Date:         Wed, 2 Feb 2005 00:39:01 -0500
Reply-To:     Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Winter Camping at Pokagon State Park
Comments: To: pete or nancy owsianowski <pnocean@EARTHLINK.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <BE25ACBC.F2AF%pnocean@earthlink.net>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Pete

you shouldn't really need supplemental heat once you are inside the van
and ready for bed.  i have lived in my van over the winter and i did it
without any heat.  the main issue to watch out for in winter camping is
condensation from breathing.  as for warmth i slept in clothes inside a
down mummy bag and if that wasn't warm enough in the blistering cold i put
a blanket over that which i mainly used to cover my head.  the "great"
thing about the blanket over your head in really cold weather is that the
condensation will solidify on the blanket for the most part.  which means
that you don't have to deal with it being on the windows and other
surfaces.  additionally i always slept with the front windows and the
sliders cracked open to let the condensation out unless the wind was
blowing really hard.

the hardest part for most people will be making the transition from a full
time warm environment which most of us now live in during the winter, to
a cold environment where you primarily rely on body heat and good
insulation.

jonathan

On Tue, 1 Feb 2005, pete or nancy owsianowski wrote:

> Some brave bus pilots from the Buses By The Beach group are going to try
> some Winter Westy camping at Pokagon State Park in Indiana on February 19th.
> (We can't wait for Spring!) After hitting the toboggan run, we will retire
> to the campfire and our buses.
>
> Any collective list wisdom on staying warm after the fire goes out?  There
> is electric available so we can run heaters.  What about those of us that
> have to pop the top to sleep 4 and a Golden Retriever?  Anyone ever use
> electric blankets?
>
> The coldest I have slept in the bus was about 38F.  Didn't have a problem.
> The average low in February in Indiana is 21.5F.
>
> Pete and Nancy
> '87 Westy
> "Joe's Van"
>
>
>