On a positive note, there are many things you are doing right in your original post.

1. going car camping with Boy Scouts

2. sleeping bag rated to 0F.

3. extra wool blanket.

4. thin winter coat. (wind layer for over wool sweater)

5. 2 thin sleeping pads. ( 2 x 3/8" is excellent )

6. knit hat, fleece balaclava, winter gloves

7. waterproof wading boots (+ felt insoles and thick wool socks)

8. thermos and tea bags with my alcohol stove... to drink hot liquids to help stay warm.

9. cardboard soaked in wax, dry pinecones, matches and a butane lighter.

10. rain poncho.

I think you will be just fine if you just ditch the cotton and add some synthetic and wool layers.



I agree that cotton is sometimes under wool, but that is usually in a situation where you are at a camp with a wood stove over several days/weeks and do laundry regularly. For a weekend cotton has no advantages and many disadvantages over silk, polypro, polyester, polyester fleece, or wool. It is somewhat fireproof, as is wool. Find a suitable skin layer, 100wt fleece, a wool sweater, something along those lines.