads to foot coldness.
- In winter, rub your hands with Hand Sense. This cream was
developed by the military to block bad things from penetrating
the skin. It will keep your hands dry and consequently warm
inside your mittens. Hand Sense: North American Safety Products.
800-589-6536
- Clothing should be your main protection from the sun. Suntan
lotion can interfere with the body's ability to cool itself
by blocking perspiration and its subsequent evaporation.
- In hot weather, walk in the morning and evening and take a
long break in the middle of the day. Eat dinner during this
break and lunch food in the evening.
- Soak your head, hat, shirt, or your towel placed under your
hat, in lakes and streams to keep cool.
- In hot weather don't skimp on the salt.
- Ray Jardine uses an umbrella both for rain and sun. In the
desert this is a must.
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