Re: Coldest temperature you've ever camped in?

Chumango asked "So what are your experiences in gear successes and failures at those low temperatures?"

I haven't had any big failures at those temperatures, mainly because I had good mentors and had done a lot of reading ahead of time. But there have been a few minor problems.

First time I tried using a Camelbak in subzero temperatures, I had some problems keeping the hose from freezing. Then I learned a few little tricks and have had no problems since.

It took a bit of experimentation with compressed gas canisters to get them to work dependably at subzero temperatures. They still prove a bit finicky, but they can be made to work. However, liquid fuels are better subzero.

There are some liquid fuel stoves I have seen others struggle with, esp in the winter camping courses I teach and used to direct. Basically stoves with the "plate" burners (Coleman Peak 1 like their International, Whisperlite) tend to work poorly subzero. Personally I haven't had problems with the Whisperlite subzero, but that's where "roarer" burner stoves work far better - XGK, Primus MFS and Omni, etc.

Punctured Thermarests are really hard to patch subzero. One of the guys on one of my Denali expeditions had a leak that proved extremely hard to find (you can't dunk it in a tub of water to see the bubbles). We did eventually find the leak and patch it.

On one of my ice climbing trips to NH, I discovered I had only one Nalgene with a cozy and had to buy a second one at the EMS in N. Conway. They only had a stretchy neoprene thin cover that let ice crystals develop in the bottle in just a couple hours at about 10F. Luckily the bottle with the OR cozy stayed liquid, so no serious problem.

We had a Posh tent fail at both front and rear zippers. But that was due to the winds, rather than the cold.

Since my hands and feet tend to stay warmer than most people, I tend to get wet socks if I don't use VBL. And even then, the inner wicking liner gets wet. It's a pain to dry them in subzero conditions.

But, fingerless gloves with the mitten flap really don't work well (they look like a mitten, but you can flip the finger cover flap back to have a fingerless glove - ok at near-freezing, terrible subzero)

Actually, temperatures from +20F to freezing are more of a problem, since the snow and ice are slushy to melting. Then the wet is the serious problem.

Successes - many.

Feathere Friends sleeping bags and overpants are great! Marmot 8000 meter parkas are fantastic! Marmot Alpinist bibs (no longer made - booooo!) and parkas are excellent! (North Face Kichatna parka is ok, but the Marmot Alpinist is much better). The new eVent jackets (Integral Designs, Montane) and eVent bibs (Wild Things) are really excellent, better than Goretex.

Snow caves, quinzhees, and igloos are much warmer and quieter than tents, although work to build. At -20F and lower, the snow/ice gets much harder and digging a shelter is a lot more work. It's easier to pitch a good tent and build windwalls. But in high wind conditions, you really need the snow cave, minimum being a bolt hole.

This could go on for a whole book. enough for now.