Camera/Battery Question in Very Cold Weather

Y'all came to my rescue with my dust question, so I'm tossing one more out there, probably aimed at Marc and Zack: when you guys are in cold (single-digit and worse) temperatures, do you store your camera body in any special airtight bag or sack, etc, before stowing it in your back pack? (Canon's site recommends this for under 32 degrees). While my family and I are stuck here in Ohio (before we can move back home to the NW), I do try and get winter shots where I can, and 4 degrees with a -12 windchill is fairly common here. My aluminum tripod gets too cold to touch within 3 or 4 minutes, so what's that do to my 5D?

Also, when you're out hiking for days, how do you not run out of camera battery power? Any storage tips there?

Thanks in advance... the replies here SO outweigh what you'd get at 1-800-Canon...

When I'm out in the cold for an extended period of time I store my batteries in a pocket that is near my skin to keep them warm. I may leave 1 battery in the camera, but all my backups are on my person, and if I camp in those conditions, I keep the batteries in a ziplock bag inside the sleeping bag with me.

The coldest temp I've had my camera out in is about -15, the only real problem I was having was getting my face stuck to the back of the camera a few times The camera worked fine.

Marc may have better suggestions, that guy lives out in the snow.

Hiking for days is covered here: http://www.bythom.com/solar.htm

Those Brunton flexible solar panels are the stuff!

Edward

I'm not familiar with the Canon recommendation, but am thinking that sounds reversed. I do (or did) a lot of snowshoeing in CO in very cold temps. I've never put my camera (D2X) in a bag before putting it in my pack and heading out. However, I've seen plenty of recommendations to put the cold camera in a plastic bag prior to bringing it back into a warm environment, promoting condensation on the outside of the bag instead of on the camera.

Actually, thinking about it, hopefully Canon doesn't have that recommendation on their site... I would think if you put a camera inside a bag while in warm air, then went outside into sub-freezing temps, any moisture from the warm air trapped inside the bag would freeze and could cause damage, no?

For batteries, I typically keep all batteries in an inner pocket until I'm ready to shoot, especially if I'm hiking/snowshoeing any substantial distance. If it's a short hike, I typically leave a battery in the camera and only put the spare in an inner pocket.

Basically have extra batteries and keep them warm. That's about it.

Great info guys, thanks!

Rick, you were right... I re-read the Canon page and it states bagging it after you come in from the cold. I shouldn't have skimmed that part, thanks for clearing that up.

FYI, here's Canon's page on cold-weather shooting.