Section II. OPERATION UNDER UNUSUAL CONDITIONS
h. Snow carried into a tent will melt and wet
2-7. Using the Tent in Cold Climates
sleeping bags and clothing. The following precautions
a. Before selecting a campsite on snow, covered
should be taken to keep snow out of tents:
ground prod surface with an ice axe or ski pole to see
(1) Each man must take care to brush all snow
whether snow conceals any crevices.
It may be
from his clothing and boots before entering a tent.
impossible to find an area entirely without crevices. but
(2) One man should enter the tent first and take
it is possible to avoid accidents by knowing where they
the sleeping bags. packs. and other articles from the
are.
other man after the items have been brushed off
b. When an adequate site on snow has been found.
completely.
pack snow hard by stamping on it with skis or
snowshoes. or better still, shovel top snow off until firm
snow is found below.
2-8. Using the Tent in Wet Climates
c. Pitch tent so that entrance is not directly
The following instructions supplement the instructions
downwind. If the tent is pitched on snow with the
given in paragraph 2-1 b.
entrance directly downwind, the entrance may become
a. When possible erect the tent on a mound which
blocked, since snow tends to pile up in the lee of any
slopes in all directions.
object.
b. If the tent is erected in flat terrain of heavy soil or
d. If site is not temporary. dig tent into snow. This
clay dig a trench around the tent. To carry water from
will provide better protection from the wind. In open
the trench. dig an outlet ditch from the trench to the
terrain with a strong wind, it may be necessary to build
lowest point in the area.
a snow wall on the windward side of the tent to protect it
from the wind: thus the tent is easier to heat, is less
NOTE
likely to blow down. Leave some space between sides of
When the tent is set up on a very sandy soil
tent and snow wall to have room to shovel out snow that
which absorbs cater as fast as it falls or when it
my drift into tent.
is located on a mound which slopes off in all
e. Then a tent is pitched on a slope. a horizontal
directions a trench may not be necessary.
platform should be formed. The snow which is
removed may be packed around the outer edge of the
c. 'When digging trench, throw dirt away from the
platform to widen the space for the tent.
tent never throw it against the tent, for it will quickly rot
f. High winds. common in cold weather regions.
the canvas. In most cases, do not dig trench more than
require that tents be anchored securely. The tent pins
4 or 5 inches deep and in the shallowest place not over
ma! not provide sufficient anchorage. Arctic tents have
3 inches.
snow cloths sewed along the bottom edge of tent walls.
When an arctic tent is set up. snow cloths should be flat
on the ground. outside the tent. Place snow, snow or
NOTE
ice blocks, stones, logs or other heavy objects on the
There should be enough slope in the trench so
cloths to help anchor the tent.
that the water will flow freely toward the outlet
g. Do not attempt to drive tent pins into hard. frozen
and not back up.
ground if the force required is excessive. Instead. chop
small holes into the ground insert tent pins into holes.
d. When there is possibility that water may flow to
and fill holes with slush or water: in a short time the tent
the trench from higher ground, dig a ditch that ,will
pins will be firmly anchored. When removing pins from
divert the water before it can reach the tent.
frozen ground always chop them out: never hammer
them sideways to break them loose.
e. Before the tent lines become water soaked.
loosen them sufficient, so that when the, shrink then will
NOTE
not pull the tent pins from the ground or tear the tent
Pins aluminum 9 (FSN 8340-261-9749) are to
body. However, they must remain slightly taut.
be utilized for hard or frozen ground.
2-5
