It's Cold!

Hi! My name is L.R.C. (mom won't let me use my real name).  I'm ten years old, and I've decided to spend every night of 2013 in the tent I got for Christmas.

So far, I've slept outside for 22 days in a row, and even though it's been really cold the last few nights, I'm still having fun.    

My dad said I should start by writing about why I decided to do this.  I've gotten really interested in climbing and mountaineering lately, and I guess I'm doing it to prepare for just about anything any mountain would have to offer weather-wise.

When people find out that I've been sleeping in a tent, they usually tell me I'm crazy, then they ask how I stay warm when it's so cold (it was 2 degrees overnight last night).  Here's a little bit about my gear:

The tent I've been using is an Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 3 and it's holding up amazingly well for a 3-season tent in the winter.

Right after New Years, when the weather was warmer, I slept in a 40 degree Slumberjack Everest Elite sleeping bag, but lately, with it being really cold, I've been sleeping in a North Face Cat's Meow 20 degree bag on top of a Ridge Rest (made by Cascade Designs) for extra comfort and warmth.

Because sometimes it's cold even in the sleeping bag, I always wear the same thing to bed: top and bottom baselayer, Smartwool socks, and a hat that my grandmother knit.  My favorite thing about the hat is its color ("goose turd green").

Starting with my first night, every morning at 5:50 a.m. (or a little later if he sleeps in) my dad has come outside to wake me up so that we can go for a hike to the top of the hill behind our house before I am expected at home to get ready for school.

The last three nights, though, my dad has come outside at about 11:00 to sleep with me (my mom says he has to whenever it is below 20, because she's afraid I'll freeze to death).  We've been zipping two 20 degree sleeping bags together and sharing them to keep warm, and it works perfectly.  That is, when he doesn't hog the bag with the warmer lining.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you'll stop back to read other posts.  I'll try to keep you informed about how I do!