How to sleep warmer in the mountains

Introduction

Many hikers, hunters, and skiers often complain of being cold when sleeping outdoors. This mainly occurs in cooler climates, usually in the mountains, and often while sleeping in a tent. People don’t give much thought to their sleeping arrangements until they’re shivering in a cold sleeping bag under the stars! They then begin to think about what they could have done differently. But many people live in cities and are often not exposed to situations where they must create a warmer environment for themselves outdoors. Here are some tips from 40 years of snow camping in severe conditions in the Colorado Rockies.

a sleeping system

That’s right, you need a system! A sleeping system consists of several items: dry expedition underwear, a warm hat, a warm water-resistant sleeping bag, well-insulated sleeping mat(s), and some type of pillow sack (Thermarest ™) to store extra clothes. . Put your money into your sleeping system. This is where your mental and physical energies recover for the next day. If you don’t sleep well, you don’t ski well.

Heat

While you can get away with a 20 degree Fahrenheit (-7 degree Celsius) bag for cabin travel, a -40 degree Fahrenheit (-40 degree Celsius) bag is a must for winter tent camping and camping. in the snow. Minus 40 degrees is the only temperature where Fahrenheit and Celsius are the same. Recently, the outdoor industry has devised a way of testing sleeping bags called the European Norm (EN™) test system. Many outdoor companies now use independent labs to test how well sleeping bags respond to a standardized test. The EN rating label that comes with the bag will also recommend different bags for men and women, as women tend to sleep cooler than men.

Because of this new rating system, the difference between one company’s -20 bag will be much closer to another company’s -20 bag. Regardless, some people just sleep colder than others. If you’re the kind of person who uses an electric blanket at home, buy a -20 bag! It may be heavy, but you’ll be warmer and happier in the long run. Get a long bag so you can heat and dry your inner ski boots in the bottom of the sleeping bag while you sleep. Winter bags should have a good hood and a draft tube running the length of the bag to prevent drafts. Get a bag with double zippers so you can ventilate your feet if it gets too hot. Winter bags are cut narrower to minimize internal convection currents, resulting in more warmth. At the store, try on the bag and see if the zippers pull freely and don’t catch on excess material. Get a product with a lifetime guarantee and a good return policy. A clean bag is a hot bag. Always store your down or synthetic bag in a cotton storage bag so the bag can dry completely. Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions. Tumble drying a sleeping bag with a tennis shoe is an old idea and has been shown to ruin the delicate feathers of the bag. I usually take my bag out of the dryer and shake it to loosen any stubborn clumps of feathers.

change your clothes

Avoid wearing your day clothes for sleep insulation. Whether you know it or not, your body is covered in a thin layer of sweat, no matter how dry you feel. For maximum warmth, always wear dry underwear. The first thing to do when you walk into your tent or cabin is to put on dry socks and put on a dry hat. These items wear very little but provide great comfort. They are also helpful if someone in the group is very cold on the verge of end of hypothermia. They are just common sense. One strategy when snow camping or cabin skiing is to rotate two sets of underwear and socks at bedtime (expedition or medium weight, depending on the season). The next morning, don’t change. Underwear just changes roles. Sleep in a fleece balaclava for increased warmth paired with a fleece pillowcase stuffed with clothing.

some more tricks

After dinner, heat up some hot water and fill a plastic water bottle. Now put it in a sock and place it in the bottom of your sleeping bag. The sock prevents you from burning your feet with the hot bottle, because it will be hot! The insulation in your sleeping bag will keep you warm for many hours and help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep. Be sure to wear a stretchy wool and polyester hat at first, even if you get hot. It’s easier to stay warm than to go to sleep comfortably and try to warm up when you’re already cold.

Have fun out there!