Frozen water

**10-K** · 12-09-2009, 05:34

So, I'm leaving the comforts of the South to go hike the cold NY/NJ section this weekend and the temps are going to be in the teens at night.....

Last winter I had a bad experience with water freezing in my platypus.....

How do you deal with that? I'm contemplating taking an extra water bottle and skipping the platy to avoid the hassle.

Anyone hike with a platypus in freezing weather? How do you keep the water from freezing while you sleep?

**Toolshed** · 12-09-2009, 07:56

Water bottles. Nalgene. Heat them at night and bring them in your bag. During the day if the water is warm, it should be fine and not freeze up, so no need for a water bottle parka. Plat's are a nuisance for winter hiking.

**mweinstone** · 12-09-2009, 08:14

fill it all the way and put it outside your sleepingbag but under your knees.this makes it to full and to moveing to freeze. blow the water out of the hose with lots of blowing each night .add an electrolite pack like emergen c to it to increase salene. my 4 litre msr bag dont freeze when i do this. maby it has chunks in the morning. when you wake during the night, if you do, give it a swish around with a single move of your legs and all is well.

**mweinstone** · 12-09-2009, 08:15

wonder if water could be carried in the seat of pants as a cushion and to provide water pressure when you sit?

**Tipi Walter** · 12-09-2009, 08:27

I would never sleep with a bladder full of water(urine's okay), and I would never even use a platy for winter camping. Too many tubes. And things leak for no reason sometimes. I got away from Nalgenes when they had their BPA scare and went with 2 Sigg liters, and on my last trip it got down to 7F and so I wrapped them in a smartwool sock and put each one in my boot inside the tent.

Boiling up a liter and putting it in a bottle works pretty good, although if it's really cold(-10F)this system is only temporary. When I have to deal with really cold conditions, I fill my 2 liter MSR titanium cook pot full of creek/spring water and place it in the tent vestibule for morning. Of course, it is mostly frozen but all I have to do it set it on my stove and start getting fresh boiled water for the day. Let the pot store your frozen water and you won't have a problem getting it out or getting it boiled.

**Egads** · 12-09-2009, 08:31

I have slept with a platy. Never again after having one split one morning (fortunately after waking and while packing) It was a bitch though as I had only ~6-8 ozs during a 30 mile dry stretch during the drought a few years back.

**Alligator** · 12-09-2009, 09:04

I leave my platypus empty and the hose empty as well at night. I bring one Nalgene wide mouth bottle for nighttime water/hot water bottle. In the morning, I add one part boiling water to two parts water in the platy and slip that into a blue foam cozy. While hiking keep air in the tubing.

Well, I sometimes forget to clear the water out of the hose

. You can stick that in your jacket in the morning and it'll melt, just be real careful to keep the open end higher up.

**nitewalker** · 12-09-2009, 10:21

it seems to me that the platy would be w waste of time for winter hiking. like tipi says there are too many things to worry about already nevermind keeping the platy thawed. the platy is great for the summer when your always gasping for air. just suck on the tube and wammo water and instant relief. when i hike in the winter my water intake while hiking is less needed due to the constant flow of cool air. dont get me wrong about water intake because the body still needs to take in its share of water but while hiking due to the cool air it seems less of a demand as i hike. in winter i usually only drink water when im stoped. when in summer it seems i need to stop at times for water..keep the platy home for winter. its not worth the extra agravation...

the best way to thaw it out would be to keep it from freezing......peace

**Cabin Fever** · 12-09-2009, 10:51

Originally Posted by mweinstone

this makes it to full..to freeze

Bad, bad science my friend. Freezing water stops at nothing.

**Tinker** · 12-09-2009, 11:06

I've carried a water bag in the winter (extra water) in a fanny pack. It was under my parka and close to my body so, though it did get cold in the 20+ degree weather it never froze. No, I did not dare to take it to bed with me. I also had a 16 oz. drink bottle with me that I refilled from the bladder. Not quite as handy as a drinking tube (I do use one from time to time) but I didn't have to worry about insulating the tube.
There's a picture of me and my bottle (mounted on my shoulder strap) here under Parade of Fools January. I'd seen other hikers do it and decided to try it.

**Compass** · 12-09-2009, 11:52

To keep bottle caps from freezing on tight store the bottle upside down so the ice crystals form on the bottom of the bottle.

Originally Posted by Tipi Walter

. Let the pot store your frozen water and you won't have a problem getting it out or getting it boiled.

Due to the heat of fusion if you just thaw frozen water with a stove(31*F- 33*F) you would use almost as much fuel to boil 33* F water. To be exact that much energy would heat 33* F water to 208*F. Heat of fusion is the same reason a couple of ice cubes can cool a beverage without watering it down significantly.

Therefore it is worth the fuel savings to try not to let water freeze.

**Manwich** · 12-09-2009, 11:57

Blow air into the tube so the tube doesn't freeze up. That's where it'll freeze first.

**ShelterLeopard** · 12-09-2009, 12:44

I will never sleep with a bladder in my bag. No way. What I like is filling one nalgene with boiling water, and putting it in one of my boots. Often will not freeze. The other I fill will slightly less hot water, and double bag in a ziplock. I think I may start putting a thick sock over it, so I can put totally boiling water in and not burn myself. Then put it in the foot of your sleeping bag and it will not freeze, and your feet'll stay warm. I only carrying a water "bag" (not a bladder, but one of those bag bottles) for if a water source is far away, and I don't want to go back the next morning, or if I'll be having any trouble finding water through the day. I don't keep it full at night.

**Tipi Walter** · 12-09-2009, 12:56

Originally Posted by Compass

Therefore it is worth the fuel savings to try not to let water freeze.

Uh, the reason I carry more fuel in January/February is because of this. Anyway, when it's -10F or worse your "try not to let water freeze" sounds good on paper but doesn't work out. But here's the neat thing: ground springs usually hold liquid water even at the lowest temps, although here again in a deep freeze even these will get solid. Have you ever seen a creek or spring completely frozen solid? Check out the fotog below I took on a trip about 2 years ago. Frozen springhead.

**juma** · 12-09-2009, 13:37

Originally Posted by 10-K

So, I'm leaving the comforts of the South to go hike the cold NY/NJ section this weekend and the temps are going to be in the teens at night.....

Last winter I had a bad experience with water freezing in my platypus.....

How do you deal with that? I'm contemplating taking an extra water bottle and skipping the platy to avoid the hassle.

Anyone hike with a platypus in freezing weather? How do you keep the water from freezing while you sleep?

speaking frozen water, the snow report seems to show about 4-6 inches of snow over NJ/NY right now. http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/nsa/index...gion=Northeast I suggest replanning for another date.

**10-K** · 12-09-2009, 13:40

Originally Posted by juma

speaking frozen water, the snow report seems to show about 4-6 inches of snow over NJ/NY right now. http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/nsa/index...gion=Northeast I suggest replanning for another date.

I'd like some feedback on this...

**ShelterLeopard** · 12-09-2009, 13:52

Feedback on NJ? Last night, at my house we had 5 inches, and more snow was coming down. This morning it turned to rain and there is disgusting slush in lots of places, which WILL, by nightfall turn to solid ice. I love hiking in the snow though- don't change because of snow!!

**ShelterLeopard** · 12-09-2009, 13:53

I'm in North/Central Jersey, five minutes from PA, and about 35 minutes from Delaware Water Gap, so near enough to the trail.

**canoehead** · 12-09-2009, 20:44

I'd rather do the bottles. multi use gear...
Fillem up, store them upside down so when it does freeze the ice is at the bottom.
Use as hot water in bag at night.
Insulated cover gives you a few hours of hot / warm water while hiking
Play drums on them when empty
Throw them at hikikng partner just cuz.
lots o fun

**Jester2000** · 12-09-2009, 20:51

Originally Posted by Tipi Walter

. . . I got away from Nalgenes when they had their BPA scare and went with 2 Sigg liters . . .

Just so everyone knows, recently produced Nalgenes are BPA-Free.

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

Bad, bad science my friend. Freezing water stops at nothing.

Well, it does hesitate in the face of saline, which Matty also mentions, Mr. Wizard.

As we all know, the best place to keep your Platy is in your pants. And at home when winter camping.

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