Re: Coldest temperature you've ever camped in?

The coldest I have ever RECORDED was during a solo camp on the Kokanee Glacier near my hometown of Nelson, B.C. in 1978. It was -41*F and I was in my original Colo.-made Marmot Mountain Gore-Tex/down bag inside my Fjallraven Expedition tent. I wore spare sox, my woolen beret and my merino longjohns, the old "Mellofleece" brand from England.

I was OK, but, not real warm and I stayed for three nights at temps. from about -30*F to the -41; then, I snowshoed out to the highway. This was not really "fun" and I won't deliberately go out in worse than -20*F now as it is too much work and hassle, but, it WAS an interesting experience.

I had several years of winter camping experience when I did this and in this exact area; winter camping is something to start very cautiously and solo is NOT a good idea until you have substantial cold weather experience. You MUST be aboe to hydrate yourself and candle lanterns and a bottle under your pillow work well for this; DO NOT neglect this crucial aspect of cold weather function.

I HIGHLY recommend reading "Winter Wise" by Monte Alford of the Yukon for anyone wanting to go out in really cold weather; my wife was an outpost RN in the YT and the NWT circa the '70s and he is the real deal.