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  • Consume at least 3 to 5 litres of water per day - more if you like caffeine.
  • The first sign of dehydration is yellow snow (Vitamin C tablets artificially yellows urine.)
  • Dehydration results in hypothermia. Your body needs water to process food for warmth.
  • It takes twice as long to cook outdoors in the winter than summer - think simple meals.
  • It takes several thousand calories just for warmth. Eat high calorie foods in close to the following ratio: 10% simple sugars, 40% complex carbohydrates, 30% protein, 20% fat.

  • When preparing your menu, consider what can be cooked from frozen. Try cooking a frozen raw potato and see what you get.
  • Keep your water jug upside down so when ice forms, it forms at the bottom of the jug.
  • Keep your water jugs in a snowbank. Snow is a great insulator.
  • Butane (camp gaz) is useless in very cold weather.
  • White gas works really well when it's really cold.

  • Prime the generator on a white gas stove by lighting fire paste on it.
  • If spilled on bare skin, white gas will cause frostnip faster than you can say darn.
  • Fibreglass tent poles have been known to crack in extreme cold.
  • Always wear good uva/uvb blocking sunglasses even during overcast days.
  • Sunlight reflected off of the snow can quickly cause snow blindness.

  • Gather at least twice as much firewood as you think you'll need.
  • Stoves are not heaters for small tents. Think dead from carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • Batteries barely work when cold(frozen). Keep them inside your parka.
  • Use a heat deflector when hanging candles in small tents.
  • Use a defogger on all glasses and try to stay away from contacts.

  • Put mitt-sized zipper pulls on all clothing and pack zippers.
  • Make sure there sufficient room when fully dressed for movement and blood circulation.
  • Use a "deadman" (short log) buried horizontally in the snow instead of tent pegs.
  • Reverse guylines so the adjustable section is at the tent loop rather than buried in the snow.