Scoutmaster Winter Essentials
Winter is a great time to take Scouts out on an outing and can be so much fun. If you are not prepared for the unexpected, you can easily end up dealing with an avoidable disaster.
Emergency Winter Firestarter
You must be able to start a fire if you need to on snow. This is challenging because everything is likely to be soaking wet; winds may make it impossible to keep a flame lit and your hands and brain will likely be cold and numb.
You must have solid fire starting skills or have someone with you who does.
Emergency Firestarter
Stormproof Matches
These work great and you should have a full container of these
Safety Flare
Foolproof Firestarter
You must have a foolproof method for starting a fire
Road Flare
These have a good burn time of around 20-30 minutes and produce a HOT flame which is difficult to extinguish with wetness or wind
The hottest burn is at the beginning of the burn - use it wisely
Use to dry out less than perfect fuel and ignite it
Can also be used for signaling
These can cause 3 degree burns if the flame comes in contact with skin
Not for use by Scouts
These produce toxic gasses
Smoke from potassium perchlorate and strontium nitrate can damage eyes, lungs and even clothing
Not for use in an enclosed area
Not for use by or near person with asthma
Gas Torch
You can use a torch to dry wet fuel and ignite it
Propane is preferred
Propane vaporizes and burns down to temperatures around -40 degrees F
If you are packing a Propane Stove and Propane Fuel, pack a Propane Torch
Example:
Isobutane is OK
Isobutane vaporizes and burns down to temperatures around 20 degrees F
If you are using isobutane, pack a canister torch
Example:
Stove
If you don't have a torch, you can use your stove to dry out and ignite small amounts of biofuel
If done incorrectly, you can overheat your stove and cause an explosion
Liquid Stove Fuel
This is NOT an ideal firestarter and is problematic
It does not work as well at starting fires as a flare or torch does
It can cause nasty burns or even explode when ignited
Doesn't work on wet wood as well as you think it should
You really shouldn't use this technique in front of Scouts - its use for starting fires is also prohibited by the BSA
Alcohol is sometimes used to prime liquid stoves
This as bit cleaner and less explosive than white gas
It's use to start a fire is still banned by the BSA
If you have liquid fuel and really need a fire for an emergency situation, you can make this work
Woodmans Tool
You may need to build an emergency fire or shelter. The ability to cut and process limbs and trees can save your life in a winter emergency.
Have the right tool(s), know how to use it/them and make sure your tool(s) is/are sharp and in working order.
Bushcraft Knife
This tool will work to cut up and process material in an emergency. It fits nicely on your hip or in your pack. A knife obviously has its limits, but is more capable than most would think. When selecting a woodsman tool, this is the minimum tool you should have on a Winter Outing.
Make sure you know how to use a baton to split wood and beaver cut limbs and small trees with your knife.
Examples:
Morakniv Bushcraft Survival – Hi-Vis Orange
Really nice Bushcraft Knife that isn't too expensive
Very basic Bushcraft Knife
More than sufficient for most tasks you would ask of a knife
Get one for less than $20
Hand Saw
A small hand saw is easy to pack and makes quick work of cutting tree limbs to size for firewood. A hand saw combined with a Bushcraft knife allows to to perform most emergency tasks without too much fuss.
Examples:
Japanese Made
Bahco Laplander 7 ½” Folding Saw
Swedish Made
More economical option
Axe
An Axe is one of the three required pieces of safety equipment for the Iditarod (1000 mile dog sled race). It easily takes down small trees and limbs for fuel and shelter, as well as obstacles blocking your path. It will also cut into ice for water and nothing is better for splitting wood.
For remote outings in the winter, an Axe can prove to be very useful in an emergency situation.
Example:
Fiskars X27 Super Splitting Axe
Carried in a Pulk, this is an excellent tool
Hypothermia Kit
Someone should have a Hypothermia Kit should someone get really cold and can no longer function.
See our Hypothermia First-Aid Kit Page.
Emergency Blanket and Extra Clothes
Scouts don't always do a good job of taking care of themselves. They don't pack the right stuff, the are careless and get wet, and they sometimes conceal their poor judgment until they can no longer function.
Plan to Carry
Extra Jacket
Extra pair of Gloves
Extra pair of Socks
Emergency Mylar Blanket
Reusable Emergency Mylar Blanket has Many Uses
Keeping cold Scout Warm
Personal blanket at stops
Windbreak
Tarp for rain
Poncho
Ground cloth to sit on
Melting snow into drinking water
Working Stove
You must have your own personal stove and the ability to boil water. Don't expect Scouts to have a working stove at the end of an outing. They may use up all of their fuel, not bring fuel, not bring or misplace stove parts, or get their stove or canister wet and now it's encased in ice.
You need the ability to melt snow for drinking water and boil water for meals, warm drinks and to fill bottles to warm a hypothermic Scout or Adult.
Choose a dependable stove and test it before heading out on a winter outing.
Extra Food and Snacks
It is amazing the amount of food you can burn through in the winter. Expect some of your Scouts to run out of food. A tired, cold and hungry Scout won't function optimally and may bring your trek to a complete stop. Timed just right, this could have dire consequences for your crew.
Bring extra food and snacks. It doesn't need to be good. I just has to have calories in it.
Map, Compass and GPS
Trails are often NOT marked on Winter Outings and covered in snow. Because of this, Solid Navigation Skills are required for Snow Outings. Expect Scouts to arrive at a trailhead with NO Idea of where they are going. The same goes for most adults attending an outing.
If you don't have solid Navigation Skills, you must have someone who does on your trip and officially assign that person that task. You obviously need to bring a good map sealed in a freezer bag and 2 working compasses. Never give up your last map and compass to a Scout.
GPS will help you NOT get lost. Program your route prior to your outing and keep your GPS charged up and handy.
Emergency Communication
A winter outing can turn bad quickly. The weather can turn for the worse, or a Scout can fall and injure themselves or get soaking wet and need to get medevaced.
Have a way to call for help. A satellite messenger should be carried on any Winter Outing. You also need someone back home assigned to receive messages and able to respond appropriately.
See our Satellite Messengers Page for more on these.
Communication between separate groups on an outing can be performed with:
Cell Phone
FRS/GMRS Radio
See our Radio Page for more
Make sure you have a communication and link up plan that doesn't depend on your radio working
Duct Tape
Stuff Breaks. Snowshoe Bindings come apart. Tents, tarps and jackets rip. Snowshoe Poles need to be taped/lashed together to make a tent pole. Fiberglass tent supports split in the cold. Winter shoes don't fit anymore and need to be cut open so feet can fit back in them and then sealed.
Gorilla Tape fixes so many items in the field. Keep a small roll in your pack.