Migrated from my blog:

How to stay warm when it is cold outside.

Tip 1:

When you go to sleep at night, eat a couple of pieces of hard candy or chocolate.  If you wake up shivering, eat a little more.  Your body will burn the calories, generating the heat you need to stay warm.

Tip 2:

Wrap your fuel bottles, especially white gas, with duct tape to prevent a cold burn.  Gas freezes at a much lower temp than water and can become extremely cold at night.  When you touch the bottle with a bare hand you can get a burn.

Tip 3:

From a backpacker magazine article.  6 tips to keep your toes warm:

On the trail:
1.  Put on a hat:  When temps plummet, blood abandons the extremities to heat your core and brain.  A hat helps circulation return to the toes.
2.  Wear waterproof gaiters:  Calf high models provide more protection against wetness
3.  Do pendulums:  If your toes go numb, swing your legs vigorously to force blood to your feet.

In camp:
4.  Change your socks:  Then put on booties
5.  Make a heater:  Fill a lexan bottle with boiling water, wrap it in fleece, and nestle it into the foot of your sleeping bag.
6.  Warm your boots:  tuck the insulated liners inside your bag.  There's nothing worse than shoving warm feet into frozen shoes.


Tip 4:  

( from a leader of the Skagit County Search and Rescue team)
WaterBlocker Socks.  There are many "waterproof" socks (most of which she's tried).  These socks in particular have a wetsuit seal at the top that keeps all water out.  Wear  wool sock underneath and even if you step up to your hip in water your feet will stay dry.  http://www.danalco.com/htmls/products/products.shtml

Tip 5:

(from Andy's friend Amy:
Put a few hand warmers into the bottom of your sleeping bag at night.  I did this at Whipsaw and it made a huge difference.