By BILL SCURLOCK
Winter is a great time of the year to camp. Insects and snakes are hibernating, you don’t get too hot hiking around, and, of course, sitting around the campfire is always great, but hard to do in the summer months in this part of the country.
Here are a few suggestions on how to stay warm while camping when it’s cold.
Don’t overdress. If you start sweating, you’re defeating the purpose of dressing in the first place. Sweating will make you wet and get your clothes wet and then you’ll get cold no matter how much you have on.
Wear several layers of clothes, not just a heavy coat over a shirt. The air trapped between each layer will act as insulation to keep you warm. With several layers on, you can take off a layer as the day gets warmer, or as you exert yourself, and still be warm. If you take off the heavy coat, it may still be too cool for just a shirt.
Wear wool. Down clothing is great when its dry, but when it gets wet, it loses much of its original warmth. When wool gets wet it retains most of its insulation qualities.
Wear clean socks. Dirty socks will not let your feet breathe which will make your feet sweat and they will get cold.
If you still get cold, wear a hat. A lot of body-heat will escape through the top of your head if you don’t wear something to keep it in.
Still cold? If so, build a fire and sit around it all day because I’m out of suggestions.