| When hunting in the snow take special care of the | | | | returning to the snow for more rest. |
| kind of cloths that you put on. It is important for | | | | I suffered no ill effects from this night in the |
| a hunter that he must know the correct clothes | | | | snow, but I would not advise anyone to camp in |
| and equipment when he goes hunting. In this | | | | this manner except as a last resort. I was in good |
| article you will learn on some tips on how to | | | | physical condition and adequately clothed and I |
| survive in particular weather if you get lost in the | | | | had been working out of doors and sleeping in a |
| forest. | | | | tent for the past month, so that I was thoroughly |
| I had started to hike over the Continental Divide | | | | accustomed to the weather conditions of the |
| in the later part of January. I do not recommend | | | | area. Since I was not completely exhausted when |
| such a hike as a pleasure trip. Night overtook me | | | | I went to sleep, shivering was sufficient to arouse |
| where there were no human habitations and I had | | | | me before any portion of my body could become |
| a strong wind to face. This combination of cold | | | | frost bitten. The average deer hunter would have |
| and wind, together with the altitude (over 10,000 | | | | trouble in surviving such a night. He is usually |
| feet) made it imperative that I find shelter of | | | | clothed adequately for daytime temperature, but |
| some sort. I was following the tracks of the now | | | | not for inaction during the colder nights. This is |
| defunct Colorado Midland Railroad and I tried to | | | | why a fire is almost a must. |
| camp in a snow shed which covered the tracks, | | | | After the lost hunter has spent the night in the |
| but this shed acted as a wind tunnel and the | | | | woods, he should try to orient himself in the |
| temperature seemed to be lower there than in | | | | morning. This should not be hard to do if the sun |
| the open. Beyond the snow shed, I could see a | | | | is shining. He should not trust to instinct, but should |
| few scattered trees a short distance from the | | | | reason things out. Even if the sun seems to be |
| tracks. I tried to reach them, but the snow was | | | | somewhere else, it must be in the east, so there |
| at least six feet deep and was not solid enough | | | | is one sure direction. The other points of the |
| to walk on. I managed to flounder to the nearest | | | | compass should be easy to figure. This |
| of these trees, but there was no dry wood for a | | | | information is of no value unless the lost person |
| fire. I trampled a trench in the snow about three | | | | knows the direction in which he left camp or the |
| feet deep and six feet long, placed a few | | | | direction of the road which runs by the camp. If |
| branches in this trench for a bed, and prepared to | | | | these things are not known, it is best to remain in |
| spend the night. This trench was considerably | | | | the temporary camp and wait for aid, keeping |
| better than the open country, but too cold for | | | | plenty of damp wood on the fire as a signal to |
| comfort and I decided to imitate the partridge, | | | | searchers. Any shots which are heard, should be |
| who dives into the snow in order to survive | | | | answered by a single shot. If these shots are |
| during exceptionally cold weather. I burrowed into | | | | made by searchers, one shot is all that is |
| the snow at my back until I was completely into | | | | necessary and more will be a waste of valuable |
| it and the bank had caved in so that I was | | | | ammunition. |
| covered. I was comfortable enough so that I | | | | This means that it is always good to be safe in |
| alternately slept and dozed for several hours until | | | | the woods at night when you are lost and you |
| excessive shivering, nature's method of warming | | | | have nowhere to go for any kind of shelter. It is |
| the surface of the body, forced me from the | | | | more harsh hunting deer in the winter. And always |
| bed. A few minutes of exercise started my blood | | | | prepares yourself even when you are in the |
| circulating and I was soon comfortable. It was | | | | camp when hunting deer in the winter and save |
| nearly daylight and I resumed my hike instead of | | | | your ammunitions as possible for better use. |