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Nighttime at Camp
Before Bed
 | Sleeping bags do not produce heat, they only reflect what the body
produces. Thus to stay warm, backpackers must keep their own internal fires
stoked. |
| Eating a meat or a light snack before going to bed is a good idea,
especi0y warm foods and foods high in carbohydrates and fats. |
| Staying well-hydrated is also important. Dehydration can cause a drop in
blood circulation which can negatively affect warmth. |
| Doing something active just before bed also helps backpackers stay warm. A
little light exercise is usually all it takes. |
| Backpackers should avoid overdressing when they hop into their sleeping
bags. Wearing lots of clothes can actually de- crease warmth in some situations, since there is less room for the dead air which the body
warms up
and uses as insulation. |
| A sleeping bag hood or warm headgear is important on cold nights, since
most of the heat that a body loses passes through the head. |
| Using a sleeping pad will drastically cut down on the amount of body
heat lost to the ground through conductive heat loss. |
Overnight
For many first-time backpackers, the key to a peaceful night in the
wilderness is learning how to not listen too closely. There are lots of sounds
out in the woods at night, most of which are much less threatening than they may
sound. Animals often come into campsites to look around after the sun sets, so
backpackers should be ready for those kinds of sounds as well. The best way to
stay calm is to remember that most wilderness animals are far more scared of
people than people are of them.
| To make late night trips to the latrine easier, backpackers should place
their flashlights and a pair of sandals or camp shoes near their tent door.
Many people also like a supply of water nearby. |
| If weather conditions or the forecast is bad, backpackers should either
store their backpacks underneath their tent's vestibule, if one is
available, or use a waterproof pack cover and store the packs away from the
tent. This second alternative will cut down on problems with animal visitors
if any are attracted by food odors in the packs. |
In the Morning
| Camp mornings should start with a good breakfast and an organizational
meeting, during which everyone can discuss the upcoming day's plans.
Everyone in the backpacking group should know what the day's route has in
store, so that they can prepare and pack accordingly. |
| Packing up camp should be approached as a team effort. Back- packers
should remember to share the work and to store stuff that they might need
during the day where it is easy to reach. |
| Finally, when everyone is packed up and ready to go, backpackers should
make a final sweep of the campsite to make sure that it is clean, free of
trash and that nothing has been left behind. |
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