Quote:
Originally Posted by Blitzzz
You can avoid the early morning cold boots by putting the two upper ends into each other and using the "U" shaped pair as a pillow. Your body heat is released into the boots all night long and are very warm first thing in the morning. Blitz
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Wow! Did that bring back memories of Korea in the Winter (November 1 - March 31). Never having been in a place that cold, I got a chance for a nice sleep in the bag, on the pad. Realizing that I might have to get going, or might have to just go in the middle of the night, I put my boots within easy reach near my head (It worked great at Ft Benninng). The next morning I woke up and had to slip my tootsies into a pair of boots that was probably 10 below zero! I walked all morning trying to warm them up. And I don't think I ever did -- the boots became heat sinks! After that I used Blitzzz' technique only I laid them sole to sole under my knees ( but between the pad and the bag). I actually looked forward to putting them on in the morning! They were probably 80 degrees! This was in the days of the old chicken feather bags so I also learned to take off my field jacket, but keep the liner on, zip it up and wrap my feet in it. Then wrap up in a poncho liner then zip up the bag but first make sure the poncho was covering all of the bag. I remember waking up in the middle of a Team Spirit Recon one night, roasting and feeling squashed. It had snowed about a foot. Pick your spot in the lee of a paddy dike, too. Oh and wear a wool hat or you will burrow down in your sleep. That just got the bag wet from your breath.
Do you know a sure way to tell if it is -50 or colder? Spit freezes before it hits the ground. That's amusing for a few minutes!