Camping in the Winter

Some of us are in such dire straits that we must live in a tent through the winter. Here are a few suggestions on how to make this happen.

Stay hidden. When picking a campsite for the winter, be sure no one can see you. Last thing you need is a group of teens or officers deciding that decide your camp is something to be trashed.

Use natural protection. Trees or brush can offer protection from the wind. Know which direction the wind usually comes from and get on the other side of it. Also, face your tent downhill, as an opening facing uphill will let the wind in.

Get a good sleeping bag. Without holes and a zipper that works (a bag without a zipper is simply a comforter). If you can, make it a winter bag. If you are purchasing it, look at the degrees on the bag-- that will be the temperature the bag will keep you warm up to. If the temperature outside is below the one in the bag, it won't keep you warm enough. Supplement your bag, if necessary, with blankets that fit within the bag or a hand warmer at night that can be placed at the foot of the bag.

Keep dry. Get rain gear, if you can, or a good waterproof coat. Thickness isn't as important as dryness, you can always layer clothes under the coat, if necessary. Also, get waterproof gloves and a hat. Change your socks as frequently as you can, putting on a dry pair.

Tenting. A good tent is important, but it isn't enough. You will need a windscreen or a tarp to prevent harsher winds or other items from breaking through the tent or making holes. Two tarps plus your tent is ideal-- one to place over the tent to protect it and insulate it and one to put under it to keep the tent dry from the wet ground.

Put an extra blanket under you. The ground is possibly colder than the air. Give yourself some insulation from the ground.

Eat well. You will need to eat protein, if you can get it. Cheese, nuts, or granola bars are good. Also, drink water (even if you drink beer).

Have a good flashlight. It gets dark early. Keep extra batteries if you can.

Look at our suggestions to keep warm. Keeping Warm

Get out of the tent sometimes and get warm. If your tent is in a safe place, then go to a public place to get warm and dry out. Don't coop yourself up, although you may feel lazy and just want to bundle up.

Keeping Warm Without A Heater

Wikihow has a helpful article about how to stay warm in a house or apartment when you don't have much money for heat. The full article is at this link:

Wikihow's How To Stay Warm

Here's a few suggestions from the article:

Drink warm beverages. (Duh!)

Go to a public place with heat. This also works in the summer when it's really hot. Read at the public library, window shop at a mall or store, go to church.

Layer. Wear a number of layers of clothes. If you can, get thermal wear for the bottom layer, then apply thin layers on top-- tights and pants for legs and t-shirts, long sleeve shirts and a coat for the top.

Exercise. If indoors, it might be a good time to clean, vacuum or pick up stuff. If outdoors, just keep walking.

Snuggle. Find a loved one-- whether human or animal and spend some quality time together. It's a command in the Bible (Ecclesiastes 4:11)!

Reduce stress. This isn't possible for everyone, but stress makes extreme weather feel more extreme. Try to get enough sleep and rest, and give yourself a break from stressful people.

Cook. If you are inside, it might be a good time to bake that bread you've been hankering for! Or chocolate chip cookies (if you bake these, invite me!) Or, if you don't know how to bake, it's a good time to learn. If you don't have an oven, just cook something in the microwave and put it in the middle of the room... well, maybe not. If you live in a tent, just plug the appliance into your tree...

Light a candle. Candles provide a fair amount of heat. If you're in a tent, make sure the candle has a solid base-- you don't want it falling over!

Turn on a fan. When my family was spending in a winter in a room next to a garage, our only warmth was a fan. We turned the blowing part of the fan away from us overnight and the heat from the motor provided just a little bit of warmth to keep the edge of the cold out at night.

Move anything that blocks sunlight. If you have anything obstructing the sun from your windows or location, move them out of the way. The more sun, the more warmth.

Get hand warmers. If you put a hand warmer in a sleeping bag or under your blankets, or even in your coat pocket, it will keep you warm for many hours-- almost all day or all night! You can get them for just a dollar or two at most department stores (like Target).