COLD WEATHER TIPS-I

The most important thing to remember about cold weather camping is to KEEP DRY. Moisture will reduce the insulating properties of almost everything. To keep yourself warm, remember the word COLD.

C keep yourself and your clothes Clean.
O avoid Overheating.
L wear clothes loose and in Layers.
D keep Dry.
The hints listed below are in a random manner. There is no order of importance to the list, just some suggestions that have proven true for me over the years.

CLOTHING

Layer your clothing. Wear several layers of lighter clothing instead of one heavy layer. This way you can better regulate the amount of insulation. If you get warm you can take layers off and add some more clothing layers if you get cold.
Keep yourself dry, both from the weather and perspiration.
Wear loose fitting clothing, to optimize insulation.
Remember when buying clothes for cold weather that wool retains most of its insulation properties when wet, while cotton loose most of its.
There are also excellent manmade fibers and insulation that retain their insulation properties as good as or better than wool. Other benefits include light-weight, wide design options & wind-blocking.
Remember your rain gear is water proof and will not allow perspiration to exit. During rainy weather change your clothing several times a day.
Athletic shoes and nylon hiking boots do not provide enough insulation. You should wear either mukluks, water-proofed leather hiking boots, rubber overshoes or rubberized boots.
Waterproof your leather hiking boots with the appropriate commercial treatment. Be sure to use only silicon-based products on leathers which require it. Check the care tag that came with the boots.
If you choose to wear rubberized boots, remember they do not allow for ventilation, therefore you will need to change your socks several times a day. Also you may want to get some felt inserts for insulation.
Wear a pair of cotton and a pair of wool socks to increase insulation and take the perspiration way from your feet.
Pull trouser legs over top of shoes to keep out snow. You may want to use nylon gaiters (leggings), or tie or tape them to make sure of the seal.
Wear mittens instead of fingered gloves when you do not need independent use of your fingers. This will allow the fingers to help keep each other warm.
Use a pair of socks to cover hands if mittens get wet.
Wear a stocking cap or other warm hat. One that covers the ears and neck area is particularly effective. Remember, most heat loss is through the head. Wearing a warm hat warms the rest of your body, too.
Wear a scarf to reduce heat loss around the neck. Use a "ski mask" or scarf over your face for protection from the cold and wind.
In an emergency use your neckerchief to cover your ears.
If you need a fire to keep you warm you are not dressed properly. If the heat can get to your body, so can the cold.
Paper is a good insulator and can be wrapped around the body (under your clothes) to add insulation.

To be contd....