NNY2011WCT! February 4-7

[Jamie]

NFA, do you have any of those medical chests left? If you do, I'll put some money aside for one.

I do, and I can bring one along for you if you like...

Jamie - nfa

[CrackMunk]

Great link and thanks for all the info. I love learning new stuff.
wil be buying bulk hand warmers
and NFA I take one of those medical chest too if you have one left.
I will have a heater too but like everyone said it will roast you out of the tent. it's a just in case
and I'm trying to get everyone to share tents, more body's more heat, just common sense

[CrackMunk]

has anyone tried these in the cold? do you think they would work in sub-0 or would the gel freeze?
Double Doodie PLUS Waste Bags

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___80879

[Bster13]

They may, not sure, but we have the finest outhouses at this site.

[Festus Hagen]

They may, not sure, but we have the finest outhouses at this site.

Oh yes, so toasty-warm, clean and comfy. ROFL!

[Jamie]

has anyone tried these in the cold? do you think they would work in sub-0 or would the gel freeze?
Double Doodie PLUS Waste Bags

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___80879

I think that if you want a non-outhouse toilet option, that a 5-gallon bucket with a toilet-seat filled with sawdust or similar would work better than what you linked to...

It's likely not an option for the women on our trip, but I bring a 1-liter nalgene to bed each night to avoid having to get up/out in the middle of the night...it's tough to warm up again after the midnight pee-walk...

Jamie

[CrackMunk]

mayo jar is the best thing I think would work. wide enough, never had to try it. was thinking more for no2. but if you say there is an out house never mind!

[MikeM]

Polar bear holes are the only way to go in the Winter.

[Jamie]

I often use the hole that someone kindly chops in the pond...

Jk

Jamie

[Bster13]

I'm not.

Jk
Jamie

[Jamie]

I'm not.

Jk
Jamie

[Impus]

The pee-bottle thing is possible for the ladies, but this makes it a lot easier:

http://www.rei.com/product/407267

[Horatio_Tyllis]

I'm a gear whore, as are others on this thread. Feel free to give us $ amounts you want to spend on pieces of gear and maybe we can find a good deal. GL!

I dont' expect a good pair of boots to cost me under $150. I'm going to try marks work wearhouse since i have a gift card.

As far as a bag goes, I literally have no idea whatsoever what a good one will cost me, or even a good idea where to find one. I have an old coleman bag I inherieted from my brother in law, and I think it was rated to 0 degrees, but I know full well it will not suffice for winter camping. I was going to go to Tonawanda NY just over the border and check out gander mountain. That's where I got my ruck and it's served me well. I'm also planning on bringing at least 40 chemical hand warmers. If i'm a little chilly a half a dozen of thsoe babies at my feet will do if i have a vaguely warm bag.

As far as a pad is concerned I was thinking of putting down my air mattress with a horse blanket on top, and then putting me and my bag on top of that. That should do the trick no? I think I could also fit a couple of 3' x 3' pieces of pink syrofoam insulation in my trunk. a bit ungainly, but if the car is nearby, it will do wonders to keep you insulated from the ground. I'm willing to make a second trip for comfort so long as it's not more than a 10-15 minute hike.

[laditek]

The pee-bottle thing is possible for the ladies, but this makes it a lot easier:

http://www.rei.com/product/407267

I'm a little too paranoid about what happens if things like that leak to really try it, especially inside a tent. Just sucking it up and making the run has worked for me the past two years.

[Bster13]

I tend to get sweaty feet during the day, then they get real cold at night. So my cheap ass ponied up for these:

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/g ... x?a=552716

I don't think you need to spend anywhere near $150 to have warm feat. Just make sure whatever u buy verifies how much insulation it has. I went for the 2000g thinsulate.

The white "mickey" boots might be good too... they can be had for <$100 but are heavy.

As for the bag, Gander Mountain should have some good offerings, GL is the search.

W/ regards to the pad, just make sure it's not too thick. A thick air mattress is too much mass to heat with your body vs. the ground trying to cool it down.

I dont' expect a good pair of boots to cost me under $150. I'm going to try marks work wearhouse since i have a gift card.

As far as a bag goes, I literally have no idea whatsoever what a good one will cost me, or even a good idea where to find one. I have an old coleman bag I inherieted from my brother in law, and I think it was rated to 0 degrees, but I know full well it will not suffice for winter camping. I was going to go to Tonawanda NY just over the border and check out gander mountain. That's where I got my ruck and it's served me well. I'm also planning on bringing at least 40 chemical hand warmers. If i'm a little chilly a half a dozen of thsoe babies at my feet will do if i have a vaguely warm bag.

As far as a pad is concerned I was thinking of putting down my air mattress with a horse blanket on top, and then putting me and my bag on top of that. That should do the trick no? I think I could also fit a couple of 3' x 3' pieces of pink syrofoam insulation in my trunk. a bit ungainly, but if the car is nearby, it will do wonders to keep you insulated from the ground. I'm willing to make a second trip for comfort so long as it's not more than a 10-15 minute hike.

[feuer]

I'll add my .02 to the low temp gear discussion....

I am typically very warm blooded, so much so that so far this year i've only been putting around in a t-shirt and insulated hoody this year. If i'm shoveling snow than a t-shirt and hat is enough to stay comfortable.
Famine, on the other hand, seems to have a far warmer internal temperature based on what I saw him in last year.
Conversely, my GF's hands can be frosty to the touch in 50deg weather, which is already well beyond her comfort zone. She only goes camping in the summer.

Anyways, last year I brought a ground tarp, a 3-man tent, a wool blanket(tent carpet), 2x 1/2" GI foam pads, a 3/4" air mat, a 50deg bag liner, and 2x 20deg bags.

I slept in winter socks, and poly long underwear, with a wool cap, and I was comfortable.
Not "warm", cause warm can be bad, if not worse than cold due to sweating(moisture), but comfortable. I conducted enough heat to the ground to melt a body dent in the hard pack snow beneath.
The night I had some alcohol after dinner I got "the chills" and did not sleep as well as previously,.....so based on that info i'd say my gear is about right for the sub-zero teen temps we were in. And yes, alcohol wasn't the wisest of choices given the temps.

I thought I read somewhere about the insulation value of doubled bags,.......something like the second bag only adds half the insulation rating from about 70 to the two bags combined. Based in that, my two 20 deg bags are good to about 5deg below zero.

20 deg bag
70deg - 20deg = 50deg/2 = 25deg
20 - 25 = -5deg

The 50deg bag liner only adds another 10deg of insulation to that equation, so based on my comfort level and my gear, i'm comfortable with the given ratings and temps into the sub-zero teens. And thats the point.....

You need to be familiar with your gear and your bodys capabilities before you push into these extremes.

A back yard trial can work wonders, and i've done exactly that with all my camping gear at one time or another.

[feuer]

For my feet.......I found an affordable pair of very warm -25deg Alpine Design boots at Sports Authority last year for just $30.


But my Thinsulated Danner hiking boots and some good merlino wool socks can keep me happy too.

On that note,...bring an extra set of boots in case one pair gets wet, and be sure and change your socks every day or at least when you sleep. Even though you don't feel it, your clothes do retain body vapor/moisture, and that can destroy your insulation effectiveness even when you aren't sweating.

[CrackMunk]

The pee-bottle thing is possible for the ladies, but this makes it a lot easier:

http://www.rei.com/product/407267

I'm a little too paranoid about what happens if things like that leak to really try it, especially inside a tent. Just sucking it up and making the run has worked for me the past two years.

same here! what happens if you slip and the hose comes out! eeewwww and it doesn't work for the Back side evac! My chili has that effect. once going in twice going out!:twisted: LOL OK drop the sub. its getting pretty shitty! LOL

[CrackMunk]

feuer said: You need to be familiar with your gear and your bodys capabilities before you push into these extremes.
A back yard trial can work wonders, and i've done exactly that with all my camping gear at one time or another.

totally agree. I get a new pc of gear and I try it in the back yard during day and again at night to make sure I know how to use it and its going to work for "me". In fact we are doing a campout this weekend in the backyard. Not going to be anywhere near the temps but if we can make it here in total comfort then we will know what we need to bring or what not to bring.

@Horatio_Tyllis
Hubby has a similar pair of boots as feuer and swears by them. And I have -40 I got at Dicks sporting goods think I payed 40ish? Love them.
bring warm wool socks and plenty of them to change often. I will also be sporting fleece socks for sleeping and a just in case day sock, my feet get cold just hanging around.I was thinking about getting some poly-pro socks but haven't found any around here yet.

edit: just reread you post:"I'm also planning on bringing at least 40 chemical hand warmers. If i'm a little chilly a half a dozen of thsoe babies at my feet will do if i have a vaguely warm bag."
just be careful. did this at the Frontier campout. put 1 in the foot and 1 near my but cus I was cold when I got in (I know, I know you have to let the body warm the bag first) but I almost burnt my ass! No joke. ended taking them out and puting them in my boots.warm boots in the morning! get a good bag.

[SirSharpe]

... but then Derek can make (and burn) a nutritious and hearty stew from your remains for the survivors...

If Derek makes a cannibal curry - I'll eat him/(it)!

Need hammock help.

a. Clark North American Jungle hammock
b. "Z-liner" (kinda like an underquilt, specific to the CJH)
c. CCF pad inside the hammock
d. -15* mummy bag

Planning to hang as low to the ground as possible and use a large "Wal-mart" 10 mil tarp over the top "A" frame style with the sides folded in and as close to, if not touching, the ground; for wind/ snow protection.

Q: Will I live (note: I sleep cold, like "chick" cold)

[Bster13]

No clue as to what sleeping in a hammock in the cold is like, but for reference I have a -25F down bag and sleep under a tarp w/ down booties and I sleep "chick cold" too. haha.

[CrackMunk]

some one asked me this ques.: "will putting a "space blanket" between the fly and the tent help retain and warm up the inside?"
My concern is the condensation that might build up. What are everyones thoughts, concerns on this.

[CrackMunk]

... but then Derek can make (and burn) a nutritious and hearty stew from your remains for the survivors...

If Derek makes a cannibal curry - I'll eat him/(it)!

Need hammock help.

a. Clark North American Jungle hammock
b. "Z-liner" (kinda like an underquilt, specific to the CJH)
c. CCF pad inside the hammock
d. -15* mummy bag

Planning to hang as low to the ground as possible and use a large "Wal-mart" 10 mil tarp over the top "A" frame style with the sides folded in and as close to, if not touching, the ground; for wind/ snow protection.

Q: Will I live (note: I sleep cold, like "chick" cold)

tarp will work great. S beaners to close at the gromets is what I used. only hung twice up this is what I did I tied another hammock under my HH and put a 20 bag in that as UQ and 0bag in HH was warm as hell. but like I said "New to hammocking and winter camping"
you could built up snow around the bottom to close off

not the best pic


you guys and your chick cold! What is that supost to mean? every woman goes though a stage where she could stand outside in undies and melt snow in a 10' area. I'm finding I'm sleeping warm now. And by the trip hoping to be sleeping hot!

[MikeM]

Need hammock help.

My advise:
-Get a tarp that can be rigged with closed ends (I like a 12x12 or 12x14 size for this)

-Have over sized, extra roomy socks for your feet and a hat or balaclava for your head

-Spend some time in the hammock during the day to find where the wind is getting at you, and then reconfigure to stop the drafts

-After sleeping in the hammock open everything up to let the condensation from the night clear (this is especially important with the ccf pad, and the weathershield)

Remind me before the event and I can bring up a Primaloft under quilt for you that should add another layer of warmth.

-Mike