Re: Coldest temperature you've ever camped in?

coldest that I read off the thermometer was -42 on Denali at the 17,000 foot camp. Most of the 6 days there on that trip, it ranged between -25F or so in the "hottest" part of the day and -35 to -40 in the coldest part (no real "sunset" at that time of year, namely May-June timeframe). I don't remember any of the other stays at the 14,000 or 17,000 trips getting below -25 or -30. The maximum wind I measured (Kestrel 4000) during that time was about 50 knots (hiding behind the windwall and holding the Kestrel up above it - it's too hard to stand at that windspeed). By the way, unless they actually have a measurement, don't believe anyone who claims to have walked around in "hundred mile an hour" winds - you literally cannot stand up in that. There is a famous picture of Ray Genet flying like a kite at the end of his climbing rope at what were reported as 90 mph winds, with his two partners lying flat on the ground anchoring themselves. Supposedly "The Pirate" tried to stand up and got lifted off the ground. One of the partners was in the process of taking a photo and just happened to catch him in the air.

Coldest I have been in at "low" altitude was on a backcountry ski tour in the western side of the Tetons. We didn't get an accurate measure, but the little pull-tab thermometer was reading -38F at dawn.

In the Sierra (my "local" hills), the lowest temperatures on backcountry tours have been in the -20 to -30 range, but that hasn't been more than once or twice a season. Usually, it is more like +10 to +20 during the coldest part of the winter.

I think Brian has a lot more cold weather experience than I do. After all, he grew up in Montana, where they get far subzero for weeks at a time.