Plan to dress in layers so that you can remove clothing or put it back on as needed. Clothing should be dark colored to attract sunlight and retain warmth, and should be made of wool, polypropylene or fleece. Avoid cotton clothing because it has a tendency to retain moisture. Windbreakers and other nylon jackets are also not good choices. Keep a hat on your head at all times to avoid heat loss. You may also want to wear a ski mask to keep your nose and ears warm. A scarf is a good idea if your neck would otherwise be exposed. Mittens will keep your hands warmer than gloves. If mittens are cumbersome, you could wear thin glove liners underneath your mittens or a heavier pair of gloves.
Try to refrain from sleeping on the ground. Use a cot, air mattress or thick insulated pad placed directly on the floor of your tent. Place a heavy sleeping bag on top of the bedding. Have plenty of blankets on hand. Wool or down-filled blankets work best to keep in the heat. If you must place your sleeping bag directly on the ground, use a buffer material such as a sheet of plastic or even leaves to help insulate you against the cold.
Canned food will freeze in cold weather, so you should avoid bringing it on your trip. Soups, beef jerky and trail mix are good choices. Cereal bars, candy bars or energy bars are good items to have around because they will give you quick energy which helps keep you warm. An adequate water supply should be kept on hand at all times as bottled water will quickly freeze. Campers should always remain hydrated to keep circulation flowing and prevent hypothermia. Using plastic bowls and insulated mugs is preferred over the use of metal containers as they could cause frostbite from handling.
Carry fire starters and matches in a waterproof container, and keep an adequate supply of firewood on hand. It's also a good idea to have newspaper or kindling readily available for fire starting. In extremely cold climates, a tent stove may be necessary. If building a fire inside a tent, a small fire extinguisher should be kept nearby in case the fire gets out of hand.
Flashlight batteries will run down sooner in cold weather. For this reason, it is a good idea to keep extra batteries or even a crankable flashlight on hand. The sun can be extremely bright when reflected off of snow, so cold weather campers should wear sunglasses whenever outdoors. Lip balm should also be added to a camper's toiletry bag along with cough drops and facial tissue.
