To fully enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer, we need to immerse ourselves into her gifts first hand.

Comfort:

• Many consider this our greatest NEED

• Reevaluate being comfortable vs. what it takes to survive

• Discomfort should be seen as a temporary problem, NOT a major catastrophe

GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT

ZONE!

We need to be prepared both physically and mentally.

Hypothermia

Def: The gradual cooling of the body core to the extent that metabolism is affected and death could result.

Methods of Heat Loss:

• Conduction: Through direct contact between two solid objects. • Convection: Through a moving fluid. Moving fluids pull heat

away (air, water).

• Evaporation: From converting water from a liquid to a gas.

• Radiation: Heat is a form of electromagnetic radiation called infrared.

• Respiration: A dog must pant to lose excess body heat since they cannot sweat. Humans lose heat

this way as well. Breathing into a mask or scarf helps prevent this.

Physiological Temperature Control

• Vasodilation: Increase surface blood flow; increase heat loss to cool body (alcohol expedites this factor).

• Vasoconstriction: Decrease blood flow to the extremities to decrease heat loss. Nicotine and caffeine expediting this factor.

• Sweating: Cools body through evaporation. • Shivering: Generates heat through increase

muscle activities.

Conditions Leading to Hypothermia

• ***WET***• Cold• Fatigue• Exhaustion • Dehydration• Lack of Nutrients• Alcohol

Signs of Hypothermia:

‘The Umbles’: Stumbles, Mumbles, Fumbles, Grumbles, (Loss of Motor Coordination)

1) Mild: Shivering

2) Moderate: Loss of motor skills, slurred speech, violent shivering, grumpy.

3) Severe: Shivering in waves, can’t walk, skin pale, pupils dilated.

Treating Hypothermia:

1) Reduce Heat Loss: Dry cloths, shelter, layers.

2) External Heat: Body to body contact, fire, warm liquids.

3) Add Fuels: Food high in carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

4) Internal Heat: Physical activity (move around).

Frostbite:• Def: Freezing of cells due to vasoconstriction

(fingers, nose, ears).• More on this…

Frostbite:Approach: Because of loss of blood, the tissue

appears white.

Lack of blood leads to death of the tissue.

Advanced stages include black skin. May lead to gangrene and amputation.

Frostbite:When on our Outdoor labs, students need to keep an eye on each

other. Look for white ears, nose, shivering, umbles, etc. (Cold hands and feet can be placed on the bare skin for warmth).

FROSTBITE

Clothing Intro…

• Whether on a short day trip or an extended expedition, proper cloths for an outdoor activity is a must.

• Cotton, even on a warm day while backpacking, holds so much water that it will chafe your skin while walking. Likewise, on a cold day it will cause chilling after performing vigorous activity. A good camper should be aware of the superior fabrics and insulators available.

Factors:

• Breathability: Well designed or high tech clothing allows warm moist air to escape from an active camper. Open weave and knits allow fullest passage of moisture. Tightly woven fabrics don’t breath as well.

– Wind resistant shell – prevents convective heat loss and allows some breathability.

– Zipper down – allows maximum breathability.

Factors:

• Water Resistant Garments: will turn a light rain for only a brief period. Fabrics ability to swell when wet and close up the holes between yarns. Chemical additives such as scotch guard help.

Factors:

• Waterproof: Garments that are rubber or plastic coated are not breathable. These will keep you dry when sitting or standing in the rain. An active person looking to stay dry in the rain should consider a Gore-Tex garment. Gore-Tex is designed to allow water vapor from perspiration to escape, yet blocks liquid water.

Rain Gear Coatings

• Neoprene (rubber)

• Polyurethane

• Gore-Tex

– Combines waterproof and breathability in one unique fabric. Tiny pores allow water vapors to escape, but don’t allow water to come in.

Natural Fibers• Cotton

– Highly absorbent and comfortable next to skin for moderate activity.

– Poor cold weather liner.

• Wool– Even when wet, the insulation value is only slightly diminished.– Relatively low strength and poor wind resistance. For this

reason, wool garments are frequently blended with nylon.

• Silk– High strength fibers.– Thinnest and one of the most absorbent of all natural fibers.– Drapes well and is pleasant to the touch.– Good insulator due to its hollow fibers.– High cost and marginal durability are a drawback.

Synthetics

• Synthetics are used to enhance natural fibers and are good by itself.

• Synthetics are superior to natural fibers for strength and durability.

Synthetics• Nylon

– Strong, non-absorbent; causes it to feel cool in cold weather and hot in hot weather.

– Damaged by hot iron, sparks, noisy.

• Polyester– Static and pilling; stains easily.

• Olefin (polypropylene)– Lightest of all fibers.– Non absorbent to the degree that it floats. – Durable enough for indoor/outdoor carpet.– Lowest moisture absorbency, thus static and pilling. – Retains odors – wicks moisture to outer garment.– For skiers, bikers, runners, rafters and canoeists/kayakists.

• Blends – Combine the good characteristics of two different fibers together in one fabric.

Insulators

• Down– Best insulator, natural or synthetic– Lightweight– High degree of compressibility– 20% to 30% less bulky than polyester insulators– Fill power is a sign of quality. Fill power is the volume filled by

one ounce of down.• Ex. 800 cubic inches

– Mature geese produce higher quality down than ducks, but it is similar to ducks

– DISADVANTAGES: • Expensive• Mats when wet (no insulation value) and dries slowly

Insulators

• Synthetics– Ex. Polargaurd/Hollowfil.

– Less compressible.

– Usable if wet.

• Pile– Polyester with varying

amounts of nylon and acrylic blended into it.

– Provides the warmth of wool with half the weight.

– Insulates when wet.

– Not wind or water resistant.

Garments…

• Sweaters– Tight knit; more resistant to

abrasion.– Chose one that slips on and

off easily for layering effect.

• Vests – Warmth without restricting arm

movements. – Takes up little space in pack.– Keeps body core warm.

• Shells– Lightweight– Non insulated garment of wind

and water resistant fabric

Garments Continued…

• Mountain Parka– Gussets cuffs.– Storm flaps on zippers. – Lots of pockets.– Wind proof hoods.

• Ponchos – Ventilate well.– Can double as a shelter. – Protect shoulders not arms.– Flaps in the wind; Nuisance

when paddling a canoe.

• Layering your cloths will allow you to control your body temperature gradually which will reduce perspiration

Garments Continued…• Hats

– Covering your head and neck is the best way to keep your whole body warm due to the rich blood supply to the area.

– Wide brimmed hats are helpful for sunlight protection.

– A balaclava is a face mask and is the best for prevention of frostbite.

• Gloves and Mitts – Hands and feet have the greatest

surface area of skin to volume area.

– Mitts allow fingers to warm themselves, but prevent dexterity.

Gloves and Mitts…• Leather

– Has good grip.– Poor insulator unless lined– Wets through easily and dries slowly.– Not recommended for winter camping,

wet mitts will freeze if left overnight. – Drying leather quickly results in

shrinkage (Don’t dry over fire!).

• Over-Mittens for Warmth – Bulky for lightning stoves, setting up

tents.– Closure on palm aid for this problem.

• Gloves– Fingerless for ice fishing, photography,

or adjusting stoves– Rubber insulated for dipping in cold

water.– Thin olefin or silk liners help.– Fit is important; reduce compression.– Prevent loss of gloves or mittens by

tying or clipping them to your sleeves.

Garment Care…• Wash natural fabrics carefully

for the first few times to prevent shrinking.

• Wool should be washed by hand.

• Wash down and tumble dry with tennis shoe.

• Down sleeping bags should be stored in the lofted state when not in use.

• Sunlight deteriorates nylon• Synthetics melt- polypro,

gloves, ember on garments and tents.

More Equipment:• Boots

– Have to offer protection, support, and warmth.

– The foot is the coldest extremity due to conduction and compression.

• Sorels– Loose fit for circulation– Insulation, important extra

bottom pad restricts conductive heat loss.

• Leather Footwear – Durable but cold.– Good hiking shoes have very little side

flex.– Deep lugs in soles can cause erosion

of trails.

• Tennis Shoes– Relatively no ankle support.– Comfortable around camp.

More Equipment: • Socks

– 2 pair reduces friction and therefore also reduces blisters (more on this later).

• 1st pair olefin or silk• 2nd pair wool or blended wool

(more durable)– No cotton socks, summer or winter,

clammy– Dry socks are a must, feet sweat in

rubber boots, wet socks will dry in winter air.

– Boot liners – felt – remove and dry.

• Blisters– Hotspots (the first sign stage of a

blister) should be treated immediately.– Prevention: Two pair of socks.– Treatments

• Moleskin donut• Band-Aids and Vaseline• Duct tape

Remember…

Camping Equipment Barrage:• Tents

– Free standing domes maximize room inside tent.

– Zippers top down keep snow out in winter.

– No see-um netting less cross breeze.

– Rain Fly system allows moist air out of tent.

• Sleeping Bags– Mummy shape is warmer– Draft Tubes over plastic zippers

for added warmth.

• Mattress Pads– Closed cell foam is water proof– Thermarest- open cell foam

surrounded with coated nylon. Warm and comfortable.

Camping Equipment Barrage:

• Gaiters– Cover boot laces and pant leg

cuffs

• Sunglasses– Provide protection from U.V. rays.

• Radiant Barriers– Space blanket reflects infrared.

• Headlamps and Flashlights

– Headlamps allow user to use both hands.

– LED uses very little battery power.

Camping Equipment Barrage:

• GPS and Compass– Helps one know location and

helps navigate through the wilderness.

• Binoculars– Good for looking for landmarks, or

to just watch wilderness activity.

• Camera– Take pictures to remember

outings. – Keep in appropriate container to

prevent damage (waterproof and impact resistant).