We love a good hot drink at any time of year, but we appreciate them even more when the temperatures drop. Here are a few reasons why:
Photo by Katherine Boehrer.
Sleeping warm
A hot water bottle is a great addition to a sleeping bag at night to help keep you warm. You can stash the water bottle in your sleeping bag ahead of time for a little pre-warming, or keep it tucked in your jacket until bedtime.
Staying fueled
Calories give your body fuel to stay warm, so drinking a sugary beverage (perhaps with some extras, like butter or brown sugar, as you'll see in the recipe below) before bed or to start your day is a good way to stock up on some calories to help you sleep warm or start a long day with energy.
Keeping hydrated
Drinking a bottle of icy water isn’t exactly pleasant in the winter, making it hard to stay hydrated, and you don't always notice when you're thirsty when it's cold out. A hot cup of tea or cocoa, on the other hand, is much more appealing, and a good way to stay properly hydrated.
Raising morale
Never underestimate the power of a hot drink in the hands of a cold person. Note that drinking something hot doesn't actually raise your internal body temperature, but it goes a long way toward improving your outlook.
Now here’s a delicious recipe to take on your next camping trip:
Photo by Katherine Boehrer.
Recipe for Hot Cocoa Deluxe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups hot water
- 2 Tbs. cocoa mix
- 1-2 Tbs. powdered milk
- ½ tsp. vanilla
- dash of cinnamon
Directions
- Bring water to a boil
- Pour water into your hot drink vessel
- Add the cocoa mix and powdered milk to the hot water (*Hint: You can mix the cocoa and powdered milk at home before heading to the backcountry)
- Add vanilla and cinnamon
- Stir and enjoy
Variations
- For coffee lovers: substitute 1 ½ cups coffee for the hot water. Add brown sugar or honey to taste.
- For extra warmth: Add 1 Tbs. brown sugar and 1 Tbs. butter or butter substitute, or a dollop of peanut butter or cheese (yes, cheese).
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