Cold weather Q&A

I agree with Shotgun.
Many people do not sleep out in really cold weather, I hope everyone brings a backup cold weather kit.
If your fire goes out and you are sleeping you could have a big problem.
 
trailbum said:
I agree with Shotgun.
Many people do not sleep out in really cold weather, I hope everyone brings a backup cold weather kit.
If your fire goes out and you are sleeping you could have a big problem.
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i'm tempted, i have nothing better to do... finally got some snow, could spent the time making an igloo and shit... temps in the 20s and 10s. good times.

but then, i thought, yeah, perhaps i should remove the snow on the 300 foot of driveway, and the parking areas, and oh boy, that was fun!

not this bad though:

393085_459999260703687_1348760400_n.jpg


party on
 
Bladite said:
i'm tempted, i have nothing better to do... finally got some snow, could spent the time making an igloo and shit... temps in the 20s and 10s. good times.

but then, i thought, yeah, perhaps i should remove the snow on the 300 foot of driveway, and the parking areas, and oh boy, that was fun!

not this bad though:

393085_459999260703687_1348760400_n.jpg


party on
Click to expand...

Cest exactement ça qu'on a chez nous!!
 
Moosez45 said:
Well said. That said, I live by big boy rules. If a person wants to give it a go, then there is an opportunity, pass or fail, for a reward for their efforts. I'm not forcing anyone to attempt this, just offering a reward for someone that does.

If someone dies, will I sleep well? Of course I will. Anyone that attempts this contest, without a backup plan, or security net, deserves what they get, simple as that.

Guys like Rick Marchand, spend time outdoors in this weather, wearing a capote, and toting a knife, in minus degree weather. But he's Canadian, so.......

Simple fact, if someone isn't comfortable taking the challenge, then they shouldn't. You're looking at roughly $150 worth of prizes for 24hrs of camping without a few luxuries, that's $6.25 an hour, so, if someone just HAS to have these knives, $6.25 an hour is all they gotta come up with to get them........

Irresponsible? Yeah, right. My advice to everyone is to skip this contest and wait until we do one that's much, much easier.

Oh, I reduced the time out, from 48 to 24hrs. Figure I'll get more participants that way.......

Moose
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Maybe my time in SAR has me jaded. I just can't imagine why someone would be a proponent of something this dangerous. There's too many people out there who's confidence out distances their actual skill. My concern isn't for someone as experienced as Marchand, it's for people who THINK they have the skill to do it but don't. We all joke about the darwin awards but when someone dies from something you've instigated, it's a whole different thing.
 
DerekH said:
I was talking to Tradewater about that last night. How hilarious if someone did this on the beach, nice sunny weather, turn that emergency blanket into a sun reflector for a nice tan. Hilarious.
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I actually thought about doing this briefly as a joke since its 40+ degrees here (104 fahrenheit) so it's entirely possible...
 
Would really love to do this challenge, but wifey has limited me to one overnight stay out this month, LOL...
Up here in Norway I have -5 to -10 Fahrenheit now, going out in the woods in the end of January, hoping it will keep at his temp, or a little colder...
Need that temp to test out my new sleeping system, LOL. I`m afraid it will be too warm if the temps go up...
 
Warmest boots known to mankind: Cabela's Gore-Tex, Saskatchewan Pac Boots. I bought the largest size they had, 13, & put 2 pairs of felt/polypro inserts in each boot. My feet stay warm for sure. Don't want to walk real far in them though. I have 2 pairs of military Micky-Mouse boots. They dont even come close to these puppies. They are only good when walking. My feet freeze when i stop, even if i change socks.
 
I can't take part in this challenge but will watch it closely. If done right, these challenges can teach you alot. However, if improper safety measures are taken they can put you in a world of hurt.

I think the main prerequisite should be an appropriate back up plan. No plan... no play.

You should be no further than 1hr walk to a vehicle and have in it...
-Blankets, change of clothes, thermos with hot chocolate, high-calorie non-cook food and a cell phone(if not on your person)

if you HAVE to be further away from your car, same as above along with...
-Bring a trustworthy campstove that you have experience with.
-Bring a backup sleep system(bigass sleeping bag or two... doesn't matter if you have to carry it out in a garbage bag.)
-Set up a small tent and put your back up gear in it, READY TO GO... that means sleeping bag out, campstove and cookware primed and ready.

The idea of a back up "safe site" is to have it ready to go NOW. Not sitting in a pack against a tree.
The best place would be close to home. Make sure to tell folks what you are doing(no matter how crazy they'll think you are.).
Mark your trail and make sure you have walked it there and back a few times to familiarize yourself.
Remeber that folks have gotten into BIG trouble, minutes from their homes and vehicles... you are not invincible.

Some reassuring points...
You will not wake up hypothermic if your fire goes out. You WILL wake up when you get cold... nobody dies in their sleep from cold... first you wake up... then you die.. lol. Seriously though, it is not like carbon monoxide... you get PLENTY of warning.
Don't be afraid to call it off... I do it all the time. There is such a thing as senseless suffering... when you are alone, it just isn't worth it. When I intend on pushing the envelope, I ALWAYS have someone with me who is NOT doing it. Someone has to be in tip top condition, physically and mentally. My friends and mentor enjoy watching me suffer.

I don't think this challenge is over the top for beginners... but I'll repeat... WHAT EXACTLY IS YOUR BACKUP PLAN?
 
I'd love to try this challenge if I had time for it.

While I can appreciate the concerns of the naysayers, let's be reasonable: If it's a blizzard outside, and it is known that the temp is going to be "dangerously cold", then it might not be worth the risk, but if you doubt your abilities, then you should probably pass on this one.

If someone does something silly on this challenge that results in their death, then it was probably just a matter of time. I'd rather some idiot freeze to death in the snow, alone, than take down others with them because they cannot make solid decisions. That being said, I did a challenge similar to this when I was a young Scout and it sounds like a lot of fun. Let's not be overly dramatic.
 
I am all over this contest! I can't head out for awhile because of my situation, but I will:D So, can another person come so they can take action pictures and such if they are at a different site, and not helping?
 
Rick Marchand said:
I can't take part in this challenge but will watch it closely. If done right, these challenges can teach you alot. However, if improper safety measures are taken they can put you in a world of hurt.

I think the main prerequisite should be an appropriate back up plan. No plan... no play.

You should be no further than 1hr walk to a vehicle and have in it...
-Blankets, change of clothes, thermos with hot chocolate, high-calorie non-cook food and a cell phone(if not on your person)

if you HAVE to be further away from your car, same as above along with...
-Bring a trustworthy campstove that you have experience with.
-Bring a backup sleep system(bigass sleeping bag or two... doesn't matter if you have to carry it out in a garbage bag.)
-Set up a small tent and put your back up gear in it, READY TO GO... that means sleeping bag out, campstove and cookware primed and ready.

The idea of a back up "safe site" is to have it ready to go NOW. Not sitting in a pack against a tree.
The best place would be close to home. Make sure to tell folks what you are doing(no matter how crazy they'll think you are.).
Mark your trail and make sure you have walked it there and back a few times to familiarize yourself.
Remeber that folks have gotten into BIG trouble, minutes from their homes and vehicles... you are not invincible.

Some reassuring points...
You will not wake up hypothermic if your fire goes out. You WILL wake up when you get cold... nobody dies in their sleep from cold... first you wake up... then you die.. lol. Seriously though, it is not like carbon monoxide... you get PLENTY of warning.
Don't be afraid to call it off... I do it all the time. There is such a thing as senseless suffering... when you are alone, it just isn't worth it. When I intend on pushing the envelope, I ALWAYS have someone with me who is NOT doing it. Someone has to be in tip top condition, physically and mentally. My friends and mentor enjoy watching me suffer.

I don't think this challenge is over the top for beginners... but I'll repeat... WHAT EXACTLY IS YOUR BACKUP PLAN?
Click to expand...

[Mr. Burns voice] Excellent.........[/Mr. Burns Voice]

:D

Well said, and correct as usual. You little French Canadians amaze the hell outta me sometimes. :D

Moose
 
Rick - great post! (and well in line with my thought processes for how to do this challenge)

everyone else, not doing the challenge this weekend -- gonna get me some hammock time tomorrow though -- the forecast changed so it's only supposed to drop down to 20 Saturday night instead of 14.
next weekend is second chance bambi season.
 
that's why I'm not doing the challenge this weekend.
I started the first weekend of the year out in a hammock, I feel it's only right to close the year out the same way.
 
tradewater said:
Did you get the liners at Cabela's as well?
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No, i got them at the "Lockportoutdoorstore" . I suppose if you had a pair of Micky-Mouse boots large enough to accommodate a pair or two of the liners, that would make them MUCH better. I didn't want to buy a 3rd pair just for that, even though it would be much cheaper. I use my MM boots when working in the garage in the winter. I can stay out there on the concrete ALL DAY & have warm feet, because i am not walking, my feet are not sweating, which = warm feet.

I sat in my treestand one year for almost 12 hrs @ 10*F as a high temp. My Saskatchewan boots kept my feet nice & warm. Hard to climb a tree stand with them on though. IMHO, even if you only need them a couple times, they are worth their weight in gold when you do. Another trick i learned by trial & error to keep my feet warm is paper towels !!! Yes siree BOB. They work WONDERS. Fold one or two to fit in the bottom of your boot, then put one or two of the felt/wool/polypro liners on top. The polypro pulls the moisture away from your foot, by using 2 pairs, it works even better. Then half way through your day, remove the paper towels & replace with fresh ones. Better than changing socks. Paper towels can be folded pretty flat & hardly take up any room. I served in the Army & got out just as Gore-Tex was being put into boots. Man i wish i had it in my boots in the Army. Maybe then i wouldn't have gotten borderline frostbite on my feet/toes. God bless Robert W. Gore & Malden Mills (Polar Fleece).
 
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