snow camping tips

[walkon]

Looks like a fair few people are snow camping for the first time so here's some tips

-stomp a site for the tent, stops the snow settling under weight and stuffing the tent
-dig a wall around the tent to offer protection against wind
-don't camp under trees, snow and ice fall regularly and can damage the tent or you
-dig out your vestibule, helps so you can sit on the edge of your tent and cook or get ready, whatever it really helps in getting up and out of the tent without kneeling in the snow and getting wet, ideally don't dig so the back of your legs touch the tent floor
-stomp a short track for a loo, stops snow falling into boots when they sink in snow wetting your bed socks
-buy a 3mm roll of high density foam to cover the tent floor, this insulates the bed Mat making it warmer also stops you waking up as much when your elbow or foot come off the mat and touch the thinly covered snow floor
-something to sit on, you can dig in a kitchen quickly and sitting down not getting a set bum is handy, I normally sit and cook out of my tent though this is good when you sit and rest during the day, have seen a coles freezer bag that has been unstitched used for this, was very lite had handles and insulated very good
-pull up your shoe innersoles then put boots in a plastic bag and into your pack, this helps stop shoes freezing
-keep your drink bottle up off the ground it will freeze, wrap in jumper store or store in pack
- always put some water in the bottom of the melting pot, helps melt the water faster and also stops the put from getting a burnt spot

[walkon]

-If the pegs are pulling out and you don't have an ice Axe, bury a sick sideways with a loop of rope around it stomp snow on top of stick and tie the guy rope to the loop. In the morning undo/cut rope and pull out. This stops losing $5 of snow peg if you can't dig it out
-there a saying that states' if your feet are cold put on a beanie', even if your sweating and your feet are cold put on a hat and your feet warm up gloves help as well
-wear woolen or suitable proper synthetic socks, really important even wet feet can be warm
-pillow, I just put some clothes in a stuff sack wrap it small put inside a thermal, always warm on my face
- for a fire lighter, I use a two inch section of bike the with a v cut in it, bit of vaseline impregnated cotton wool, put the cotton wool in the tube ignite always gets the fire going, vaseline in very small tub doesn't smell neither does tube and both don't break up making them useless

[sim1oz]

See also this thread: http://www.bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4139&hilit=snow+camping+tips