Warmth

The most important difference between summer and winter camping is the necessity, in winter, of maintaining warmth. For a short time before the winter camper turns in, a wood fire built on green poles laid on the snow, or the small gasoline cook stove in the tent, will make available some heat; but by and large, both on the trail and in camp, the human body must produce sufficient heat to maintain normal temperature. If the interior body temperature drops two degrees, intense shivering results, further lowering of temperature produces sluggishness and coma, and finally, at somewhere between 70° and 75°, death ensues.