Winter Camping Basics

In winter it is a little more critical to pay attention to yourself than in summer. Here's some of the basics:

Bring the correct gear and clothes

The VOC trip you're about to embark on probably provided you with a list for a reason. Check it twice. Notice how it says no cotton? That's because cotton is very cold when wet, takes forever to dry, and has basically the worst warmth/weight ratio going.

Boots are another thing which may have a tendency to cause misery. If you're not sure about your boots, consider borrowing some real mountaineering boots (preferably double-plastic, like ski boots) from the VOC.

Maintain your body temperature

Use layering to keep your body at the right temperature - don't let yourself get too hot and start sweating, and don't let yourself get too cold. As a general rule, strip down before you're too hot and layer up before you're too cold.