W is for wind chill...

[compilerbitch]

Well, last night wasn't fun. I don't know if my tent wasn't up to the job, or my sleeping bag, or both, but I froze. I was wearing several layers, two hats (yes, layers on my head), a scarf, gloves and really thick socks inside my sleeping bag (which is rated to -20C), and I found myself getting colder and colder. I dozed off a couple of times, but when I woke up shivering I realised that, whilst I wasn't actually hypothermic at the time, I would be if I got any colder, so I got up (this was about 2.30am/3am, I don't remember) and went to the mess tent in camp which has a diesel-fired stove. I then spent the next couple of hours huddled next to it, then I eventually fell asleep for a while.

What I *think* happened was, the design of my tent is basically pretty bad -- it seems to assume relatively little wind, with precipitation falling more or less vertically. However, last night it was basically raining horizontally, and since the outer fly doesn't seal against the ground, wind (with rain in it) just blows under it. The inner tent is fully enclosed, but the fabric is not waterproof beyond about 4 inches above the ground, probably to ensure enough ventilation in warmer climates. I am going to attempt to rig something more effective later -- I can probably get away with taking a few garbage bags and duck-taping them around the edge of the fly sheet, then weighting them down with rocks to make a seal around the base of the tent all the way around. It won't be pretty, but last night was horrible, so...

Oh, and the army cot I got from Polar Shelf broke too, so I wasn't a happy bunny. I've asked for another one to be sent out on the next Twin Otter, hopefully today.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I find a thermarest is warmer than a camp bed. Camp beds let the wind go underneath you so you're getting cold from all directions. If you do want to use a camp bed, then you probably need a thermarest on top of the bed, as otherwise you'll only have the squished bottom of the sleeping bag and the canvas of the bed between you and the outside - the squished side of the sleeping bag doesn't keep warmth in much at all, and if it's a normal army style bed, they don't have any insulation either.

Is it a down sleeping bag or an artificial fibre one? If it's a down one, then when they get wet they lose much of their warmth, so you have to be very careful about getting them too wet either from the outside (damp / rain etc.) or from inside (sweating lots).

You might get good advice if you posted on http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/

Also, one of the posts says something about sleeping naked inside a technical sleeping bag - this link
http://www.psychovertical.com/?maximisingwarmth
seems to sort of back it up - as long as your bag is rated down to the temperatures you're sleeping in. Personally I tend to wear a fleece or similar, but often have it open. That link has lots of other good advice too, like doing a bit of exercise just before bed to make sure you're warm to start with, and making sure you're eating well.

Joe

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

I am using a thermarest on top of the cot, which works pretty well. And yes, food makes a huge difference here -- I can go from feeling like a block of ice to perfectly OK just by eating a plate full of stodge. Stodge is far more enticing here than it is in California. Funny, that...

I am pretty sure my sleeping bag is artificial fibre -- it's a North Face Snowshoe. When there isn't a subzero, 98% humidity howling gale blowing through my tent it works great...