⛺ Shelter and warmth
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In cold, wind or rain, losing heat is the most urgent problem. The ground steals more heat than the air.
Open the guide in the app (works offline)Step by step
- Insulate yourself from the ground: a sleeping mat, your bag, branches, dry leaves or cardboard. That comes first.
- Protect yourself from wind and rain: a tarp or poncho tied between two trees, with the low side facing the wind.
- The smaller the better: a small shelter warms up with your body heat.
- Dress in layers: a non-cotton inner layer (wet cotton chills you), a warm layer and an outer layer against wind and water. A hat: you lose a lot of heat through an uncovered head.
- Keep your clothes dry: take layers off before you start sweating.
Safety
- Don't shelter in dry riverbeds or ravines: a distant storm can cause a flash flood.
Source: Mountain and civil protection manuals