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Be careful out there.
Thoughts to the family and friends of this woman. Rest in peace.
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Oh my! What a sad and preventable disaster for that family.
Very glad to read that the other, younger occupant of the tent survived.
Although it seems counter-productive to holding on to the beautiful heat of a hot tent when it is sleep time, without question it is vital to open the peak venting and ensure that there is open floor-level venting before opening the draft and damper to let that stove burn itself out. The cooling tent with you in it is still warmer than the outside air and so will itself act as a chimney venting any back drafted CO and CO2 up and out of your sleeping space.
Basic rule for me: if I can feel a little cool air moving past my face as I go to sleep then I'll wake up fine in the morning.
Thanks for posting this reminder, johnnyg08.-
I have never slept in a tent with a wood stove but did with other heat. My first winter camping as a teen almost 50 years ago was a canvas tent and a Coleman catalytic heater that burned about a gallon of fuel at night. I was inspired by an episode on Michigan Out of Doors when they did a winter trip. I used it many times and always kept a window and door vented. I also used a Propane heater with plenty of ventilation. Looking back I think I would be more cautious. I have always felt the safest using an electric heater car camping. Just need a park with power and GFI.
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I wish people would just take a Nalgene bottle and fill with hot water, wrap in a sock or something for that extra heat source during the night...it works so well.
Wood stoves I never worry about as it is always drawing/venting so long as the chimney or a spark arrestor does not plug up and yes keep a vent open in the tent
Good post though as a reminder to be safe
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In case the link disappears some day, I'm copying the text of the article here because it's that important:
Article Nov. 18, 2020 Vancouver Sun - Journalist David Carrigg
Embers wrapped in tinfoil and used as a source of heat led to the death of Salmon Arm woman Lucille Beaurain inside a tent over the Victoria Day long weekend last year.
B.C. Coroner’s Service coroner Wendy Flanagan reported that Beaurain, 35, and her young daughter, Micaela, were camping with friends near Salmon Arm on May 17. Beaurain went to sleep in the tent at 12:15 a.m. on May 18.
In her report, Flanagan said that friends went to the pair’s tent at 10:20 a.m. and found them unresponsive.
“Ms. Beaurain was immediately removed from the tent and emergency services were notified. Resuscitation efforts were not undertaken as Ms. Beaurain was clearly deceased,” Flanagan wrote. “A cooking pot that contained cold, burnt embers wrapped in tinfoil, that had been used as a source of heat, was located in the tent.”
Micaela Walton survived.
A Provincial Toxicology Centre analysis revealed Beaurain’s carboxyhemoglobin levels were at twice the rate generally considered toxic. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas emitted by burning fuel, including gas and wood.
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Yes, this is sad. I am new to hot tenting. Honestly, carbon monoxide has been a concern of mine for a couple of years as I pondered the hot tents. Do most people feel comfortable allowing airflow? Does anyone use a battery carbon monoxide alert (not sure if that would even work in the cold; might be a stupid comment-ha). Just curious about more discussion about the methods you use to be safe. What do you do to ensure your safety while you sleep?Comment
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To me there is no 100% safe way of burning a stove at night. I personally let the fire go out and re-light in the morning not as much for safety but I don't like waking up every hour to re-stoke the fire. Having said that, it's a measurable risk (although low) to run the stove overnight. I sleep next to a knife. if my tent catches fire there will be a new door in a hurry. I also keep a ditch kit on my toboggan at all times, sometimes the fire may not kill you but the cold will if you lose your shelter.
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I would prefer not to have a fire at night. How do you stay warm? Just a trusty sleeping bag for the cold?Comment
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I completely agree with everything listed by Heavy Duty.
As far as sleeping through the night without a stove going, well, it comes down to your sleeping system. A good bag inside another bag, with an insulated mat is what gets me though the night after the fire has gone out.Comment
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Yes, you should always be prepared to sleep cold. There are many deep cold sleeping bags available. I personally use 2 Big Agnes down bags together. I have a 10f degree inner mummy bag, then a 15F square cut mummy bag outside of that. The key is to have the bags big enough to allow for loft of the insulation.......
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This takes a bit of experimenting to truly trust what you have with you. I sleep rather warm. With the system I'll be fine to -45 degrees F. My bag is rated to -40 and with a wool blanket hooded dickey that I made really helps trap the heat inside my bag. Of course wool everything.
I find its dangerous to venture out without having a sleep system that is not rated for temperatures anticipated for the trip. I've set camp in the dark, group consensus was to wait and get the stove going the next day, fire is an option.Comment
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Make sure to have a good pad to keep you off the ground. If you are on the ground it will suck every last bit of heat out of you. Try to keep your bag dry. My bag is wet from the moisture in my breath most mornings so I make sure to hang it up to dry while I have the stove going during the day.Comment
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