Date:         Mon, 24 Dec 2001 08:35:45 -0600
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <jhrodgers@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <jhrodgers@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Addendum: was vented catalytic heaters
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

After giving thought to something Rico Sapplich e-mailed to me about cold weather
camping, I am adding this to the information I put out to his original mail to the
list. Hope it helps someone winter camping or camping with their vanagon.

****

Rich, you are welcome to use the info any way you can if it helps the troops.

If I remember correctly, PA is cold and snowy in January. At the risk of being
overly pedantic on the subject, here's something on keeping the feet warm that
every boy scout should learn. I consider it imperative for kids that live in a
climate of cold and snow. I don't think I would ever take kids out for a winter
campout up north unless they were equipped as described below. This is essential
knowledge, and essential survival practice.

***************

There is all this talk about how the boot must breathe to get rid of moisture,
and keep the feet dry in order to be warm. That is bogus.

The Army uses an Arctic  boot called a Bates Bunny Boot. That boot is made of
rubber. The boot is absolutely water proof. Melted snow does not get in to wet
the foot. You can walk in the overflow in the creek and the foot won't get wet.
(unless you go in over the tops)
Rubber AND waterproof. And that works both ways. Water in the boot cannot get
out. That means sweat from the foot cannot get out. So how is the foot kept
warm?

Well, the construction of the boot is such that it is made in three layers. The
outer boot, the inner boot and a felt liner sealed in between. Additionally,
there are air bladders that can be inflated to make the boot fit exactly to the
foot.

The trick with the Bates Arctic Bunny Boot is that the foot is encased in a
water proof inner boot and the moisture cannot wick through the felt insulation
to the outer outer boot which is next to the snow and very cold, and allow the
heat to move from the inner to the outer layer, thus resulting in loss of the
thermal barrier,  resulting in cold feet or
worse, frozen feet.

Good foot care in an arctic environment is critical. So what to do?

Most of us don't have the Bates Arctic Bunny Boot, but we can have the next best
thing. Let's begin with the simple shoe-pac, often called a Sorrel boot, LL Bean
Boot or other brand. It is a boot with a rubber bottom, a leather top, and a
felt liner. Most people wear these wrong. To put on a sock then put the foot in
the liner is to invite cold feet. Why? The moisture from the foot first wets the
sock, then wets the felt liner, then carries the heat directly to the cold
rubber where it is lost to the cold, resulting in cold feet.

To prevent the problem, simply put on a medium weight cushion weave woolen sock,
then slip a bread sack over the foot, slip a wide rubber band over the foot and
up the leg to hold the bag up, then stick the foot in the wool felt boot liner,
which is already in the boot. Put two spare pair of socks into your pack with at
least two more pair of bread sacks included. Half way through the day, stop,
remove your now wet socks, dry your feet thoroughly, even putting on a little
foot powder maybe, and put on fresh clean socks and new bread bags. At night,
wipe the feet down with alcohol wipes, dry thoroughly, put on fresh socks for
sleep. Be sure you have fresh socks and bags for the next day.

You can follow this routine with most any boot, but leather boots loose it to
the snow a lot sooner than the rubber. Snow melts next to the welt at the sole
and will eventually wet whatever is next to it inside. If if is just a sock, it
looses its insulating quality as soon as it is even damp. Even felt liners give
in to the cold if not separated from the foot by a plastic bag.

I have spent untold days and nights out in the Alaska wilderness in Winter and
NEVER suffered from cold feet. Cold other things, but not cold feet.

Scout motto is "Be Prepared!" I know. I'm an old Eagle Scout myself. So get
those clean socks and those bread bags!!! Enjoy the wonder of the outdoors in
winter ..... but do it with warm feet!!!!

John Rodgers