All members of a skiing party should carry equipment for crevasse rescue and self-rescue unless they are accompanied by a certified mountain guide. A guided group will be advised of the equipment they need and likely provided with harnesses. Always weigh up the amount of experience in a group and consider hiring a guide for a ski trip on a glacier or participate in a ski mountaineering and glacier travel course.

Crevasse Rescue Anchor Equipment

Skis or snowboard and backpack are typical items used by winter mountain travellers. They can double as equipment for soft snow anchors since they provide a large surface area.

Ice screws, usually two 16 mm screws are carried to be used as an anchor if the surface (below any loose snow) where an anchor is required is ice.

Other items that may be used to build, or as an integral part of an anchor may include an ice axe, ice hammer, snow stake and snow shovel.

Crevasse Rescue Rope

An 8 mm diameter, 30 – 50 meter rope is considered the standard dimensions for a skier’s crevasse rescue rope. The rope length will depend on the likely depth of the crevasses in the area where the party is glacier skiing. This rope should not be used for mountain or rock climbing or, for crevasse rescue practise, in this case a single rated rope is required.

Have at least two ropes in a party — front and back.

In a group of several skiers, the front skier is the most likely to fall in a crevasse though this is not always the case. It makes sense that the most experienced person, carrying rescue equipment, leads the group since they will make the most appropriate route finding choices. However, this poses the dilemma of what happens when the leader falls in a crevasse. It pays for the second most experienced member of the party to travel last, also carrying a rope.

Equipment for Crevasse Extraction

Mountain hardware should be purchased from reputable manufacturers that adhere to safety standards. Look out for CE and UIAA ratings.

• Harness. A lightweight, well-fitted alpine harness, with adjustable leg loops should be barely noticeable to the skier. A harness should be worn at all times when travelling on a glacier.
• Slings (120 cm loops of sling) are used as part of the anchor to attach the rope via a carabiner.
• Three locking carabiners are typically required at a minimum for a crevasse rescue scenario: one for the rescuers’ security, one to attach to the anchor and one to send down to the casualty.
• Snap link also known as non-locking carabiners are needed to attach prussiks and other devices in a rope rescue system.
• Prussiks. This name is given to cord of 4-7 mm that grips when wrapped around the rope such that it can be used for ascending the rope in a self-rescue scenario or, by a rescuer as part of a hauling system. Commonly used prussik hitch knots include the Classic Prussik, French Prussik and Klemheist. Mechanical devices or ascenders such as Petzl Tiblock and Wild Country Ropeman can replace prussiks and work more efficiently but are heavier to carry. Read the manufacturers instructions to gain awareness of their advantages and disadvantages of these devices and the rope diameters with which they work.
• Auto block. This device that may be a specialized item of mountain hardware or, constructed from prussiks and carabiners enables the rope to run in one direction and block in the opposite direction such that rope pulled in will not slip back as hauling is performed.
• Pulley. Used in conjunction with the hauling rope and a carabiner at a point where the rope turns, a pulley is used to reduce friction.
• Traction device. Such as Petzl’s Mini-Traction. This is a specialized climbing hardware item that combines an autoblock and a pulley. The added weight of this device (165 g / 0.36 lb) must be measured against its advantages.

Equipment for crevasse extraction and self rescue should be carried by all members of a skiing party. Nowadays ready made crevasse rescue kits are available such as the Petzl Crevasse Rescue Kit.

Always carry a mobile phone or other effective communication device, a first aid kit, learn the rescue phone numbers for the skiing area and don’t forget to purchase mountain rescue insurance.

All weather mountain and sport clothing can be almost as high-priced and name-driven as designer label fashion items. Can a garment be waterproof, wind-proof and breathable? How important is heat transfer and climate control in a chosen sport?

There’s no doubt clothing can make a big difference to a winter sports enthusiast’s comfort and performance whether they are an amateur sports person or professional competitor. Sport activities in winter conditions can be severe and extremely variable even within one day.

Consider a snowy, windy morning (in the northern hemisphere) riding a chairlift on a north-facing ski hill and then skiing or snowboarding afternoon slush on the same mountain’s sunny calm west slopes. The temperature difference, taking into account wind chill, could easily exceed 10°C to 20°C (50°F to 68°F). Humans can cope with only small variations in their body’s micro-climate before performance drops dramatically.

Gore-tex Waterproof and Breathable Fabric

W. L. Gore invented the first truly breathable and waterproof fabric back in 1978 by manipulating PTFE (polytetrafluroethylene) under certain conditions. Today Gore-tex is the leader in the outdoor sports market in high performance, all-weather fabric.

Gore-tex fabric is made up of the GORE-TEX® membrane laminated between high performance textiles and then sealed to achieve waterproof protection. The membrane to which GORE-TEX® gives its name is made up of billions of microscopic pores per square inch. These pores are small enough that a water droplet bounces off, but big enough that the much smaller water vapour molecules that sweat is comprised of can escape.

Oleophobic or oil-hating substance integrated into the membrane prevents the penetration of body oils, insect repellent or other substances that could interfere with its effectiveness.

There is a wide range of outerwear or shell garments, footwear, gloves and accessories constructed with GORE-TEX® membrane and variable fabrics depending on the importance to the wearer of factors such as weight, texture and abrasion resistance.

Price Range on Gore-tex Garments

The price tag on Goretex garments which are manufactured by a gamut of the leading mountain sports brands, including Marmot, Arcteryx, Black Diamond, Outdoor Research, Mammut, and The North Face varies depending on the detail and performance of the garment. A rough price range extends between a men’s light weight rain jacket of around US $100 e.g. Marmot PreCip Gore-tex Jacket to almost US $600 for a top-of-the-range 3-ply Gore-tex all weather parka such as the men’s Arc’teryx Men’s Alpha SV Jacket.

Goretex products carry a “Guaranteed to Keep You Dry®” promise. As quoted on the Gore-tex website: “If you are not completely satisfied with the waterproofness, windproofness, or breathability of a GORE-TEX® product then we will repair it, replace it, or refund your purchase price.”

In partnership with Burton, GORE-TEX® fabric has been used to create the uniforms for the 2010 Olympic US Snowboard Team.

Windproof Outdoor Sports Clothing

Windstopper® is also a trademark of W. L.Gore & Associates. Like Gore-tex, Windstopper is made up of a specific porous membrane laminated together with various materials depending on the desired finished effect. As the name suggests the fabric, which can have a soft supple outer layer, blocks the wind. It also provides breathability allowing sweat to escape and has water and snow resistant properties.

Windstopper has many applications. It can be incorporated into woollen sweaters such as the Dale of Norway woollen sweater, combined with performance soft shell such as the Women’s North Face Cipher Jacket and found in accessories including hats and gloves e.g. Mountain Hardware Gravity Glove.

In extreme conditions especially in the backcountry, safety is at stake as well as comfort when it comes to climate control and effective clothing. Mountain sports garments should be selected not only according to the activity, fit and price range but also the seriousness of the endeavour. How critical is it to have a jacket that performs in all weather conditions?

To maximise safety at all times it is recommended that children under 12 are supervised by a responsible adult when sledging. Children under 5 should be accompanied on their sledge by an adult.

1. Choose a hill with a gentle slope and long run off area for your tobogganing.
2. Avoid icy surfaces and make sure the hill has a good covering of snow.
3. Make sure your chosen slope is free of holes and obstacles that could damage you or your sledge such as buildings, rocks, trees, fences, farm implements and frozen mole hills!
4. Use a well-designed, sturdy sledge with good handholds – ‘homemade’ or ‘adapted’ items will invariably be more difficult to control and not as safe.
5. Only toboggan in day-light, or in well-lit areas.
6. Go down the hill sitting up and facing forward on your sledge. Never go down head first, backwards or standing up.
7. Make sure your tobogganing route is clear right down to the bottom and avoid any routes which are near to streams or rivers. Do not start your tobogganing straight after another person.
8. During your sledge run, tuck in your arms, legs and all your clothing such as scarves, drawstrings etc.
9. If you do fall off your sledge or stop unexpectedly, immediately move out of the way of other tobogganists.
10. Dress properly for the cold with hats, gloves, and warm waterproof clothing including footwear.

Clothes don’t provide heat. The purpose of wearing clothing is to reduce heat loss and retain and maintain your warmth. Think about how you dress: small details make a big difference when the weather is harsh and your energy level is dropping. Clothes should insulate and support the body’s temperature equilibrium. At the same time that our clothing should help to retain heat that the body produces, it should also transport excess moisture and heat away from the skin.

Breathability and permeability (a.k.a. wind resistance) aren’t the same thing. Breathability represents how much perspiration vapor can escape through a fabric from the inside out, whereas permeability measures how easily wind passes from the outside in. These are different properties, it’s possible for a garment to be very air permeable but not very breathable—air could pass right through, while sweat could still bead up inside, leaving you feeling damp and cooled. The opposite is also possible—for example, a WINDSTOPPER® jacket blocks wind completely (zero air permeability) but will still let perspiration vapor pass through at a decent rate.

Retain heat, but let moisture out. The purpose of clothing is to retain heat that the body produces. The body puts off heat all the time, for better or for worse. This is a natural process, and we lose heat in five ways.

Have you heard the phrase “cotton kills”? Cotton is an extremely absorbent fabric. It holds water – like rain or melted snow or sweat – very well for a long period. And the problem is when you work up a sweat, cotton traps it close to your body. Add a little wind and evaporative cooling will happen. It can chill you very quickly to the point you are uncomfortable or potentially hypothermic. Cotton loses its insulating qualities when it gets wet, whether from rain or sweat and it takes a long time to dry. Wool or synthetic materials are much better suited to cold weather conditions.

Clothing Tips:

• Protect against heat loss through your head by wearing a hat, balaclava, etc. One saying goes, “If your feet are cold, put on a hat.” A balaclava helps protect your face and neck from cold and wind.
• Be sure to carry plenty of dry socks, but do not wear too many pairs of socks at one time. If the blood flow to your feet becomes constricted, your feet will get cold regardless of how many socks you have on. Tightening your boot laces too tight will constrict the blood flow as well. Similarly, make sure your gloves, especially liners, are not too tight on your hands. If they are too tight, they can constrict the blood flow and keep your hands from warming up.
• Gaiters will keep snow, rain, etc out of your boots and therefore help keep your feet drier and warmer. Gaiters also add another layer of material around your lower legs to help keep them warm.
• Attach “dummy cords”, or security cords to your mittens to prevent losing them in windy or snowy conditions. Carry extra gloves or liners to change into if your first pair gets wet. Gloves can be dried out overnight in your sleeping bag.

In 2001, the U.S. government started using a more precise way to measure wind chill by testing how quickly people’s skin froze. Twelve volunteers were placed in a chilled wind tunnel. Equipment was stuck to their faces to measure the heat flow from their cheeks, forehead, nose and chin while they walked three miles per hour on a treadmill. One of the things they learned was how quickly frostbite develops on exposed skin. The information collected from the volunteers helped scientists come up with the complicated formula involving wind speed and air temperature to compute wind chill. For example, if the temperature is zero degrees Fahrenheit and the wind is blowing at 15 miles per hour, the wind chill is calculated at 19 degrees below zero. At that wind chill temperature, exposed skin can freeze in 30 minutes.

Windchill temperature is only defined for temperatures at or below 50 degrees F and wind speeds above 3 mph. Bright sunshine may increase the wind chill temperature by 10 to 18 degrees F. The new Wind Chill Table index:

• Calculates wind speed at an average height of five feet (typical height of an adult human face) based on readings from the national standard height of 33 feet (typical height of an anemometer)
• Is based on a human face model
• Incorporates modern heat transfer theory (heat loss from the body to its surroundings, during cold and breezy/windy days)
• Lowers the calm wind threshold to 3 mph
• Uses a consistent standard for skin tissue resistance
• Assumes no impact from the sun (i.e., clear night sky)

For those wishing a more precise calculation than that provided by the table the NOAA website provides a Wind Chill Calculator where you can enter your exact temperature and wind speed to determine the precise wind chill factor.

When camping in winter, the most important consideration you have is keeping warm- which is a two-fold process: keeping the heat in, and keeping the cold out.

The most effective way to achieve this is by dressing in layers. This gives you the freedom to adjust your attire in order to help regulate your body temperature. It’s more important to dress in layers in the outdoors as you are constantly exposed to the elements and don’t have your usual access to a full wardrobe.

Three layers is a good place to start, consisting of: A liner layer, an insulation layer and an outer layer, which should generally be wind and waterproof. If you get these three layers right you will be much better equipped for the cold.

In terms of winter dressing, another essential is to avoid cotton at all costs. Great for the summer as a lightweight and breathable material, however it is not nearly as good in winter. Unfortunately cotton loses all insulation when it gets wet, as well as taking an extraordinarily long time to dry, leaving you wet, cold and uncomfortable. Your best bet in a winter camping situation is to swap out cotton for synthetics.

Cold, wet and icy feet generally mean you will be freezing and miserable the whole day, not to mention uncomfortable. The best way to avoid this is to ensure that the outer layer of your boots are waterproof either because they are plastic, or because you have taken the time to oil leather boots properly.

Believe it or not, one of the easiest ways to lose body heat is through your head. It is therefore necessary to consider wearing some kind of protective layer on your head to avoid losing valuable heat. A balaclava is a good option as it will also cover your face and neck at the same time if it is very cold.

A common mistake that campers make is to try and wear additional socks in order to keep their feet warm. This is dangerous because too many pairs of socks can constrict circulation and actually inhibit your feet from warming up. This said however, always pack a few extra pairs of socks- wet socks can really make a winter camp uncomfortable and cold, so make sure you have some dry supplies in case your socks do get wet.

Gaiters are a worthwhile consideration if you are planning a winter camping or hiking trip. They will make a massive contribution in keeping your feet dry and therefore warm as well.

So those are a few tips in order to remain warm, dry and comfortable during your next winter camping experience. It’s all about planning ahead and making sure you are wearing appropriate outdoor clothing during your trip.

Clothing Techniques

1. When you first get up in the morning (and at the end of the day in camp), your activity level will be low as will be the temperature. You will need to have many, if not all, of your layers on at this point until breakfast is over and you have started to become active.
2. When you get ready to be active, you will need to take off layers since you will begin generating heat. A good rule of thumb is to strip down until you feel just cool, not chilled just before activity. Failure to do this will mean overheating, sweating, losing heat and you will have to stop in 10 minutes down the trail anyway to take layers off. Open or closing zippers, rolling sleeves up or down, taking a hat off or putting one on will all help with temperature regulation.
3. If you stop for more that a few minutes, you will need to put on another layer to keep from getting chilled. Keep a layer close at hand.
4. Whenever you get covered with snow, either from a fall or from dislodged snow from a tree, it is essential to brush yourself off to keep your clothing free of snow. Failure to do this often results in the snow melting into your clothing and refreezing as ice.
5. At the end of the day, as activity decreases and temperature drops, you will need to add layers. Once you start to cool down it takes a lot of the body’s resources (calories) to heat up again so layer up ASAP before you get chilled. It may be good to put on more that you think you need; it will only get colder. If you are too warm, you can open up layers and ventilate to reach the proper temperature.

Camping refers to an outdoor leisure activity i.e. staying outdoors and enjoying. The people who participate in such activities are called campers. The campers may camp near to home or they may travel to far off places and camp at a particular place. Generally the camping sites are situated far away from human civilization and much closer to the gifts of Mother Nature.

The campers construct a temporary shelter known as tent in which they reside during the night. In some instances, people do not construct such tent and sleep openly in their sleeping bags. Camping is mostly reckoned to be the activity of the young & the strong but there are some types of camping, which can be undertaken by old people too. Some of the most common type of camping’s are family camping, wild camping, winter camping and many more. Let’s throw some more light on the term winter camping.

Winter camping is one of the toughest types of camping but at the same time it is the most adventurous and exciting one. Winter camping is only meant for young people, who are full of adventures and have a strong determination. Winter camping is much enjoyable and comfortable as compared to the summer camping. Winter camping can be done anywhere outdoors, but it is mainly linked with camping on high altitudes. Camping on high altitudes is not an easy task and thus requires a lot of planning & preparation.

Camping gears
Before going on any such winter camp, always prepare beforehand. The most important thing is the tent as one has to spend most of the time within it. The tent should be large enough to hold an individual and should be strong enough so as to bear the winter winds, which blow very strongly. The tents should be made of nylon and the frame should be of aluminum. One should also carry an air mattress, which is self-inflating.

Clothing
One should be fully clothed so as to avoid the rough winter condition. One should always dress in layers as it maintains the body temperature and moisture. The three type layering is the most preferred by people, while going on winter camping tours.

• Hat-

A wool hat is a must, while going on a winter camping tour. This hat prevents the loose of heat from the head.

• Trousers-

One should wear a Snowmobile mitten and on top of it wear a woolen pant and on that an air-proof pants.

• Long hand cuffs-

This keeps the hands much warmer as compared to gloves.

• Boots-

One should go for a snow boots, which are very warm.

Yes, its cold outside, but don’t stop your dog’s agility training.  Depending on where you live, there might be snow on the ground from November through March, but thats no reason to give up your agility training. Bring your training indoors, right at your own home.

Get creative with your training locations.  Do you have a hallway, basement, or garage?  Then you have a place to train!  Before it snows and your equipment is frozen to the ground, store some in your garage, shed, basement, or put a tarp over it.  Bring in one piece of equipment at a time, and begin your indoor training.

We do a lot of indoor training with a Pause Table.  In fact, we keep one in our living room for both obedience training and agility training all the time.   The Pause Table is a great obstacle for developing your obedience behaviors and teaching agility directional commands

Don’t forget to work on your contacts.  It’s easy by having a Contact Trainer indoors. A 3-Piece Contact Trainer offers you versatility; you have an A-frame side, the Pause Table, and a Dog-walk plank.  Practicing your two feet on and two feet off is convenient and quick when you have indoor contacts, only a few minutes a day to steady your dog’s behavior.

Indoor jumping must be approached carefully.  If you don’t have indoor matting, don’t jump.  You don’t want your dog jumping on concrete or wood floors.  But you can use the uprights or posts to practice your handling.  Use your Sit-stay or Down-stay and practice your lines or dogs path with no jump bars.

Weaves can be practice indoors.  Are you training with a weave-chute or straight line weaves?  Five minutes a day of weave training through out the winter will have your dog weaving smoothly by springtime.  You can practice weave entries and weave sends or weave recalls.

There is also a variety of mini agility equipment that can be purchased, and don’t require the same space as standard equipment.  There are mini-teeters, mini-dog walks, and mini-A-frames.  These are great obstacles for puppy training or indoor winter training.

So, during the cold winter months, don’t give up on your agility training. Whether you are starting a young pup, working a novice dog, or an experienced titled dog there is always something that you can do indoors with your agility training.

Cold weather camping is much more harsh on your body than camping in warmer seasons, so it is important to place extra attention on taking care of yourself by staying warm and eating the right foods.  If you are camping in cold weather, you should allow yourself an additional 1,000 calories per day in your diet.  Winter camping meals and snacks should be very high in carbohydrates to fuel your body through the extreme cold and should also contain plenty of fats and proteins.

Winter camping trips offer more flexibility for the types of foods you can pack because the cold temperatures are much friendlier to foods that may spoil quickly in the heat.  Cooking and preparing your camping meals in the cold, however, is much more difficult.  You will want to plan winter camping meals that are easy and quick to prepare and that are just as simple to eat.  Plan on packing a good bit more food when camping in cold weather and pack several emergency meals as well.

Instant soups are simple winter camping meals that help warm you up on a cold night.  Bring along plenty of hot drinks, like cocoa or coffee, and a Coleman 14 cup percolator to keep your body temperature higher before you wrap up in your sleeping bag for the night.  Lunch will most likely take place on the trail so plan easy to eat foods that are high in carbs and proteins to keep your energy and strength throughout the day.  It is important to continue to eat all day long because your body will be burning calories at a rapid rate, not only trying to keep your body warm, but to produce energy to hike as well.

High protein snacks like jerky, nuts, and trail mix are great for eating throughout the day regardless of the type of weather conditions you are hiking in, but are especially important winter camping foods.  Dried fruits are also very beneficial to your body during strenuous cold weather activities like backpacking and hiking.  Bring along plenty of raisins, trail mix, and fatty type snacks.  Chocolate is even a good snack for winter camping and backpacking trips and it won’t melt along the trail!

Camp cooking in the cold can be a tedious task, but it is very important to eat well and to stay warm.  Plan your winter camping meals ahead of time and consider the fact that things take longer to heat in cold weather.  Avoid raw vegetables because it will be nearly impossible to cook them at camp.  You can prepare vegetables at home and simply warm them to save time.  Always cook with a covered pot or pan to retain more heat in the cold and warm your meals faster.

Consider hearty winter camping meals that can be prepared in a single dish and eaten with little effort.  Prepared canned foods, like beef stew or chili, are great energy providers, but can be heavy to pack.  Vary these heavier foods with light winter camping meal selections, like foil packets of tuna, pasta, and bagels, for a healthy menu for your cold weather camping adventures.