Critter Hampton

"Tauntaun at the bivi"? You guys spray much differently than that which I am accustomed!

Why am I in the spray section? I post in the spray section because that's how most of my posts end up. In the past I have been told to "pack up and move on" in a hiking forum for "not fitting in". Some of them said I was going to need rescued but since then one of the guys saying that(who I had a lot of respect for) has been rescued himself and so has my rival, who I call 'Barefoot Joke'. So, I don't fit in most forum sections. Critter style = Homeless? I'm not a fancy hiker and I'm not a fancy climber but I extensively explore snow, remote areas, and sometimes both at the same time. In the winter I bag areas that others brag about in the summer. In the Summer I bag remote lakes and areas that people are not even familiar with. Hoodsport is not a mountain town? There are houses in Hoodsport at 800ft above sea level. They are 3 miles from the base of Mt Elinor(5,944ft). Skin track cry babies? These are not really mountain etiquette tips for the refined. There are mountains for skiing and there are mountains for hiking. If you ski on a mountain which is mostly for hikers you should expect to deal with hikers, the same way a hikers can expect to deal with skiers on a ski slope. My advice is that if you are having trouble in skis, try walking. I added these at the bottom of the tips for beginners. Advanced tips: Written by Cascade Climber, genepires and Critter 1. Keep your body fueled with the proper food. This is no place for a diet so eat something hourly. 2. Stay hydrated. Even in the winter, dry air and hard exertion can dehydrate one quickly, so sip water often. (or munch on clean snow if temps are moderate) If you wait till you're thirsty it's too late. 3. Maintain a moderate body temperature. Alter clothing to keep the core temp in that narrow range, below sweating and above shivers. 4. Along with core temp, you need to be able to pace yourself for the entire journey. Don't burn out too early. Keep some juice in the tank so that you can hustle during times like when you need to minimize your exposure to hazards or fight off a angry skier. 5. UV rays are greatly intensified as they reflect off the ground so any exposed skin should have sun screen on it. This is an advanced tip because it is mostly necessary on multiple day trips, when getting a bad burn the first day could keep you from completing your goal. 6. Be aware of what is going on around you. Keep aware of changing weather conditions, changing snow conditions, changing avalanche conditions, ect. Things change quick and if you blindly go along, you can easily step into a dangerous situation. Take the time to look around. be critical of things you see. This is a good time to think of the glass as "half empty" rather than "half full". Don't let a group mentality keep you from being critical of what you see or think. (Some other tips were also edited into the tips for beginners.)

I added to the list. 16) Setting a turn around time is a good thing to do especially in the winter when it gets dark earlier. -Feck 17) It has also been suggested that knowing how to read a map is more important in the snow since the main trail or easiest route isn't always marked or obvious. As a beginner you are probably not an excellent map reader so you should be on a well marked trail or a logging road. See Rules #1D and #1F. However, you may not know you need a map and skills until it's too late. If you are following a map make sure everyone in the group can follow the map and show them things like turns, ridges, landmarks, ect., in case you need to send them for help. Map reading is the first skill you and your team need to work on developing. I hope to soon make a video or something highlighting basic must-knows. For the skin tracks tip I would suggest that beginners walk right up them for navigation and easier stepping. I'm telling noobs they should not worry about those fancy pants hot shots. Thank you for tips and the expert knowledge.

I volunteer in a small mountain community providing information to tourist about trails and conditions. We get lots of visitors who are absolutely set on heading up into the snow with very little gear or knowledge so I am putting this list together. Surviving in the Snow for Beginners I have posted it in various forums and social media but I haven't gotten a response. Only people sharing it, but no comments on the shares either. Maybe everyone is just being nice or waiting to see what others say. I am looking for feed back and I don't care if someone has something negative to say about it.

When I'm in the back country I have my own personal method of travel. Critter style. It's a cross between what humans call "ultralight backpacking" and "survivalism". The mainstream name for it will probably be survivalpacking. In the truest since of the phrase "critter style" means no sleeping bag, no pad, and no tent. I frequently sleep on piles of debris, wearing only the proper clothes, and sometimes under natural shelter, but, I usually use a tiny tarp. I don't do any of this for money or sponsors or anything. Critter style can also mean stuff like this critter style pack cover.

That 2L bottle idea is cute, but I travel 'critter style'. Critter style uses no tent, sleeping bag, or pad. I'm a freak of nature so I wouldn't recommend it. I often sleep on a pile of debris or trash bags full of debris. I personally don't recommend relying on things like crampon cases, store bought or not. If you carry any extra gear, it good to learn and have a backup method if that fancy stuff fails or slides down a hillside.

Here's how I do.