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

• 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:

        • Bernzomatic Utility Torch

    • Isobutane is OK

      • Isobutane vaporizes and burns down to temperatures around 20 degrees F

      • If you are using isobutane, pack a canister torch

      • Example:

        • Snow Peak Folding Torch 

    • 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

• Morakniv Companion 

  • 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:

• Silky F180 Folding Hand Saw

  • 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.

Robust Winter Shelter

Sure, we teach Scouts how to dig in and make a 3-Season tent work in the winter.  That said, the Scoutmaster should have a robust 4-Season shelter designed to withstand harsh winds and heavy snow that can be encountered in the winter.

Robust 4-Season tents can be purchased in the summer on sale.  See our Winter Tents Page for more information.

Honestly not to promote specific brands, the Ultramid 4 shown above has worked well in heavy snow.  It compacts down to a very small size and weighs in at about a pound.  It is expensive, (twice as much as a good winter tent that's on sale) but nice to have.  An emergency shelter is vital when:

• A Scout gets wet

• Another shelter collapses

• You get unexpectedly stuck overnight in the snow

• A blizzard stops you in your tracks and you need immediate shelter

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

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. 

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. 

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.