Operation Zero Handbook. Patriots Path Council, BSA Sabattis Adventure Camp, Long Lake, New York An official Boy Scouts of America Okpik Program

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1 Operation Zero Handbook Patriots Path Council, BSA Sabattis Adventure Camp, Long Lake, New York An official Boy Scouts of America Okpik Program

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3 Operation Zero at Sabattis Adventure Camp Why go camping in winter? What are you nuts?... 5 Important Stuff about Operation Zero... 7 Homeostasis Dressing for Success! Sleeping Systems Sleeping Systems Risk Management during Winter Activities Prevention of Cold Injuries Food, Water and Sanitation Operation Zero Personal Equipment List Wilderness Ethics... 35

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5 OKPIK (ook pick) is the Inuit word for the snowy owl and the name and symbol for the Boy Scout high adventure cold weather camping programs. Why go camping in winter? What are you nuts? Too many Scouts, Venturing Crews, Explorers and leaders think winter is a time of year to be endured until the weather warms for summer camping and outings. Many of us had a latent fear of winter! We are afraid of becoming cold, of becoming frostbitten or injured, of being cut off by deep snow. Perhaps most of all, we are afraid of venturing into the UNKNOWN of camping in winter conditions that we have never camped in before. We are not mentally prepared to deal with winter conditions. Most of our fears can be traced to a lack of knowledge. If we knew how to keep warm, our fears of being cold would dissipate. If we knew how to prevent cold weather problems, our fears of frostbite or injury would lessen. If we knew how to travel though deep snow, we would not be concerned about being trapped by it. If we knew how to camp in winter, we would not be AFRAID of it! Operation Zero is not a survival situation... it is fun, a great way to enjoy the outdoors, challenging and a positive experience. To have a successful winter experience you must have a positive mental attitude and have the background skills. Our goal is to make you confident and comfortable. This Operation Zero handbook is designed to acquaint you with the knowledge and skills required to camp successfully in winter. Once you have learned these fundamentals and have experienced several days or overnight winter outings, a whole new world of winter camping adventure will open to you. We hope that you bring these experiences back to your unit. There is a magic to camping in winter. It s challenging, adventurous and exhilarating! Winter campers become more selfreliant by acquiring a wealth of knowledge and skills. Winter camping builds teamwork with everyone working together toward common objectives. Many areas that are well traveled in summer become a wilderness in winter. Traveling the un-trampled wilderness is a thrilling experience. Unbroken trails beckon with adventure. The aesthetic beauty of winter is unsurpassed; fresh powder snow carpets both hill and vale with white fluff. Boughs of evergreens are laden with snow. Litter is nowhere to be seen. The possibilities for photographs are terrific. Camping in the winter is invigorating. The air is cold, clean, crisp and pure. The physical activity is demanding a great way to stay in shape. Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snow shelter building help to develop new muscles. The stillness of nature is prevalent in winter. Only the wind in the trees and blowing snow striking your snow shelter breaks the tranquility. Animal tracks can be easily seen. Perhaps the greatest magic of winter camping is the satisfaction of having successfully met the challenge, of doing something that few others have ever attempted and of having done more than you thought you could. You are about to embark on a fantastic adventure that will challenge your mental and physical abilities. Once you have successfully camped in winter, you will become captured by its magic. The memories of it will last a lifetime and you will eagerly await your next winter adventure.

6 Top 10 reasons to go winter camping! 1. The views are great without the leaves! 2. Eat all you want! Burn it off baby! 3. Quiet... Shh 4. You can mold your bed 5. No BUGS! 6. You can walk on water 7. Watching other people snowshoe is entertaining 8. It is fun! 9. You won t be able to smell your buddy 10. Nothing beats a bathroom experience outside in the winter

7 Important Stuff about Operation Zero Adult Advisors: Must be registered in the Boy Scouts of America and must be over the age of 18 with current Youth Protection training. Youth Participants: Must be registered in the Boy Scouts of America and must be 14 years or older by the event date. Wear your layered cold weather clothing system when you meet for the bus. Every participant needs to pre-submit a copy of their current Annual Health Record. Also for the youth members an Operation Zero permission slip will need to be handed in. These forms were sent out with confirmation packets and are due at the training session. All participants of the Operation Zero will be broken down into Crews (Youth and Adult Advisors). At camp, each crew will be assigned to a sub-camp. Each crew will have at least two adult leaders. The advisors leadership is primarily coaching, counseling and advising the youth crew leader. The adult advisors will attend advisor training. Adult advisors will oversee the health and safety of all crew members. Departure time/location: 4:30am SHARP Patriots Path Council Service Center on Saturday morning of event Arrival back home: Around 7 8pm on Monday evening of event at the PPC Service Center Check, Double Check and Triple Check before leaving home the night before departure: Required Medicines please advise the Operation Zero of any changes of health history. Adequate personal gear (see equipment list) Bagged lunch with drink for Saturdays bus ride up/field Lunch Money for fast food for Monday night dinner

8 Risk Advisory: The Boy Scout Okpik cold weather camping program has an outstanding safety record. The Boy Scouts of America and the Operation Zero Staff emphasize safety though education and STRICT adherence to established policies and procedures. The safety of all crew members is dependent upon your attention to these procedures as well as being physically fit, properly equipped, and trained for the rigors of cold weather camping. Possible Risks include (but are not limited to): weather conditions, such as extreme cold temperatures (below zero degrees) and high winds; medical conditions such as heart attack, appendicitis; hypothermia, dehydration, frost bite, severe allergies, and asthma or diabetes related conditions; accidents such as cuts, embedded fish hooks, burns, or falls; risks associated with being on a frozen lake and encounters with wildlife. Medical evacuations are coordinated by the Operation Zero Staff with Long Lake, NY Rescue Squad. Please read carefully the information in this Operation Zero handbook. Medications/Prescriptions If any member is on regular medication, their physician should be consulted to determine the effect cold weather may have on your medications (e.g. Inhalers) or effects your medications may have on you in cold weather conditions.

9 History of Winter Camping in the Boy Scouts of America In 1927 the Boy Scouts of America published their first handbook on winter camping. This handbook was 320 pages long and contained very up to date information for the time. It technically, because of many factors including outdoor skills, proper clothing and equipment availability, etc., was ahead of its time. The bibliography cited references from several sources, they included: Winter Camping, (1911) Warwick Carpenter, Camping and Woodcraft, Kephart, Shelters, Shacks and Shanties, Dan Beard, plus several others. The Operation Zero Okpik program at Sabattis Adventure Camp was very successful in the s. Sabattis Adventure Camp offers a real untouched winter adventure. Sabattis Adventure Camp is located on the outskirts of Long Lake, New York ( The name OKPIK (the Inuit name for the Arctic or Snowy Owl) was chosen from a book called Night watchers. The story and beautiful sketch epitomize the goals of the winter program. It also gave it a "catchy" name and good "logo", both important in working with Scouts and leaders. The OKPIK program was designed primarily as a Scout leader training session to develop leaders skilled in safe winter activities. It was intended that after leaders became acquainted with the proper skills that they would be better able to take groups out in the cold, and particularly snowy, environment. Another goal was to train leaders so that they in turn could train others and support local council OKPIK programs. As OKPIK became more popular leaders asked to bring Scouts as part of the program. This was done reluctantly hoping that more local councils would develop their own programs for the Scouts. Through the National High Adventure Service OKPIK training was shared with over twenty local councils across the country. Many of these councils still operate an OKPIK winter session. OKPIK is based on the traditional skills of three native peoples; the Inuit (Eskimo) of Arctic North America, the Native American (Indian) of the colder regions of the United States and Canada, and the Sami (Laplander) of northern Europe. The historical or traditional cold weather cultures supplied OKPIK with skills and equipment to use in the program; snow shelter building, sleds, skis, clothing, snowshoes, travel techniques, food and preparation, just to name a few. The Northern Tier and the BSA International Division sponsored an international event called, Adventures North. Adventures North participants were from the BSA, Scouts Canada and several European Scouting organizations. It involved some forty Scouts and leaders. The summer session was a historical border canoe trip from the Charles L. Sommers Base to Grand Portage on Lake Superior, home hospitality and other special activities were also part of this experience. The winter (OKPIK) session was held in Scandinavia and involved travel in Norway, Sweden and Finland. There were cold weather snow camping opportunities in Arctic Sweden and Finland. All camping took place at least 120 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Since becoming the BSA National Cold Weather Program OKPIK has involved many Scouts and leaders as well as people from many different countries and continues to be a successful operation.

10 Homeostasis Homeostasis is the Balance in the body to maintain warmth how the body adapts to the cold You are the only one that s knows your body and how it works. The body works best when it is regularly fed, rested and kept at a steady temperature of 98.6 degrees F. Understanding how your body reacts to slight internal temperature differences enables you to respond more quickly to changes in your comfort. Your body is always giving signals that tell you if you are too warm or too cold. If you are attuned to these, you can respond appropriately and remain comfortable for long periods of time, even in extreme conditions. Homeostasis is the medical term for the process controlling the equilibrium of your body s temperature (thermostat). When cold threatens your body temperature equilibrium, the homeostatic process constricts these blood vessels, decreasing blood flow to your extremities. Blood flow to the fingers and toes can be cut back as much as 99 percent. This is why your hands and feet get numb when you re cold and why they re particularly vulnerable to frostbite. The body = wood burning stove = generating heat. Why do we care about body temperature? The body must be 98.6 degrees at the core for vital organs. A few degrees below can start affecting the way the body functions. Ways the body can lose heat: Radiation (55%) Radiation is a leading cause of heat loss in almost any situation. An unprotected head may lose up to one half of the body s total heat protection at 40 degrees F and up to ¾ of total body heat production at 5 degrees F. When your feet are cold, put on your hat! Your body heat is dissipating into cooler surrounding air (from bare hands and head) Conduction (7.5%) Ordinarily, only small amounts of body heat are lost by conduction. Conduction is heat lost by direct contact with cold surfaces. Body heat naturally warms up the cold surfaces you are touching (e.g. sitting or lying on snow). Convection (7.5%) Convection is an active avenue of body heat escape in the outdoors. By radiation, the body continuously warms a thin layer of air next to the skin to a temperature nearly equal to that of the skin. If this warm air layer is retained close to the body by clothing, you remain warm. Remember that wind steals heat - so protect yourself. Evaporation (21%) The evaporation of sweat from the skin and the insensible evaporation of water from the skin and lungs account for a substantial loss of body heat. Wear fabrics that can breathe. If water vapor cannot pass freely through your clothing, it condenses and freezes. Respiration (9%) Inhaling cool air and exhaling warm air accounts for heat loss. There s nothing you can do to prevent or conserve this type of heat loss.

11 How Weather Affects Heat Loss Wind Chill: Let the air move by wind even so slightly, and the calories or heat energy produced by your body will go, go. Water Chill: The thermal conductivity of water (or ice) is 30 times as great as that of still air. This means that wet clothing can extract heat from your body much faster than clean, dry clothing. Wool provides some warmth even when damp. The secrets of keeping Warm 1. Keep the body core warm 2. Make sure blood circulates freely. 3. Select the proper type and amount of clothing. Regulate your clothing according to your activity rate. 4. Pay attention to internal signals. Don t wait until you are cold to put more clothing on. Act when you first begin to feel cooler. 5. Control perspiration: a. Don t over-exercise take it easy b. Ventilate by loosening or removing clothing as necessary c. Rest for 10 to 15 minutes each hour when traveling d. Change wet layers of clothing before they soak other layers e. Dry wet clothing f. Eat and drink foods at or close to body temperature. Hot foods make you perspire; cold foods rob your body heat. The head is the most efficient part of the body s radiator system. You can lose 50% of the body s heat. More dead air bubble around body keeps the body warm. Wear clothing that moves moisture out; wet clothes from sweating= heat loss. When hot from activity undo zippers; remove hat and layers. Put back on when cold. Extremities robbed of heat first body protects the core. 9 degrees 14 degrees F is ideal temperatures for winter camping... a dry cold and snow is snow and not slush! COLD KEY: C Keep Clean (clothing free of grime insulates best) O Avoid over heating (clothes will stay drier and warmer) L Wear Layers so you can adjust heat loss & gain heat D Keep and stay DRY (use protective layers to shield clothing from external moisture).

12 Dressing for Success! Wicking layer, Warm Layer, Wind Layer (block) = Staying Warm = Comfortable CLOTHING Dress for success You need clothing that protects you from the cold and holds your body heat, but that also can be ventilated. The layers should be thin so frost forms between layers, not inside the insulation. The Three principles of clothing systems: insulation, layering and ventilation. By regulating the amount of insulation, you regulate the amount of heat lost or retained. It is important to ventilate before you become over heated, because evaporating perspiration cools the body. Allow outside air to cool overheated layers by adjusting openings. The Key to Warm Clothing: C Keep Clothing Clean 0 Avoid Over heating L Wear Layers D Stay Dry! COTTON KILLS WARMTH when wet! COTTON KILLS WARMTH when wet! Everyone must be dry by sundown. No wet (sweaty) bodies or wet inner clothing. Change out some of the layers when the bulk of work is done (~4pm) when you re starting to get cold. Avoid tight clothing wear a little loose. Use suspenders over belts. Don t wait until you re cold to add layers it s too late! How to add heat: Body needs fuel (food) to keep warm. Don t forget to drink well hydrated. (Average of 5-6 liters per day). Increase insulation & activity. Put your wet mittens against body during activity to dry out. All clothing systems should drop down below the butt level so when you bend over everything is covered and not exposed. Silk is a great wicking layer Wool pants are really great pants for winter camping. Fleece or GoreTex mittens with glove liners. Down pants for sleeping Egyptian cotton is okay. Gators or Mukluks are good to keep the snow from going down your boot. Cut a hat on the seam and use as a face/neck cover. Use plastic grocery bags or bread bags over socks. This keeps your boots dry and you can easily change those wet socks

13 The key to warm feet in the winter is keeping them dry, keeping them insulated and keeping the blood circulating through them. Thin liner socks will wick moisture away from your skin. Winter weight socks made of wool, synthetics, or blends of both materials insulate well as long as they stay dry. Layers of insulation between your feet and the cold ground slow the rate at which heat is drawn away from your feet. Foam insoles are even better! (Buy them at a sporting goods store or use an old closed cell foam sleeping pad). Boot system laced rubber, a bat wing, or Gore-Tex army issued bootie + liner & wool socks. Gloves and Mittens: Synthetic or wool gloves trap body heat and still allow a maximum of hand flexibility. Mittens will keep your hands warmer than gloves of the same weight because your fingers are together and can share the warmth. Be careful of fire around your synthetic clothing. Types of Winter Clothing Materials: 1. Wool - derives its insulating quality from the elastic, three-dimensional wavy crimp in the fiber that traps air between fibers. Depending on the texture and thickness of the fabric, as much as 60-80% of wool cloth can be air. Wool can absorb a fair amount of moisture without imparting a damp feeling because the water "disappears" into the fiber spaces. Even with water in the fabric wool still retains dead air space and will still insulate you. The disadvantage to wool is that it can absorb so much water (maximum absorption can be as much as 1/3 third the garment weight) making wet wool clothing very heavy. Wool releases moisture slowly, with minimum chilling effect. Wool can be woven in very tight weaves that are quite wind resistant. An advantage to wool is that it is relatively inexpensive (if purchased at surplus stores). However, it can be itchy against the skin and some people are allergic to it. 2. Pile or Fleece fabrics - is a synthetic material often made of a plastic (polyester, polyolefin, polypropylene, etc.). This material has a similar insulating capacity as wool. Its advantages are that it holds less water (than wool) and dries more quickly. Pile is manufactured in a variety of different weights (thicknesses) offering different amounts of loft and insulation. This allows for numerous layering possibilities. The disadvantage of pile is that it has very poor wind resistance and hence a wind shell on top is almost always required. Versions of pile are available that have a middle windproof layer. 3. Polypropylene and other Hydrophobic fabrics - polypropylene is a synthetic, plastic fiber which offers dead air space and a fiber which cannot absorb water. The fiber is hydrophobic so it moves the water vapor away from the source (the body). Polypropylene layers are extremely effective worn directly against the skin as a way of keeping the skin from being wet and reducing evaporative heat loss. As the water moves away from the body it will evaporate, but each additional millimeter of distance between your skin and the point of evaporation decreases the amount of body heat lost in the evaporative process. Some fabrics rely on the chemical nature of the fiber to be hydrophobic. Others fabrics use a molecular coating that achieve the same end.

14 4. Vapor Barrier Systems - another way to stay warm in the winter is through vapor barriers. The body is always losing water through the skin even when we are not active. This loss is known as insensible perspiration and occurs unless the air humidity is 70%. This insensible perspiration goes on at the rate of nearly half a quart every 24 hours. Since it takes 580 calories per gram to turn liquid water into water vapor, heat is continually lost through insensible perspiration as well as through sweat from any activity. A vapor barrier is a clothing item which is impervious to water thereby serving as a barrier to the transportation of water vapor. When worn near the skin it keeps water vapor near the skin. Eventually the humidity level rises to the point where the body senses a high humidity level and shuts off insensible perspiration. This prevents evaporative heat loss and slows dehydration. Types of Cold: There are basically three types of cold: wet, dry and Arctic-like. Wet cold is the most dangerous as it is the type of cold in which most winter camping is done. Wet cold temperatures range from 50 degrees to 14 degrees F. Dry cold temperatures vary from 14 degrees F to -20 degrees F. Dry cold is usually associated with snow conditions. In arctic-like cold, temperatures are below -20 degrees. A Dry Cold is the type of cold to expect at Operation Zero which is an ideal cold.

15 Sleeping Systems Sleeping condition is one of the three factors that can make or break a cold weather camping experience. Considerations: The body cools down during sleep. The blood (heat) is drawn from the extremities (feet and hands) and brought to the center, or core of the body In all cold weather camping situations, the ground is colder than the body. Proper insulation must be provided to prevent heat loss by conduction. COLD Key is the key to staying warm: C - Your bedding should have a washable liner so that is stays Clean. O- To keep you from Overheating, your bedding must be ventilated. Overheating in a sleeping bag produces perspiration just as when you wear the wrong clothing. L Your bedding should be able to accommodate you. You need a winter sleeping bag inside of a 3 season sleeping bag. The Layered System. When a layered system is used, it is easier to remove the frost buildup that occurs naturally when your body produces warmth. D Keep your equipment as DRY as possible by pumping all of the warm, moist air out of the bag each morning and then airing and exposing it to the radiant warmth of the sun. Turn the bags inside-out and check for frost. Then leave them open until they cool to the air temperature. Ground or Floor Insulation: The insulation under the sleepers is the most critical concern. Use a plastic tarp as a ground cloth. Two open-cell foam sleeping pads will help protect you from conductive heat loss. Ask a friend to borrow his/her pad for the trip. Sleeping Bags: Synthetic insulation can be very good in sleeping bags; synthetics pick up little moisture and can be washed easily. If you use a down bag in combination with other sleeping bags, always make sure it is the bag closest to the body. The warm air leaving your body is moist and as it cools, the moisture condenses. Since down is porous, it absorbs this moisture; synthetics, being less porous let the moisture pass more readily. Ask a friend to borrow his/her sleeping bag. Sleeping attire: Keeping your feet warm is usually the biggest problem when sleeping in the cold weather. Before retiring, be sure your feet are as dry as possible. Wear a loose insulator on your feet for sleeping. Socks can be used, but be sure they are dry and not tight. Wear some of tomorrow s long underwear and clothes with you to bed and put the rest of tomorrow s clothes in with you. Another sleeping attire option is to use a sleeping suit, either a clean, dry set of long underwear or pajamas. Long underwear made from a family of polymers that include polypropylene works quite well. A major attribute of these is their ability to continue to wick moisture away from the body, even at the skin temperature of a sleeping person. Other clothing items normally warm for protection during the day can also be used at night, as long as they are clean and dry. Some of these include a stocking cap, which prevents heat loss through the head.

16 Whatever option you choose, Make sure you change your clothes before you go to bed. You will place your boots in between your foam pads with soles sticking out, all of your days clothing to be placed between the sleeping bags to be dried out by the natural warmth system. The clothes just dried will be used the following day as your new set. Don t heat extra space. Stuff extra (dry) gear into your sleeping bag to take up space, this will minimize the space that the body needs to heat. Things that you don t stuff into the sleeping bag can be put under it to add to the ground insulation. Holding it at night costs more energy than getting up and doing the dreaded midnight pee. Some folks use pee bottles at night to avoid this, though it takes some dexterity. If you do use a pee bottle, make sure there s no way you could possibly mix it up with your water bottle in the dark. It should have a different shape and texture. Also mark it for daytime distinction as well. When the thermometer plunges, a well-insulated sleeping system is essential to your nighttime comfort. Use layers fleece clothing, mittens, a hat, warm socks and one more sleeping bag. A fleece liner will keep the bag clean and add a few more degrees of insulating power. Liners must not be made of cotton. Do not get so warm that you perspire in the sleeping bag if that s the case ventilate by opening the bag, taking off your hat, or removing some clothing layers.

17 The Winter Sleeping System: Shelter - Any sleeping system will lose heat from radiation, conduction, and even more from convection. Being out of the wind and under a tarp, evergreen tree, or in a tent will add some warmth Insulation from the Ground o Compact snow or dig down to ground level (warmer) o Plastic Ground tarp cloth you can borrow from your troop/crew o 3/4" closed cell pad (cheap blue foam pads can become brittle in extreme cold, be careful) o ½ or ¾ additional pad if very cold - Use 2 ground pads o Thermarest pads OK, but be aware of moisture and freezing valve problems o Air mattresses are cold unless filled with insulation (down, fiberfill) Sleeping Bag Systems o Liner (fleece, silk, or wool). Adds 10 to 15 of warmth to system o Summer or 3-season bag bag closest to you o Larger winter sleeping bag (0 to -20 ) o Moisture will migrate to and stop at first cold layer Clothing is also a part of the Sleeping System o Hat o Dry long underwear o Dry socks or booties o Other clothing as needed, but DON'T CONSTRICT CIRCULATION! Some Tips for Sleeping Warm FLUFF UP YOUR BAG: Always fluff up your sleeping bag before using to create the thickness important in keeping warm. A space blanket or silver lined tarp on the floor of the tent or under your sleeping bag will reflect your heat back to you. Don't get too warm - the moisture will cause you to be chilled later. Sleep comfortably cool Do relieve yourself. The body will lose heat trying to warm the liquid in your bladder. A pee bottle will make this a little more pleasant although getting up and moving around will help you warm up after you get back in your bag Do remain hydrated, and eat something before going to bed Don't go to bed cold. Do some exercise before getting into your bag. Do have a snack available to "stoke the furnace" as your metabolism uses up your fuel during the night If you are a cold sleeper, you may wish to have a NON-LEAKING bottle of warm water tucked in your crotch or at the bottom of the bag. Operation Zero will offer hot water to fill Nalgene before bed. Use your sleeping system to dry out your gloves, hat, and socks (don't wear them wet and don't try to dry really wet items) Don't put your head in the bag. Your breath must escape to keep your bag dry. You can put a fleece or wool scarf over your mouth to "pre-warm" the air. Do isometrics if you wake up chilled, and eat a snack Do sleep with your boots in your bag or between your sleeping pads with soles out. Otherwise they may be too stiff to put on in the morning and you will start out your day with cold feet. Slumber Jack sleeping bags are good for winter camping.

18 Sleeping Systems Building Snow Shelters Patience is necessary to develop skill at building any type of snow shelter. A Quinzhee can sleep between 2 3 people. Each Quinzhee must have at least two people to it. The BSA Youth Protection procedures will be followed. The size can vary, but a good size to start with is a mound of snow about 6 feet high and 9 feet in diameter. You will need about 20 or so sticks about 1 foot long to use as Gauge sticks. Please use sticks that are dead and not live (sticks should snap in half easily). Pace the work on the shelter let everyone get involved. Stop before perspiration becomes a problem. Remember to ventilate. Proceed slower than you think you should to avoid overheating. Try to keep mitts from getting wet Watch out for snow on garments continue to use buddy system and keep snow brushed off. Relax! You are not building a lasting monument. The temperatures in a well-constructed snow shelter will rarely be below freezing when campers are inside. If you leave the door open with no closure, the shelter will be same temperature as the outside. So CLOSE THE DOOR! Ventilation is important to the snow shelter. Considerations: Always build and sleep with a buddy Never plan or build or stay in a snow shelter if the temperature is above freezing Always let the snow set at least 1 to 2 hours before starting to dig when constructing a Quinzhee. An arched roof is a key factor in snow shelter construction. Ventilation holes are important and should be at a 45 degree angle. If you place them in the center of the roof, the holes will get larger as the warm air rushes out. Place at a 45 degree angle in the side of the dome, the vent replaces the slightly cooler air without causing a draft in the shelter. The essential tool is a plastic snow shovel.

19 Building a Quinzhee Procedure: 1. Find a good area with lots of snow and spread each Quinzhee out 2. Pile snow about 6 feet tall and 9 feet in diameter at the base. During the process be sure to compact the snow. 3. Let the mound settle usually taking 2 hours. After the mound is settled, push several dozen 18 long sticks into the mound at regular intervals, aiming them towards the center. Do not break branches off live trees for this purpose. 4. Start to dig out the entrance. A 24 inch hole is just about right. If the entrance remains firm, continue to scoop out the inside, using the gauge sticks to keep the thickness to 1 foot. Change diggers often to avoid overheating. Each participant can dig out the quinzhee by starting out at opposite ends and meeting in the middle. The side that won t be the door can be closed off. 5. Dig until you ve exposed the ends of the sticks or until the snow inside of the dome takes on the light blue color of light refracting through the snow. Pile the excavated snow around the entrance to form a windbreak. Make a door plug and place it near the door. A door plug can be a sled. 6. When you have finished the inside, be sure to make vents (usually two or three works best). Let the snow shelter stay open so the snow will harden. 7. After the shelter is hardened, you can move in. Shelters made of snow can be ideal refuge on winter camping trips. With an interior temperature just below freezing 32 degrees F, a snow shelter insulates much better than a tent. A tent will have the inside temperature matching the outside temperature. Snow shelters do take time to construct. Building a snow shelter can be a strenuous effort that might leave you with wet clothing plan ahead by bringing dry clothes and mittens to replace those that got dampened. HINTS: Earth automatically releases 17 degrees of heat from the ground. Put a tarp down and always close your door securely before bed. Wear your rain suit when digging out shelters Snow acts like an insulator keeping you warmer at night. Collapses can happen during construction. Smaller doors = less heat loss. Sticks gauge the thickness of the walls. Should be 12 long. Plane the inside of the shelter until you reach the sticks. Smooth the inside walls so there are no dripping points dripping follows the walls. Use a Frisbee to smooth. Put a vent hole at 45 degrees with a stick. Other winter shelter options The Quinzhee is the only option for Operation Zero

20 Winter Camping Tips Everything takes longer in cold and snow. Equipment is bulky and heavy. The days are shorter and much of your camp activities will take place in the dark. Practice working with all of your equipment with mittens on and modify any equipment that can only be operated with bare hands. With winter camping there is very little margin for mistakes. If you forget to waterproof your boots and get wet feet, you will need to take action immediately to prevent frozen toes or feet. Never camp alone in the winter. Use the buddy system, even as far as to wake up your buddy when you step out to the latrine at night. Don't ever be afraid to admit that you are in over your head, just pack it up and go home. Hypothermia - when your body's temperature drops below normal - may be affecting you without your knowing it. Watch your buddy and he must watch you for signs of confusion, inaction, shivering. You must take action IMMEDIATELY to build a fire or move to a heated shelter, dry off, and drink warm liquids. Air mattresses provide no insulation from the cold ground. Use closed cell foam pad or Thermarest type pad instead. To stay warm at night, put on dry clothes from the skin out. You may feel warm and dry in the clothes you have worn all day, but they are full of moisture, which will cool down as you sleep and you will wake up cold and damp. Be careful around an open fire. Winter clothes and boots, which provide insulation from the cold, will also stop you from feeling the heat until the boots, mittens etc. are burning or melted. Build your fire on a base platform of logs to prevent the snow from melting into it and putting it out. On very windy days, dig out a hole in the snow and build the fire down for protection. Keep your tent well ventilated - doors and windows open at least 3" - to prevent a build-up of frost on the walls and ceiling from exhaled moisture. Don't sleep with your head completely inside your sleeping bag. Your expelled air is moist and will collect inside the bag and make you damp and cold. Wear a hooded sweatshirt (not cotton) or stocking cap and leave your face out of the bag - if it is very cold, wear a knit facemask. Pack down the snow in the area where you will pitch your tent to avoid an uneven surface under sleeping pad. Never clear away the snow, as the ground underneath will begin to thaw and become muddy. Bring tarps or pieces of plastic to lay under equipment, kitchen gear and food as you work. Small items dropped into the snow are lost forever. Alcohol and winter activities don't mix. Alcohol is a depressant which clouds your judgment as well as making you much more susceptible to hypothermia. Caffeine in coffee and tea will cause you to lose fluids faster than the liquid in the coffee replaces them. Drink hot Tang or lemonade, bouillon or cocoa. Avoid metal cups (except for double-wall thermal), metal whistles etc. which will adhere to warm mouth when cooled to winter's subzero temperatures.

21 Cold Weather Camping Suggestions for Women Bras and underpants should be made of a material that wicks moisture away from the body. As with all parts of the body keeping dry keeps one warm, but moisture wicking bras will help prevent chapped skin. The best bras wick moisture and protect from wind. Undergarments that we have found helpful include Coolmax, Patagonia Capilene, you can find moisture wicking undergarments in most camping goods stores. Cotton sports bras and everyday bras with seams and lace are almost guaranteed to cause great discomfort while cold weather camping -Females and males both need to remember to take off EVERYTHING that they sweat in during the day at night. If you have your period use tampons not pads. Pads are made to hold moisture which is just going to chill you faster and be very uncomfortable. Tampons can be burned in a campfire, bring small paper bags to put used tampons in, and then place in the fire. Tampons and applicators can also be packed out, small colored plastic bags work well for disposal. Keep your personal parts clean. Dress properly in layers to avoid overheating. Sweat, combined with poor hygiene makes good homes for fungi (yeast infections). Baby wipes work well for personal hygiene (if kept warm, in your pocket). For in the middle of the night everyone male or female will have "Pee Bottles," for women either a wide mouth bottle works (although splash-back problems can occur), or a simple kitchen funnel can allow for a small mouth bottle to be used. Enjoy your winter camping experience. As you spend more time in the woods you'll come up with your own methods and suggestions. Compiled By: Liz Vollmer Chrissy Mayer Kate Hill

22 Snowshoeing: It takes some extra big feet to hold you up when the snow is knee-deep. Human feet are not built for deep snow navigation; they are just too small and dainty! Snowshoes are just extra-big feet. They are almost a part of your flesh and bones. Learning how to walk on snowshoes is simply the process of becoming accustomed to the vagaries of a new pair of feet. This shouldn't take long, since you already know how to walk! The boy's size snowshoe, as a rule, averages thirty-five inches long and eleven inches wide. This is suitable for persons weighing up to one hundred twenty-five pounds. Smaller children can wear this size but smaller ones are better. A person weighing between one hundred twenty-five and one hundred seventy pounds requires a pair at least forty-two inches long and at least twelve inches wide. For persons between one hundred eighty and two hundred and twenty pounds, a shoe forty-eight inches long and fourteen inches wide is needed. Snow shoeing looks easy and it is. A beginner finds his snow legs immediately. As a rough estimate, I would say that within an hour after a person puts on snowshoes for the first time he is reasonably at home on them. There are few sports that can be learned so quickly. The reason for this is that ordinary walking and snowshoe walking are fundamentally the same. At the same time there are noteworthy minor differences. Snowshoes will be provided to each participant that will be issued to you when you get off the bus. Feel free to bring your Cross Country skis. A plastic sled with a pull rope is a great way to transport your gear or you can use your framed backpack. Your gear should be tied onto your plastic sled. A plastic tarp should cover your gear in the sled. You can snowshoe along while pulling your gear. You will be traveling about ¼ mile to your sub-camp from the bus drop-off.

23 Risk Management during Winter Activities Winter Camping Safety There is magic to camping in winter. It is one of the most advanced and challenging of outdoor adventures. Special considerations for winter camping includes the following: 1. Leadership - In no other camp is the type of leadership as important as in the winter camp. It is vital that a leader be an experienced camper with a strong character. 2. Equipment - Do not attempt to camp unless completely outfitted. Even if equipment for winter camp is more expensive than for summer camp, Scouts must be adequately clothed, and leaders should ensure that blankets and other equipment are of suitable quality and weight. 3. Physical Condition - A physician's certificate as to physical ability must be obtained by each Scout before preliminary training begins.

24 Tips for your next winter camping trip: 1. Use the buddy system for winter outings. Buddies can check each other for frostbite, make sure no one becomes lost, and boost the morale of the entire group. 2. Plan to cover no more than five miles per day on a winter trek on snowshoes. An experienced group can cover 10 to 12 miles on cross-country skis. 3. Always allow ample time to make camp in winter, especially if you plan to build snow shelters. 4. Fatigue encourages accidents. Rest occasionally when building a snow shelter; taking part in cross-country skiing or snowshoeing; or participating in other active winter sports. Periodic rests also help avoid overheating. 5. Pulling a load over the snow on a sled or toboggan is generally easier than carrying it in a backpack. 6. Snow is a terrific insulator. Snow shelters are much warmer than tents because they retain heat and keep out the cold wind. If you have adequate time for building snow shelters, you will spend a much more comfortable night sleeping in them than in a tent. 7. Snow is the greatest thief in winter, swallowing up small dropped items. Tie or tape a piece of brightly colored cord to small items so they can be seen in snow. Some items, such as mittens, can be tied to larger items, such as a parka, to prevent them from being dropped and lost. 8. Melting snow in a pot to get water may cause the pot to burn through or may scorch the snow, giving the water a disagreeable taste. Prevent this by adding a cup or two of water in the bottom of the pot before putting in the snow to melt. 9. Punch a hole in the top of your ice chisel and string a stout cord through it. Before trying to chisel a hole in ice, anchor the cord to something large or too heavy to be pulled through the hole so you will not lose your chisel in freezing water when the ice is penetrated. 10. Always test the thickness of ice before venturing any distance from the shore. Ice should be at least 3 inches thick for a small group; 4 inches of ice is safe for a crowd. Since ice thickness can vary considerably, it is best to stay near the shoreline of large lakes. 11. Use Lithium (LiPo) batteries in flashlights. Standard batteries deteriorate quickly in cold weather. Lithium batteries are rechargeable. Tape the switch of your flashlight in the "off" position until you are ready to use it. This will prevent it from being turned on accidentally while in your pack or on your sled. 12. Encourage everyone in your group to wear brightly colored outer clothing so that each person will be more visible, especially during severe weather. 13. Small liquid-fuel stoves are much better for cooking in winter than fires, which are difficult to build with wet wood. Gathering wood that is frozen to the ground also can be difficult, if not impossible. A pressure/pump-type stove is essential in winter. 14. Always use a funnel to refuel a stove so you won't frostbite your fingers by accidentally pouring fuel on them. Fuel evaporates at a high rate of speed and quickly removes heat from anything it touches. 15. Place a stove or fire on a platform of logs or rocks so it will not melt through the snow. 16. Never light or use a stove inside a tent or snow shelter. A tent may catch fire, and vapors in a snow shelter may lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Neither of these potential mishaps is worth the risk. 17. A windscreen is essential for using a stove in the winter. Even a slight breeze will direct the heat away from its intended mark. References: Okpik: Cold Weather Camping, Boy Scout Handbook, Scoutmaster Handbook, and Camping Sparklers

25 Treated Drinking Water A constant supply of treated drinking water is essential. Serious illness can result from drinking untreated water. Protect your health. Don't take a chance on using water that you are not sure of. Thermos jugs, plastic water containers, and canteens are all satisfactory for carrying water. Be sure water is dispensed into each person's own drinking cup. Treatment of Questionable Water In addition to having a bad odor or taste, water from questionable sources may be contaminated by microorganisms, such as Giardia, that can cause a variety of diseases. All water of uncertain treatment should be treated before use. Don't take a chance on using water that you are not sure of. To treat water, follow these steps: 1. Filter the water to remove as many solids as possible. 2. Bring it to a rolling boil and boil it for a full minute. 3. Let it cool at least 30 minutes. 4. Add eight drops of liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of cool water. (Use common household bleach; 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite should be the only active ingredient; there should not be any added soap or fragrances). Water must be cool or chlorine will dissipate and be rendered useless. 5. Let the water stand 30 minutes. 6. If it smells of chlorine, you can use it. If it does not smell of chlorine, add eight more drops of bleach and let it stand another 30 minutes. Smell it again. You can use it if it smells of chlorine. If it doesn't, discard it and find another water source. 7. The only accepted measurement of chlorine (or water treatment agents) is the drop. A drop is specifically measurable. Other measures such as "capful" or "scant teaspoon" are not uniformly measurable and should not be used. In addition to common household bleach, several other types of chemical means to disinfect water are available, such as iodine tables, iodide crystals, and halazone tablets. All of these are acceptable, but some people have an allergic reaction to iodine products. Follow the instructions on the package for proper use. To treat cold water you must lengthen the contact (sitting) time depending on the water temperature to destroy Giardia that may be present. Very cold water may take as long as four times the normal contact time. Several types of water treatment filters are available at camp stores. The Boy Scouts of America recommends that if you use a water filter, you also chemically treat and/or boil the water and carry extra filter cartridges and spare parts. Among the best water filters are PUR, MSR, Katadyn, First Need, and Sweet Water. Remember that ice on a water source should be at least 3 inches thick for a small group; 4 inches of ice is safe for a crowd. Be aware of your surroundings and look for melting ice especially near moving water.

26 Cold Weather Emergencies Prevention of Cold Injuries Prevention of injury is an important consideration in cold weather camping. Dehydration - Hypothermia - Frost Nip/Bite Dehydration: Dehydration is a condition that results from excessive loss of body water, either from too little intake or too much output or a combination of the both. Repeated reference is made to dehydration precautions, since dehydration can be a serious problem in cold weather. Drinking plenty of liquids is important at all times, but even more so in the cold. Without proper water intake, your body cannot use the food you eat or your body fat to create warmth or energy. You need at least 2 3 quarts of water each day to metabolize food and stored energy. Early Signs of Dehydration: Headache, dark colored urine, Nausea/loss of appetite, irritability, fatigue, sleepiness, thirst (may not be noticeable in cold weather) and dizziness. Operation Zero procedure: Crew members report it to the Crew Advisors or a Staff Member. The patient is to be taken to heated Operation Zero headquarters for warmth, liquids and evaluation. Hypothermia: Hypothermia is the lowering of the temperature of the inner core as the body that can happen above freezing temperatures (30 degrees F to 50 degrees F). The victim may not recognize the symptoms and may not be able to think clearly enough to counteract hypothermia. Early Sings of Hypothermia: One of the first problems is loss of ability to reason and the victim may not recognize the symptoms. As the body begins to cool at the skin surface, shivering occurs to release heat by increasing metabolism through contraction and relaxation of muscles. As heat loss continues, body functions are progressively impaired, shivering stops, blood thickens, the heart is overtaxed, respiration may cease and cardiac arrest may occur. Signs are: Slowing of pace, drowsiness, fatigue, stumbling, thickness of speech, amnesia, Irrational behavior, Poor judgment, Hallucinations, Blueness of skin and decreased heart and respiration rate. Look for Hypothermia: Check for the -umbles : mumbling, fumbling, and stumbling. Self-Testing for Hypothermia: Test for hypothermia by touching the little finger and thumb together. If this cannot be done, stop immediately and warm up. Prevention: Get plenty of rest and maintain good nutrition before and during cold weather camping, consume plenty of high energy foods and water, use waterproof and windproof clothing, exercise to keep up the body s heat function and all crew members to watch the group for sings of hypothermia. Operation Zero procedure: Crew members report it to the Crew Advisors or a Staff Member. The patient is to be taken to the heated Operation Zero headquarters for warmth, warm liquids, change of clothing, high calorie candy and evaluate.

27 Frostbite: Frostbite is tissue injury involving the actual freezing of skin and subcutaneous (underlying) tissues. Recovering from frostbite is slow and usually takes weeks or months. Frostbite occurs when the body needs heat elsewhere; it redirects blood flow from the extremities to protect internal organs. The blood thickens and becomes sludge-like and circulation slows. Ice crystals form in skin cells, drawing off moisture and dehydrating them. The skin cannot get the oxygen, nutrients, and liquids it needs and cannot eliminate wastes. As exposure continues freezing and damage go deeper into the skin until the full thickness, including the bone, freezes. Predisposing Conditions: Prolonged exposure to temperatures 32 degrees F or below, Brief exposure to extremely low temperatures (minus 25 degrees F and below), Wind/humidity/rain or snow), exposed body parts, restriction of circulation, and a previous case of frostbite. Symptoms: The symptoms of frostbite vary with its severity. First degree (frostnip) include warnings of redness, pain, burning, stinging, or prickly sensation; following the early warning signs, pain disappears and there is a sudden blanching of the skin (it turns white, gray or waxy looking); and the skin is firm to the touch but resilient underneath. Prevention: Prevent heat loss with proper clothing cover exposed skin, guard against wind-chill and moisture, maintain good nutrition and drink water. Use a buddy to check face, nose and ears for frostnip or frostbite. Periodically make faces, exercise ears with hands, keep feet and hands moving. Operation Zero procedure: Crew members report it to the Crew Advisors or a Staff Member. The patient is to be taken to the heated Operation Zero headquarters for warmth, warm area, bandage area, warm liquids, change of clothing, high calorie candy and evaluate. You and your buddy should watch each other for signs of Frost Nip & Bite and Hypothermia. Problem: If a person s shivering stops before warmed up evacuation is needed.