Trip Prep: foil, garbage bags, and death

I ran off to the Grand Canyon General Store (expensive) and bought garbage bags and foil. Unfortunately their credit card machine didn't work, so I had to use the atm (at the charge of $3 from the atm, and $2 from my bank ahh... the purchase was only $7, but I had to have these things).

I've been a little chilly at night, at 8,000 ft it can still get below freezing at night, even in the desert. I've watched frost form on the plants a few nights while out searching for owls. So, what I googled it! How to keep warm while winter camping... actually I found several methods: DONT BREATHE IN THE BAG (moisture makes you loose more heat than you gain), get a silk liner, puff up the bag every time before you go to sleep, fill a water bottle with hot water, wrap your feet in fleece, tarp over the tent, prevent sweating, etc... I also came up with some of my own ideas. I've started to cook potatoes in the fire at night, wrapped in foil. I cook a nice warm dinner for myself (another helpful hint), and throw some spares in there for my sleeping bag. I stick the potatoes in a wool sock by my feet, and keep warm with the warm smell of food in my bag :) (and not fire). Ever since, I've used several of these techniques and stay nice and warm at night.

So anyways, I bought foil for dinner/warmth, and the garbage bags as a nice alternative for a tent. At camp, I stuffed my yellow back pack with nothing but light essentials... sleeping bag, food, water, gps, and a map. I called over my co-worker Tyler, "... if I die while I'm gone, here is the contact info for who I'll be meeting with. There's a guy with a zebra truck, and I'll be meeting up with the HOOTERS crew on the South Rim. After that, depending on how I feel, I'll either hike the Grand Canyon Again, or hitch hike around." He looked at me a little austounded... " Don't worry, you don't have to do anything. But if I don't show up for work, you'll have some info for someone to start looking." I was kind of kidding, but at the same time, thought it was pretty important. I knew what I was doing was a bit insane, but despite all the people I talk to about it, no one seemed to say so.