Winter hydration techniques

Hi David, we were just discussing this down in the winter hiking forum. Quite a number of techniques were given. Hope that helps out a bit.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=16950

Since you won't be in extreme cold, hydration bladders can be made to work pretty well.

Regarding the hose, getting a winterizer kit, which generally will include an insulated sleeve for the bladder plus hose insulation and a bite valve cover, will help a bit. With a little work, you can keep the hose tucked inside your clothing or down an arm as well.

Another trick: after you take a drink, bite the valve and blow the water back into the bladder.

At night, put warm water in the bladder, and consider keeping it in or near your sleeping bag (the risk there is if it leaks or bursts); you can put it on an insulated pad to help retain some of the heat, and you can also bury it in a snowbank, which may keep it from completely freezing (snow actually acts as an insulator).

In really cold weather, Nalgenes are a bit more manageable. You can fill them with boiling water, and you can also store them upside down so that the ice starts forming at the bottom instead of near the opening). I trust them more for placing them inside by sleeping bag, too. There are some good cozies made for them (I use ones from GraniteGear) but it's also easy to make them yourself.

I was writing my message while Steven was posting the link to the other thread – more good ideas there.

If the highs are still above freezing for the majority of the day, your standard water sources; streams, ponds, lakes, rivers, and possibly springs should all be fine.

I tend to not carry tubing for my Platy, but when I have in the past I have always carried a backup source of water in a Gatorade bottle strapped to my shoulder harness; not necessarily because of this situation, but because that is what I always do for all seasons.

A good, periodic shaking of your water container never hurts. Tough to do when sleeping at night, I know, but that is why many of us sleep with our water nested against our body in the sleeping bag during subfreezing temperatures. It's not foolproof, but in my experience, it makes enough difference from a frozen block of ice versus semi-frozen water.

If you're hellbent on the tubing, then insulating the tube can not hurt. Since I freeze my hydration systems and containers when not in use, I do know it can take a very long time to clear ice from the tubing.

If campfires are allowed where you are camping then a good campfire with your water sitting nearby is another option.

I also know of some people that carry a freezer bag, fill it with water before rest, and set it in their pot ready to boil come morning. Molding the chunk of ice to the shape of your pot is crucial, otherwise you will have a tough time breaking ice to fit in to your pot.

I have used a combination of all of these techniques in the past and they have served me well. I'm sure others have some better ideas though.

I'll take the above suggestion and check out the other thread, but one comment about water for the next day–I always just leave a bit of water in my pot at night. In the morning I put it on the stove and melt it. Never had a problem with the technique…

David,

One thing you really need to be careful about is preventing your filter from freezing and cracking.

If it freezes and cracks, then it is ruined.

The one time that I went winter camping with the Sierra Club, they had us boil up all of our water, no filters.

If you are going to carry a filter, drain it after every use and sleep with it in your sleeping bag to keep it warm.

Carry chemicals just in case of filter failure and expect longer times to treat cold water.

Also, turn your water bottle upside down when you go to sleep or when you store your water bottle.

Ice forms where the air is.

If it partially freezes, at least you don't have a layer of ice preventing you from getting a drink of water.

Good luck and be safe!

-Tony

> One thing you really need to be careful about is preventing your filter from freezing and cracking.

Very true, so I switched to a Steripen Adventurer. I make sure the batteries are at body temperature before use, to improve their life. Once operating, they stay warm!

Of course, if it is really cold and I can't fine free water, melted snow gives me drinking water without treatment.

Cheers

I agree! I never carry a filter in freezing weather. One would probably not even know if the internal filter is damaged, especially sealed units. Very risky.

My three treatment methods are:
1. Steripen Adventurer for above freezing and clear water sources (mountain streams).
2. ULA gravity with a Sawyer viral filter cartridge for above freezing and swamp water (I live in Florida).
3. Boil it when weather is below freezing. (great for taking a water bottle to bed)!

Admittedly, none of the above is as light as chemical treatment, but, out of personal preference, I avoid the chemicals. That being said, I carry a few Katadyn Micropur tablets for back-up. What a hypocrite I am!

Thanks for the techniques and suggestions.

I don't think there'll be much snow where I'm going, so boiling snow to obtain water doesn't really apply to my situation. My main concern is how to keep the water in my hydration system from freezing.

I stopped by REI yesterday and examined the insulation Platypus makes for their hydration tubing. It felt more like rubber than foam–rather heavy. They didn't have any insulation for Platypus bladders. Recommendations?

Regarding my filter freezing, my MSR Sweetwater instructions actually say to STORE IT in the freezer. Thus I've never bothered to keep it in my bag overnight, although this would probably help so it won't have to defrost before I use it the next day.

David,

It would have to be pretty cold for your water bladder to freeze while it is inside your pack.

The tube is more likely to freeze due to large surface area of the tube vs. the amount of water in the tube, hence the insulation for the tubing.

I guess you could use your extra clothing to wrap the Platypus hydration bag to provide some insulation.

Perhaps adding electrolyte powder to your water will reduce the temperature at which the water will freeze.

Also, as you are hiking/moving, the motion of the water sloshing around in your playtpus should slow the formation of ice in your bag.

Then the only time that you could be in danger of freezing is at night.

-Tony

Tony:

I see your point. Insulation for your bladder is unnecessary as long as it is stored in your pack, as mine is.

Do you know of any lighter weight alternatives to the Platy tubing insulation? It felt rather heavy at the store. I didn't weigh it, but I would imagine it is at least 4 oz or so.

David,

Sorry, I am all tapped out of information from my 1 trip into the snow and all of my reading.

Personally, for three season, I always want to have a hydration system, but for snow camping, I would not take one.

For me, the idea of melting snow and then having to pour it into a narrow mouth Platypus bag would be annoying and I am sure that I would spill and lose some of my melted water.

My advice is to go with a wide mouth bottle, like a gatorade bottle.

Interestingly, I found that hiking in the cold weather, I did not sweat as much and I did not "feel" as thirsty, so using a smaller wide mouth bottle did not cause me any problems.

That said, it is still important to down fluids to prevent dehydration as dehydration facilitates hypothermia.

Anything that I can think of, off the top of my head, would seem bulky…like using the foam insulation used for insulating water pipes…light, but bulky.

-Tony

"Personally, for three season, I always want to have a hydration system, but for snow camping, I would not take one."

Tony, I think I agree, however in Texas we don't get real snow…The worst that will happen is that temps will drop below freezing in the afternoon and at night. During the daytime, it's pretty much guaranteed to be above freezing. I like using a hydration system b/c I keep my center of gravity near my back. I think I'll either make my own hydration tubing insulation or find some that is light weight. The Platypus one feels like a rubber hose and just as heavy.

Any ideas for MYOG tubing insulation?

> Interestingly, I found that hiking in the cold weather, I did not sweat as much and I did not "feel" as thirsty, so
> using a smaller wide mouth bottle did not cause me any problems.

My wife and I have been winter walking and ski touring for … maybe 20 years. We never use so-called 'hydration systems'. When we want a drink, we stop and get a PET water bottle out of the pack – where it stays liquid at all times. Imho, Hydration systems are just another unnecessary gimmick for the shops to sell you – your money, their profit. And they weigh a lot too.

Curiously, even in the Australian summer we do exactly the same thing – use PET bottles.

> That said, it is still important to down fluids to prevent dehydration as dehydration facilitates hypothermia.
Ah … really? Medical references would be nice.
Adequate water to drink may prevent High Altitude Sicknesses, for sure, but hypothermia? New one to me.

Cheers

After checking, Darin Banner's article on this site says that dehydration can lead to hypothermia.

Here is the link:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/hypothermia.html

From the article:

Causes of Hypothermia

-More heat loss through radiation, conduction, convection, and evaporation than heat gained through digestive metabolism and exercise metabolism.
-Insufficient caloric intake.
-INADEQUATE HYDRATION
-Fatigue.

> Darin Banner's article on this site says that dehydration can lead to hypothermia.

I don't think the article says exactly that.

What the article does say is that you need energy to counter hypothermia, and that means eating food. Drinking some water can help in eating and digesting the food of course, but just water by itself is most unlikely to warm you up.

On the other hand, a large drink of hot sugared coffee or of hot soup … ahh yes!

cheers

.

Variables contributing to accidental hypothermia include:

1. Environmental Exposure- environmental conditions overwhelm persons ability to generate/retain heat; conductive and convective heat loss most significant
2. Age- older persons more cold intolerant
3. Health or Fitness Level- sepsis, hypoglycemia, neuromuscular disease, malnutrition, hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency; poor fitness level leading to fatigue
4. Nutrition- not enough energy reserves for the task at hand
5. Medications- beta-blockers (e.g. propranolol or Inderal), clonidine (Catapres), meperidine (Demerol), and neuroleptics (e.g. haloperidol or Haldol)
6. Ethanol Ingestion- alters ability to feel cold, impairs judgment, causes peripheral vasodilation

If you believe that dehydration (before onset of hypothermia) can affect your health, and it can ; ), then it could contribute to hypothermia. Significant dehydration is usually seen in association with moderate to severe hypothermia due to fluid shifts, cold diuresis, etc.

Peripheral vasodilation due to prolonged exposure or ethanol ingestion can lead to paradoxical undressing and accelerate death by worsening the exposure.