Cold Weather Effects On Supplies

TOMBSTONE

TOMBSTONE

Joined
Oct 31, 1998
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Just curious of what peoples experiences in the outdoors have been in extreme cold and effects on equipment and supplies.How does extreme cold effect canteens,"camelback" resevoir carried in backpacks,or other water carried for drinking,Liquid filled Compasses etc.At what point does cold weather make them possibly frozen.Will a water canteen carried close to your body freeze,and since most now a days are made of some sort of plastic,how does one safeguard their drinking water on hikes,camping trips,hunts where one may be in cold weather for a few days,even in survival situations.What good does it do to fill a canteen made of plastic for it to be frozen solid in a couple hours?How would you heat to defrost it without destroying the plastic?Sometimes I just sit and think of possible problems that might occur in the outdoors and my experience is limited so I shall rely on some real outdoorsman advice and experiences.I'm more an armchair survivalist/outdoorsman/sportsman so to speak.Thanks
 
i usually carried water on my person or on the horse while hunting in cold weather, used one of those flat square "reserve canteens" fits well in a saddlebag, also carried a camp axe so that i could open an ice hole to get water as needed. usually when hunting in cold weather there is a nearby water source in one drainage or an other so finding water is not that difficult although you might have to break through the ice to get to it. no water no animals no hunting so there is water somewhere. if you left water in a plastic or other container in the tent overnight it would certainly be frozen by moening, but start up the stove and it would thaw in about an hour. i would usually lay enough wood to start the fire before bed, then get up about 5 am and light the stove and jump back in the bag, and wait tfor the thent to warm up. the water would thaw and we would be ready for breakfast.

when i carried water it could be in just about any container includeing a 1 liter plastic coke bottle, caried in my pocket, the constant aggitation of the water did not let it freeze, drank that water at 9 pm after walking 10 miles out of a wilderness area, it was below freezing all the time it was in the cargo pocket of my parka, tasted pretty good that night, especially since the cowboys drank all the beer, but that is another story.

alex
 
I`ve been out on camping/military exercise in -30deg. Celsius to -40deg. Celsius. I`ve never experienced that compass fluid froze.
I even used GPS (Garmin X12) in under -20 deg. celius, and still the LCD screen worked (I stored it in my jacket pocket).
In such temperatures I always keep canteens inside my clothes or it will freeze pretty quickly.At night I have it inside my sleeping bag.
In the military we defrosted frozen canteens placing them near the stove (Optimus 111) or inside clothes/sleeping bag (slow method).
Under movement we replased drunken water in our canteens by filling a little snow in them. After some time the snow melted and you could add some more. Make sure it`s a little water left in the bottle when you do this or you will be waiting for a long time for that drink .

Tor
 
Under extreme freezing temp's I would think you could change the properties of water to keep it from freezing at normal tempratures. I know if you add pure cider vinigar to water, you change the properties that helps the body in hot climates. Something should help prevent freezing, I jst do not know what itwould be.
Compasses are filled with a ultra refined oil which does not freeze at the temprature which water does.
LCD screens are effected by cold and you must keep them close enough to your body to keep them warm enough. I have had LCD screens go blank on me in the Florida winter.
 
Put one of the hunting handwarmers (the ones that you shake up) next to your water container/canteen/hydration pack.

Works well.
 
if u're searching for water container that can hold to the cold, try "nalgene" bottles.they're made of lexan material.I tryed some last winter in north norway,they're great!
 
My canteens inside fleece lined holders never froze-- I just put them into the foot of my sleeping bag at night.

Benefits of cold-weather camping:

-Cold keeps most of the riff-raff away.
-Perishable food doesn't spoil.
-Adding/subtracting layers makes you comfy and happy.
-Cocoa/Coffee tastes better.
-No bugs.
-You can break out the crampons/ice-axe/ helmet combo.
-Stars are at their twinkly and crisp best when it is horribly cold and clear.
-You can take a stick of butter, wrapped in a simple baggie.
-Water is all around you, just need a stove to make it liquid.
-Never mind pulling your pack on a sled, or skiing!

----------
"Yeah, baby."
 
I leave room in my canteens so that the water sloshes around.
That works well while you're walking.
And I wore my Camelback under my bibs and coat last time deer hunting. It worked well, didn't freeze but still cool enough to be refreshing. Also made a nice cushion on my back ;)
 
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