Re: sleeping on campouts
Chaplain Morrison (aettch@EMAIL.GRAFENWOEHR.ARMY.MIL)
Mon, 31 Mar 1997 08:44:51 -0500
>JASON CRUSE wrote:
>
>
>> Bottom line--I move around quite a bit in my sleep. Sleeping bags are
>> constricting, and I roll off of most pads. I generally only sleep about
>> two - three hours per night when camping. I hate it (the lack of sleep,
>> not the camping).
>>
>> Does anyone have any thoughts at all that might help?! I'm getting
>> desparate!
Jason,
I have a Thermarest pad which does a good job protecting me from the hard
ground. One problem is that my nylon covered sleeping bag would't stay on
the nylon covered pad. I solved that by taking a bedsheet (discounted at
T.J.Max) and have constructed a cover to go over the pad. This eliminates
sliding off.
It also helps to set up your tent on level ground - I had to camp on a
hillside on the overnight at Woodbadge and spent most of the night trying to
get back into the center of the tent. A good early morning solution was
"don't try to get back to the center of the tent". I got a few good hours
of sleep in the corner where I received help resisting the natural forces of
gravity.
Since Woodbadge I constructed the cover and included in it two tubular
pockets just beyond the edges of the mattress into which I place
high-density plastic foam things. These "things" are sold for kids to play
with in the pool. They are about six feet long, spaggetti-like, and come in
bright colors. I got my "thing" at K-Mart (or maybe Walmart). I cut it in
half (now read two "things") and stuffed them into the mattress pad cover
pockets. Now I have a mattress with raised edges or rails which keep me
from rolling off the pad. The cover and "things" don't weigh much but help
me get a better night's sleep.
I also take a pillow to the field with me. It is a down vest with a
self-storing pouch sewn into a pocket. I stuff it in the pouch for sleeping
and pull it out to help keep me warm in the early morning. In cold weather
it provides a great extra layer for my body's central core. Matched with a
Jackshirt it works well even when the frost is on the pumpkin.
The author of the "The One Pot Gourmet" suggests sleeping pills. I don't
think drugs are the answer, but warm milk is known to help people sleep.
Maybe there are other home remedies which make sleep come easier. For those
with bonifide problems such as back pain, don't forget the pain relief
prescribed by your doctor. I know one Scouter who must have her Walkman
going in her ear to sleep [my wife uses a "white noise" machine at home (and
when we travel) which blocks out noises that might disturb her sleep].
One final trick to being able to sleep is being tired at bedtime. Our boys
always sleep better on a campout Saturday night than they do on Friday
night. By Saturday night they are worn out and they quickly quiet down and
go to sleep.
Sleep tight,
Charlie Morrison
CC, BSA Troop 261
Grafenwoehr, Germany
NE-IV-90 FOX
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
