Freeze if you please backpack this past weekend report

Ok. If you guys think I am crazy. I will have to agree with you...(this one time only) GRIN!

8" of snow. Temps in the 16 degree. Spiting snow and sleet...we drove 20 minutes to Busiek state park and backpacked in and camped over night. Pictures and report at this link.

http://readyrangers.tzo.com/2013busiekfreezeifyouplease/2013busiek.htm

Mark Jones
p.s. We all lived and are glad we went.

Hard Core!!!

Motto of the Infantry, "Follow Me!"

Motto of the Signal Corps, "Call me when you get there!"

Motto of Special Forces, "You don't have to practice to be miserable!"

Hooorah! Whooo Whooo Rangers! READY!

I'd do it!

Wow.... 

That's cool! Nice report and pics.


Claymore, the special forces guys have earned the right to say that because they (y'all) have been miserable for the rest of our freedoms.

The Point there being that, if you can accomplish the Mission being warm & comfortable, then do so.

During Drill Sergeant School, I went through the Compass Course, and none of the other students were S.F. or Rangers, or Paratroopers: just line Infantry, Tankers, Artillery, and even some Admin-Types.

So when we finished the course, we were in the woods, it was getting dark and was about 40 degrees.  Some students were hopping around and huddling to stay warm.

I reached into my Ruck-Sack, pulled out a Non-Issue Primus Grasshopper Stove, a pack of Swiss-Miss Cocoa, and made a canteen cup of hot chocolate.

One of the instructors said, "I take it that you have done this before".

Dang Mark! I may have to copy you again and get that camp stove . I like that!

Mark, is a stove like that allowed in parks that do not allow open fires? does that fall into the same category?

Well. If there is a burn ban in place I would say no open flames and would use gas only. Yet you won't find that kind of condition with 8" of snow on the ground.

It's always good to check regulations or face a fine. I have never been fined but generally adhere to regulations.

IF you go out to the Pacific west they have more rules than a drug store has pills. So check it out.

In the SNOW it was perfect. Posted another video late last night of the stove in use during the day.

Mark Jones

With out the fire the trip would have been misery.
Most folks have no idea how to stay warm and dry in these conditions. The only real way to learn is by trial and error.

Yet I found out a long time ago..you can cut a lot of that out by doing some research and listening to those that DO it. GRIN! Lots will talk about it. Yet it's important to find the one or two that has it covered. WE have that same problems in Rangers. We have leadership in place that has no clue on what works. They just keep experiementing with walking in snow with cotton socks on. GRIN!

I shake my head at them. Yet I know they will never learn until they once again do what does work. Then the light will come on.
Mark Jones

Remember, don't knock any big rocks over...   

Ya. I have to remind the boys and younger men to not tear stuff up. They seem to gravitate naturally towards tearing stuff up.

I get to the point I want to tear their backside up with a big kick in the pants...then errr hum.. I see where it comes from. HA!

Mark Jones

Mark Jones wrote:With out the fire the trip would have been misery.  
Most folks have no idea how to stay warm and dry in these conditions.  The only real way to learn is by trial and error.  

Yet I found out a long time ago..you can cut a lot of that out by doing some research and listening to those that DO it.  GRIN!  Lots will talk about it.  Yet it's important to find the one or two that has it covered.  WE have that same problems in Rangers.  We have leadership in place that has no clue on what works.  They just keep experiementing with walking in snow with cotton socks on.  GRIN!  

I shake my head at them.  Yet I know they will never learn until they once again do what does work.  Then the light will come on.
Mark Jones

What other lessons should be learned before heading out for a winter camp? We've got our outpost Christmas party tomorrow night, the last outpost meeting of the year, and I want to give out information to parents regarding our upcoming cold weather backpack. Other than NO COTTON, what else would you recommend that I let them know for preparation?

In Cold-Weather Environments, the body loses heat primarily by two methods: CONVECTION and CONDUCTION.

CONVECTION is losing body heat by passing into the air around it. The best insulator is a vacuum layer. Since it is impractical to wear a Thermos Bottle, the second best insulator is Trapped Dry Air. The more layers of Trapped Dry Air you have, the warmer you will remain.

CONDUCTION is transferring heat directly onto another object. Put your sleeping bag directly on cold ground, and you will lose BTU's through Conduction.

If you wear properly insulated clothing, then you will primarily lose heat only from Convection (some conduction through the bottoms of your shoes/boots). If your clothing gets wet from rain, snow, or unvented perspiration, then you start to have a layer of water against your skin, your insulation will lose its efficiency, and you start to suffer more heat-loss from Conduction, which is a more efficient/dangerous transfer of Body Heat.

Always pee before bed and limit water intake prior to bed. Nothing worse than having to get out of a warm bag to pee. In a pinch an emergency 1 liter bottle should prevent the need to go outside to pee. Just cap it and set it outside to freeze.

I have a small portable camp heater that uses a small propane bottle to heat a tent. Leave some ventilation if you use this to provide heat for your tent. I would suggest directing the heat into your bag before bed. Be careful to not allow it to come into contact with your bag so it doesn't burn a hole in it. This should fill your bag with dry hot air. Get inside and seal it up quick to trap it in. I do a similar trick when working in the freezer warehouse at Walmart I blow hot air into my gloves 3 times and slide my hands in. My hands stay warmer longer.