Water and sub freezing conditions

[Curtis Stoll]

Hello all,
I have a question that I was hoping I could get some insight on. In reading some trip reports, etc starting this time of the year, people talk about how their water is freezing on them closer to peaks with it being so cold. So, my question is: How do you combat this? How do you spend a significant amount of time out hiking without water since it's frozen? Is it just a matter of having insulated water containers?

Sorry if this is a stupid question or has been answered before. I looked around and didn't see anything. Thanks in advance!

[SoCool]

From a previous thread:

Sweet, when the "frozen water" thread comes around, I know it's almost ski season!!!

Once again, I'll provide my secret for keeping my water watery when the temps are below zero... Well, I guess it's no secret since Boggy B just described it:
1) Don't use a water hose system. Period.
2) Carry a small bottle of water in your jacket. Yes, it's a bit of a P-I-T-A having a bottle in your jacket, but it works.
3) Carry the rest of your water in separate, light bottles inside your pack and close to your back. I prefer to use a Platypus bag (sans hose) and keep it in the normal bag sleeve inside the pack. They sell caps for Platy bags so you can ditch the hose. Using a bag makes for some intricate refill situations but it's a lightweight; I've never had one freeze and I climb/ski in some really cold weather. -20? No problem. -20 with wind? That's time to catch up on my DVR recordings.

The stove and melting water:
When the lows are forecasted to be above zero, I'll bring the MSR Reactor or Pocket Rocket. If the temps are going to be lower, I bring the MSR Whisperlite which uses white gas. It only takes one incident of "frozen" IsoButane fuel to realize the shortcomings of that fuel system in extreme cold. You can put the stove+cannister on an insulated pad, dirt or whatever but it's going to fail unless you find a good way to keep the fuel canister warm while you melt snow and cook your meals.

Think snow, not wind

[CreekRunner]

Put your bottle upside down too.

[Scott P]

It depends on how cold it is. If it's in the teens, those insulated jackets for Nalgene bottles (they also fit Gatorade bottles) work pretty well, but if it is really cold out, a thermos works much better.

Here's a simple experiential that I did concerning water bottles, jackets, and thermoses in cold weather:

http://www.summitpost.org/cold-weather- ... les/346816" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Opinions vary on this, but personally I do not like using bladders/Camelbacks in very cold weather even if the tube is insulated and inside the clothing. If they leak, then it can be a disaster.

[AyeYo]

Using insulated bottles and starting with room temperature or slightly warm (hot will make it taste like plastic disgustingness) water has never left me with frozen water - even when camping overnight in below freezing conditions. It takes an ungodly amount of time to freeze a FULL insulated bottle of water. When you do drink it though, you need to drink it quickly, because the less is in the bottle, the faster it freezes. Bladders kept inside your pack on the side against your back also take an incredibly long time to freeze up and should never be an issue on day trips.

Bladders with tubes, those faddy Nalgene bottles I don't understand why anyone even uses, ice water, uninsulated bottles, etc. not for winter use.

[AlexeyD]

So, I don't know if anyone else does this, but one trick I use to make insulated water bottles is the "sock bottle". It's exactly what it sounds like: I have a TON (like, way more than I possibly need) of warm socks, many of them without a mate, so I'll just put one over a 1-liter plastic empty water bottle, and voila. Costs less than $1 (depending on your beverage of choice), solves the problem of all those mate-less socks, is quite a bit lighter/less bulky than a commercial insulated bottle, and seems to work just as well.

[Derek]

those faddy Nalgene bottles I don't understand why anyone even uses

What are those?

Put your bottle upside down too.

Yup. At least for day trips. I have a tall 1.5/2 ltr nalgene that I carry upside down in my pack. (The old, white "BPA rich" ones.) Carry a smaller hand bottle that I keep in reach, and drink it fast enough that it doesnt freeze. Refill it from my big bottle in my pack on a break.

Probably easier ways, but works for me.

[AnnaG22]

+1 for the hot water sock bottles (Nalgenes). Not least because it's really nice to stick your hands inside your warm pack during breaks.

[TallGrass]

Sorry if this is a stupid question or has been answered before. I looked around and didn't see anything.

Really? What terms were you searching for?
Re: Water in Winter
Re: The cure for Frozen water?
Re: 2014 14ers Winter Welcomer
Re: Which water bottle?
Re: Winter climbing equipment
Re: Winter 14er water storage...
Re: Looking for advice on doing this in winter.
And so on...

[AyeYo]

those faddy Nalgene bottles I don't understand why anyone even uses

What are those?

Any Nalgene (aka the least convenient way to drink on the move) bottle.

[AlexeyD]

those faddy Nalgene bottles I don't understand why anyone even uses

What are those?

Any Nalgene (aka the least convenient way to drink on the move) bottle.

Well, they do have the one undeniable virtue of being pretty much unbreakable. Which does count for something. Otherwise, I have to agree.

That said, I really hope we're not about to have a long argument here over which vessel is best for holding water. I think most of us can agree that this falls pretty squarely into the "it really doesn't f***ing matter" category.

[AyeYo]

We can if the site needs some traffic. As a traditionalist mountaineer that resists the modern horrors of GPS and trail markers, I think the only legitimate way to drink while climbing is from clay pots. If you use anything else, you didn't really climb the mountain.