Posted on 03/18/2015 12:14:32 PM PDT by nickcarraway
I appreciate that observation but, living in northern Minnesota, along the Northshore of Lake Superior, in a rural setting, you have to keep an eye on the radar and exercise common sense.
As an ex Canadian soldier with winter warfare training and plenty of winter exercises, I can tell you that you do not want to wear jackets and clothes inside a sleeping bag. You will freeze.
You’re far better to strip down and get into the bag, if possible have some way of making a little ambient temperature.
We were issued two -20 sleeping bags, used together was supposed to be good for -40 (celcius). At -45, I still only used one, and all I wore were my boxers.
Another thing most folks don’t realize is that your car won’t stay warm long with no fuel. Inside the snow is best. If there’s not a big enough drift or anything, it’s good to keep a snow shovel handy, make a pile of snow, then walk all over it to pack it down (snowshoes preferable), then hollow it out and bingo, improvised shelter.
I lived like that for over a week during my avalanche rescue course in the back country of Jasper.
The key, as you have alluded to, is to stay DRY. Sweating in the bag is bad. As are enclosed spaces where condensation from breathing will come down as moisture.
I disagree with the sleeping naked idea, you do not want to wear so much that you compress the insulation of your bag or sweat, but your sleeping clothes are definitely a part of keeping you warm, layering works, even in your sleep, and especially in the car.
When I have slept at 20 below and lower, I have a different method than you, I use an oversize Army bag that isn’t well rated at all, but I put blankets inside of it and sleep in whatever clothes feel appropriate for the temps, and my bag, and I do just fine.
I also think it is insane to leave your car and go sleep in the snow outdoors when you are sitting in your car perfectly comfortable and dry.
I live in my car when I travel and I love to sleep in mountain passes and snowstorms and as cold as I can find it
The car is a wonderful environment with it’s padded insulated seat, the total windproofness, the total dryness, and being able to sit up at night in comfort eating, drinking, and comfortable, occasionally starting the car to keep the radiator from freezing, in fact the only discomfort is having to go out into the snow.
The scenario here is that you have all your stuff, and are clean and dry and sitting in a comfortable car, all you need is more bedding.
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