Cold climate safety

From Hitchwiki
Revision as of 21:05, 31 October 2011 by Haggismn (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Applications-office.png This article is a stub. This means that the information available to us is obviously insufficient. In these places little information is available or the description is severely outdated. If you have been there, whether hitchhiking, for travel or as part of an organized tour − be sure to extend this article!


Hitching in the Cold

Sometimes a hitch hiker might find themselves in a particularly cold place. This page will detail some ways hitch hikers can keep warm when travelling in very cold climates. Extremely dangerous winter climates such as in Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, Russia, Mongolia and Northern China should have extra precautions taken before starting out, and should best be avoided unless the hitch hiker knows exactly what they are doing. Without proper equipment or a place to stay prearranged, a hitcher might find themselves in very serious trouble if stuck outside at night. Of course, this page applies just as much to anywhere that gets cold in the winter time.

General Advice

If you do not have experience in surviving outside in cold conditions, perhaps hitch hiking isn't the best way to find out what it's like. It is good practice to inform people exactly where you are going, and when you expect to reach your destination. You should also bring money with you; enough to buy food and to afford a hostel, in case things turn bad. Having knowledge of the weather forecast is also advised, so you have awareness of how the weather will be over a longer period of time. Finally, you should have a complete backup plan, in case you are forced to give up. This might include taking public transport or returning home.

Equipment you might need

  • Warm clothes
  • 5 Season sleeping bag
  • Tent
  • Gas lamp
  • Bivvy bag

Sleeping Outside

You must find an appropriate spot to set up camp. If it is very cold, you probably won't have to worry as much about people or animals disturbing you. You should try to find a spot which is, firstly, sheltered by the wind, and secondly, sheltered from above, such as by trees. Once you have found an optimal spot, you might want to start a fire. This will provide heat and light. You should learn how to start a fire before leaving. I have met some people who have used gas lamps successfully, keeping them inside their tent for extra warmth (not recommended unless the situation is desperate). Once this is done, you can start clearing away snow, if there is any. You should not to use your hands or clothes, try to find an instrument that can clear the snow aside. Piling the snow around to form a wall will provide more insulation.

Once this is done, you can set up your tent and sleeping bag. Put on as many clothes as you can wear. If you have wet clothes on, consider changing out of them if at all possible. Do not expose your skin to the air, if it is extremely cold.