The mere thought that climbers have to sleep in the cold, sometimes without any special gear, is frightening. This type of overnight stay is called a cold bivouac. Nothing extra is used at all – no stoves, no heating pads, no sleeping bags. We decided to find out from the professionals what to do if the night does not go well, and we learned 15 rules for a proper night's stay. How to get a good night's sleep and not freeze? The first thing climbers do is build a shelter. The simplest thing one could do in this situation is to dig a cave in the snow. If the group is large, this does not take much time. Experienced climbers share some useful recommendations for the event that a cold overnight stay suddenly lies ahead: For better thermal insulation, spruce branches and sticks are laid down. If there is fabric, that is very good, as it covers such a «floor» on top. If there are no branches nearby, then climbers prepare in advance, buying tourist heat-reflecting mats or foam pads with cells. Weakened climbers or those who are very cold sleep in the middle. As for the people on the outside, they serve as a kind of heat battery. But joining sleeping bags and sleeping in pairs is not allowed, as heat escapes more quickly between the shoulders that way. It is advisable to have something to eat; before sleep it is recommended to eat very heartily. If there is an empty backpack, the feet should be stuffed into it. The most important rule of climbers – if it is very cold in the shelter you have built, or it does not inspire confidence, you must not sleep. Limbs can go numb in the frost, and allowing this is highly undesirable. That is why they are constantly flexed, the fingers wiggled. You need to shiver, however silly and crazy that may sound. But it is precisely through such actions that the body warms itself. During shivering a lot of heat is released. If the group is large, you can sleep in shifts. While some rest, others monitor their condition. When the cold is severe, it is recommended to sit, as in that position all the blood flow will be directed to the feet. Drinking alcoholic beverages is categorically forbidden. The belief that alcohol warms you up is the deepest of misconceptions. At first an illusion of warmth may indeed appear, but afterwards the body will get even colder. You should breathe through your nose. Both the throat and the lungs will be protected from overcooling. If your feet are cold or wet but you have no spare socks, you can cut off the sleeves of a sweater and put them on your limbs. But naturally this is done only if there is outer clothing. As for sleeping in the socks from your boots, you should not do it; you should always put on spare socks and leave the ones worn before to dry, otherwise in the morning your feet will be chilled to the bone. This is all because the boots will be damp from sweat. When the hands get cold, the fisherman's method comes to the rescue. They need to be placed under the armpits or under the knees, where an artery runs. Naturally, for greater safety and a full night's sleep, you should sleep not in the shelter you have built, but in a warm sleeping bag under the cover of a tent. And most importantly, keep an eye on the weather, otherwise the consequences can be dire; one such story can be read here. And on our website Pogoda 1 you will find the most accurate forecasts and the freshest weather news.