Most people are curious to find the best ways to stay warm while camping in the wilderness. We all know Camping is a very fun experience and can be quite an adventure.
You and your family or friends huddled around a little bonfire roasting marshmallows and telling stories, simply just having fun. You are surrounded by so many tall trees and the weather just keeps getting cold.
You are losing body heat quickly and the most ideal thing would be to keep the fire burning till morning. But what if you are stuck with wet wood or in a land with fire bans?
Hypothermia, frostbite, brain fog, and shivers are just but a few dangers you could encounter if you are caught in the wilderness in cold weather.
Survival Tips To Stay Warm While Camping In The Wilderness
Due to the above threats, we have come up with a few survival tips to stay warm in the absence of a fire or if you are even just lost or alone in the area. They are cheap and extremely efficient albeit unconventional.
Layer Up.
Three layers are considered better than one. This involves using more clothes to insulate by creating air pockets to heat up. When you get slightly hot, you take off a few layers and when it’s cold, you put it back on. Let the layers of clothes act as a thermostat for you. But the objective is to stay warm and not sweat because you would lose your air pockets and essentially heat if you do. Also, damp clothes cold so you need clothes that dry quickly.
Body Contact
This may be old fashioned and maybe be even be considered unhygienic for some people but it’s proven to be effective. Huddling together without necessarily touching is a great way to maximize heat. This is really great for enclosed spaces like tents but could also be your go-to option for open spaces too.
Camp Debris Beds.
It is usually used during survival courses in the mountains, especially when the weather is too dry to use both a tent and fire. And just as the name suggests, it is made up of debris such as leaves, moss, pine needles, cattails, etc. The first step is to make a large mound by piling debris [1]till it’s at least waist high and a few feet longer and wider than you.
Once you have created your mound, create a space large enough to contain your body and lie down. Lastly, cover your body with the removed debris leaving only your face. This will keep you warm and toasty. You don’t need an additional layer, the clothes on your back will suffice.
Insulate With Nature.
In the absence of extra clothing, you could use dry leaves. Simply stack dry leaves into your clothes and it will keep you warm. In the day time, you could lean on thermal faces like a rock, dirt, wood. Then face the sun and absorb as much heat as you can. This way you kill two birds with one stone; refuel your energy by resting and also stay warm. Be careful not to disturb any animal while trying to use this step.
Eat Up.
Good nutrition is encouraged during cold weather because heat is produced during the process of digestion. Foods that contain fat and oil, carbohydrates, and spicy food are the most effective. Also stay hydrated and avoid alcohol and caffeine. Coffee causes the heart to pump faster which causes heat loss to the body. A hot cup of chocolate is a great replacement.
Keep The Wind Out.
Shrink your tent or living area to reduce the influx of wind. Smaller living spaces are easier to heat up. Avoid leaving your tent open and don’t go out if it’s unnecessary.
Always Go For A Bathroom Break.
If you are trying to conserve heat, then avoid storing up urine in your body. There’s no need to heating up waste. Whenever you feel like using the bathroom, make sure you answer that nature’s call. Possibly, force yourself to pee before going to bed.
Stay A Little Bit Active.
It’s good to conserve energy but that doesn’t mean you should become completely dormant. Staying inactive causes the heart to slow down which leads to reduced radiation. So you can either walk around for a bit or you do some jumping jacks. Just enough to get you energized but not sweaty.
Close Your Mouth.
Aside from hygiene, this is the most part of heat retention. Closing your mouth prevents cold air from entering your body. If you are stuck in a snowing area, avoid eating the snow. But you could also use the snow to make a shelter as it is an insulator. If you have asthma, cold, or suffer from any other breathing issue, this tip is extremely important to you.
Pad Your Sleeping Bags.
If you came with a sleeping bag for your camping trip, the ground could be too cold to put a single sleeping bag on the floor. It is in your best interest to avoid anything that could cause your body to have contact or to feel the cold from the ground. Put foam on the ground before placing your sleeping bag on the foam. You could also decide to replace the foam with a little mound of the debris before placing your sleeping bag on it.
Stay Dry.
Avoid wet clothes, fog, and rain as much as you avoid your enemy. Wet clothes are equivalent to an invitation to frostbite and hypothermia. Also, avoid overexerting yourself to prevent sweating. If you are on the move, go with at least two sets of clothes and move only in the day.
The most effective would be to only travel when necessary and if you must go camping, be well prepared with thermal gears and a nice big safety blanket. Armed with these, camping just got a lot easier and fun.
Glossary
Jack Raven Bushcraft [Link]
