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| WINTER CAMPING SHELTERS |
Shelters are important, in planning consider the experience of your group. Your first experience should be in a
cabin, the next could be in a tent with a cabin nearby as a backup. Once you are comfortable with your
experience and training you can progress to other type of shelters.
Cabins
· The key consideration - should be how will it help us train for more extensive cold weather trips
Tents
· Strength - to withstand wind and snow, rated to be a 4-season tent
· Ability to shed snow - roof line must allow snow to fall off, otherwise weight will cause a collapse
· Internal space - to allow for all the bulky gear brought along
· Rain fly - helps reduce condensation in the tent and provides better insulation (creates "dead" air space)
· Frost Liner - hung inside the tent, allows moisture to pass and provides another layer (insulation)
between you and the ice that forms due to condensation
Leantos
· The key consideration - can they be sufficiently enclosed with tarps to further reduce the impact of the
wind
Snow Shelters
· Fun and Useful - with proper supervision and precautions and adhering to low impact camping policies
· For experienced - winter campers, first timers should try it while camping in a cabin or tent first
· Safety issues - do not attempt if temperature is above freezing, research how to properly build these
shelters, proper ventilation is a very important factor, the snow must be allowed to set for 1 to 2 hours
before digging out the interior, keep digging tools inside for unexpected exit if necessary
· Quinzees - building snow mound shelters is a wet process, make sure you have waterproof gear on and
good shovels for making the mound and digging out
· Snow Cave - important to make sure ventilation is adequate
· Igloo - need snow of proper consistency to pack into hard blocks, takes a great deal of time and energy
· Snow Pit - combination of snow, staves and tarp
cabin, the next could be in a tent with a cabin nearby as a backup. Once you are comfortable with your
experience and training you can progress to other type of shelters.
Cabins
· The key consideration - should be how will it help us train for more extensive cold weather trips
Tents
· Strength - to withstand wind and snow, rated to be a 4-season tent
· Ability to shed snow - roof line must allow snow to fall off, otherwise weight will cause a collapse
· Internal space - to allow for all the bulky gear brought along
· Rain fly - helps reduce condensation in the tent and provides better insulation (creates "dead" air space)
· Frost Liner - hung inside the tent, allows moisture to pass and provides another layer (insulation)
between you and the ice that forms due to condensation
Leantos
· The key consideration - can they be sufficiently enclosed with tarps to further reduce the impact of the
wind
Snow Shelters
· Fun and Useful - with proper supervision and precautions and adhering to low impact camping policies
· For experienced - winter campers, first timers should try it while camping in a cabin or tent first
· Safety issues - do not attempt if temperature is above freezing, research how to properly build these
shelters, proper ventilation is a very important factor, the snow must be allowed to set for 1 to 2 hours
before digging out the interior, keep digging tools inside for unexpected exit if necessary
· Quinzees - building snow mound shelters is a wet process, make sure you have waterproof gear on and
good shovels for making the mound and digging out
· Snow Cave - important to make sure ventilation is adequate
· Igloo - need snow of proper consistency to pack into hard blocks, takes a great deal of time and energy
· Snow Pit - combination of snow, staves and tarp
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Credits: Boy Scout Handbook Copyright 1998 by the Boy Scouts of America Field Book Copyright 1967, 1984 by the Boy Scouts of America Okpik: Cold-Weather Camping Copyright 1990 by the Boy Scouts of America OA Guide to Winter Camping Copyright 1995 Rick Curtis, Outdoor Action Program, Princeton University |