Warmth - part 1

Articles In This Section:

· Warmth - part 1

· Warmth - part 2

· Warmth - part 3

· Warmth - part 4

The most important difference between summer and winter camping is the necessity, in winter, of maintaining warmth. For a short time before the winter camper turns in, a wood fire built on green poles laid on the snow, or the small gasoline cook stove in the tent, will make available some heat; but by and large, both on the trail and in camp, the human body must produce sufficient heat to maintain normal temperature. If the interior body temperature drops two degrees, intense shivering results, further lowering of temperature produces sluggishness and coma, and finally, at somewhere between 70° and 75°, death ensues.

We must then consider the human body as a heat-producing machine and determine (1) what can be done to increase the amount of heat manufactured by the body, and (2) what can be done to conserve this heat.

Production of body heat.—A normal male adult at rest, as in sleeping or loafing, liberates approximately 50 calories of heat per hour. This can be increased appreciably by eating or by exposure to cold. The only other means by which skiers may increase heat output is muscular action.

Violent exercise will increase heat output as much as sixteen times.

Shivering, which is merely a form of muscular action, will if intense, increase heat output several times; in fact, it is nature's method of preventing freezing. The digestion of food will increase heat production. The increase is prompt but brief for carbohydrates, much prolonged and higher for proteins, slow for fats.

These facts, applied to the technique of winter mountaineering, lead to the following conclusions:

1) There is no great difficulty keeping the body as a whole warm while vigorously exercising.

2) If one is cold during the night, food is desirable.

3) Vigorous shivering, though uncomfortable, is the most effective way of getting warm inside a sleeping bag.

4) Another excellent method is to tense the muscles of the body strenuously; relaxing and tensing alternately until heavy puffing and warmth result.

5) Hot drinks are fine only for temporary warming.

6) To prevent freezing of hands and feet, warm blood must get to them. Tight shoes and mitts restrict circulation, and tend to induce freezing. Boots must be reasonably tight while one is skiing, but should be loosened immediately upon arrival at camp, or before any prolonged rest.

7) Fatigue decreases the amount of heat produced by the body and should be carefully avoided. It is better to camp or bivouac before becoming excessively tired.