CAMPSITE
Avoid
And if caught by a blizzard; make a shelter/snow cave ASAP or you may DIE.
Never travel in a blizzard!!
A good campsite is:
Keep in mind that the winter temperature can vary over a rather small area.
6. January 2010 the temperature at Bodø airport was -11 degrees Celsius.
At my house 10 kilometers away it was -15 degrees celsius, but just 2 kilometers from my house it was -26 degrees Celsius.
The height difference between my house and the local lake (-26 degrees) is only 5 meters.
The warmest areas are near the sea shore (beware of the Wind though).
Keep your campsite in order
It is important to keep the camp tidy and your equipment at one place, safely stored. Keep your equipment in the pack, or hang it up at the same spot every time after use.
It is not funny running around looking for missing things when you need them.
And a tidy camp makes your stay a little more pleasant.
No need to live in a garbage heap.
Latrine
If you stay several nights at a campsite it is important to dig a latrine, or the area surounding the camp will be very unpleasant after a while.
Make a hole in the ground half a meter wide, long and deep.
Be sure that the content of the latrine don`t pollute nearby water sources and that it is downwind from your camp.
To keep the smell and flies away toss a little earth in the pit after use.
It is also a good idea to keep a kit for washing up at the site.
Hygiene is important also in the woods, especially when you are not alone.
When the hole is full just fill it up and dig a new one.
Whiping Your bottom
Toilet paper is not neccesary (allthough a Nice to have item).
No need for "poluting" the woods with a lot of white and brown paper strips.
One could use grass, leaves (rowan, my favourite), ferns or moss.
In winter one could use snow balls.
It is not as cold as expected.
And don`t worry about frostbite unless you use a very long time to wipe, it is seldom cold enough to hurt you.
But even if you use TP or not; WASH YOUR HANDS.
Where and how to make Your camp