What makes winter different
Winter camping is not just the same gear in a different season. The nights are long, so you spend more time in the tent; the ground freezes, so cold rising from below is fierce; and moisture from breath and sweat settles on the fabric as condensation. Numb hands slow down even small tasks, and gas fuel burns poorly as the temperature drops. Above all, there is the temptation to bring something that burns fuel into an enclosed space to escape the cold. That is exactly where the deadliest winter camping accidents begin. So before talking about staying warm, this guide starts by making clear what never to do.
How carbon monoxide harms you
When charcoal, wood, gas, or oil burns without enough oxygen, it produces carbon monoxide. The gas has no color and no smell, so people cannot detect it. Once inhaled, it interferes with the blood's ability to carry oxygen, damaging oxygen-hungry organs like the brain and heart first. If you are awake you may notice a headache or dizziness, but if you are asleep you can lose consciousness without feeling any warning. A tent is built to keep the wind out, so it ventilates less than you might think, and how much the air changes varies widely with the direction and strength of the wind outside.
What you must never do
Do not do any of the following, not even just a little, just for a moment, or because the vent is open. Most carbon monoxide accidents happen through exactly these exceptions.
- Bringing hot coals, a fire pit, or charcoal briquettes into a tent or car
- Putting charcoal that looks burned out into the tent for heat
- Falling asleep with a gas or oil heater or stove running
- Cooking inside the tent or vestibule
- Sleeping in a car with the engine running
- Running a generator near a tent or car
Symptoms and what to do
Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headache, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, and shortness of breath, which resemble a cold or tiredness and are easy to miss. Suspect it strongly if several people in the same space have similar symptoms at once, or if symptoms ease outside and worsen when you go back in. If you suspect it, do not hesitate: everyone gets outside immediately, turn off anything burning, and call your local emergency number. If anyone is unconscious, calling for rescue comes first. A carbon monoxide alarm helps, but alarms can fail or run out of battery, so having one does not make a heater inside the tent safe.
Sleeping warm without burning anything
Staying warm on a winter night starts with not losing the heat your body makes, more than with any heater. Change out of sweaty clothes, wear several thin layers, and cover your head, neck, and feet. Cold from the ground is the biggest enemy, so lay two pads, and choose a sleeping bag with a comfort rating below the night's low. A bottle with a tight lid filled with hot water and wrapped in a towel helps inside the bag, but long contact with bare skin can cause low-temperature burns. Eat something warm before bed and move around a little to raise your body temperature before getting into your bag.
Using electric heat
At a campground with power, electric heating is better than anything that burns fuel because it carries no carbon monoxide risk. But each site has a fixed power allowance, and going over it can trip the breaker or cause overheating, so check the campground's guidance first. Cord reels and power strips heat up when used while still coiled because the heat cannot escape, so unwind them fully and keep connections away from snow and water. Electric blankets can cause low-temperature burns when the same spot stays in contact for a long time even at low settings, so take extra care with children and anyone with reduced sensation, and use a timer.
Fuel and condensation
Common butane fuel does not vaporize well near freezing, so the flame weakens or goes out easily. Use fuel labeled for winter, and never use the dangerous trick of warming a canister directly over a flame or in hot water. Condensation forms when warm, moist air inside the tent meets cold fabric. Opening the upper and lower vents reduces it, and in the morning you can wipe the wet fabric with a dry towel. A sleeping bag soaked by condensation loses much of its warmth, so sleep a little away from the walls. A gap opened for ventilation still does not mean it is fine to use anything that burns fuel.
When to pack up, and cautions
Constant shivering, slurred speech, clumsy fingers, or a sense of muddled thinking can be signs of hypothermia. If someone in your group shows these signs, get them out of the wind, remove wet clothes, wrap them in dry clothes and blankets, and call for help. If fingertips or toes turn white and lose feeling, suspect frostbite; do not rub the area, and get medical care. If your gear cannot handle the night's temperature, it is better to return to the car and wait with the engine off, or pack up, than to tough out the night. This is not medical advice; if there are symptoms, get help from emergency services or a medical facility right away.
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