Camping in the Arctic
Discussion
I have, but it wasn't camping as such! It was a Ray Mears Arctic course so built shelters and slept out at -35.
Basically, you want lots of layers rather than big thick layers. Sweat is a proper bugger too hot and you sweat which then freezes. Obviously if you're cold then that's also a problem for obvious reasons.
Water is a problem surprisingly, you need lots of energy to melt ice enough for water.
If you need any kit then let me know, I've got loads that I no long require but never bothered to sell due me liking hoarding stuff/equipment
Basically, you want lots of layers rather than big thick layers. Sweat is a proper bugger too hot and you sweat which then freezes. Obviously if you're cold then that's also a problem for obvious reasons.
Water is a problem surprisingly, you need lots of energy to melt ice enough for water.
If you need any kit then let me know, I've got loads that I no long require but never bothered to sell due me liking hoarding stuff/equipment
i assume you've found horizonsunlimited.com! they'll help you.
tented in the artic circle on the haul road and the top of the world highway etc. Apparently you're ok if you don't wrap yourself in bacon. i predict you will view bears, and your place in the food chain a bit differently when you get back!
Good luck, use common sense and don't listen to the lying barstard in the camping shop who insists that a 2 season bag with liner will be fine. It wont!
you'll love it! Am jealous...
tented in the artic circle on the haul road and the top of the world highway etc. Apparently you're ok if you don't wrap yourself in bacon. i predict you will view bears, and your place in the food chain a bit differently when you get back!
Good luck, use common sense and don't listen to the lying barstard in the camping shop who insists that a 2 season bag with liner will be fine. It wont!
you'll love it! Am jealous...
Rach* said:
Dudd said:
Anyone ever been camping in under -20 temperatures? Any tips or advice?
I'm heading off to Siberia in a Ural motorbike and sidecar for a couple of weeks next February.
I've wussed out of this one, looking at doing the Peru Mototaxi Junket instead I'm heading off to Siberia in a Ural motorbike and sidecar for a couple of weeks next February.
Is there any chance that you'll encounter bears?
If so, the obvious way of protecting yourself is a gun but if these aren't available to tourists then you've got three lines of defence before you end up as food.
1. A "Bear Scarer" which is a banger you activate like a party popper by pulling a string.
2. "Bear Spray" or in other words, pepper spray. Not legal in the UK so you'll have to buy it on arrival and leave it behind on your return.
3. A decent knife and balls the size of watermelons / an unwavering desire to live. Best to get a fixed blade survival knife rather than a Victorinox penknife if you want to be able to make a decent dent in the bear.
This is a last resort and hopefully it won't come to that as most bears should be put off by option 1 before all the PH animal lovers start accusing me of animal cruelty.
If you're cooking in the wild, you need to wash up your cooking pots and plates straight after each meal to get rid of the smell of food and you'll also need to hang your food and anything else that smells (deodorant, toothpaste etc.) from a tree at least 100m from your tent and high enough to be out of reach of any hungry bears.
Good luck and don't forget to let us know how it goes.
If so, the obvious way of protecting yourself is a gun but if these aren't available to tourists then you've got three lines of defence before you end up as food.
1. A "Bear Scarer" which is a banger you activate like a party popper by pulling a string.
2. "Bear Spray" or in other words, pepper spray. Not legal in the UK so you'll have to buy it on arrival and leave it behind on your return.
3. A decent knife and balls the size of watermelons / an unwavering desire to live. Best to get a fixed blade survival knife rather than a Victorinox penknife if you want to be able to make a decent dent in the bear.
This is a last resort and hopefully it won't come to that as most bears should be put off by option 1 before all the PH animal lovers start accusing me of animal cruelty.
If you're cooking in the wild, you need to wash up your cooking pots and plates straight after each meal to get rid of the smell of food and you'll also need to hang your food and anything else that smells (deodorant, toothpaste etc.) from a tree at least 100m from your tent and high enough to be out of reach of any hungry bears.
Good luck and don't forget to let us know how it goes.
Yeah bears are an issue. My solution was to run faster than my co-driver!
But I've heard that the bangers don't always scare and the sprays don't always work.
Best option is like you say and avoid them as much as possible. Or Wrap team mate in bacon and outrun.
When I met a bear in Whistler I spoke to it in Scottish and it ran away. Thats another option.
But I've heard that the bangers don't always scare and the sprays don't always work.
Best option is like you say and avoid them as much as possible. Or Wrap team mate in bacon and outrun.
When I met a bear in Whistler I spoke to it in Scottish and it ran away. Thats another option.
Sorry for the rushed response.
Never camped but been out in -30 in the arctic circle and done a fair bit of winter climbing and my BIL has done Everest so know a little about the topic. I'd echo what has already been said re sweat - it really is a killer so make sure you can regulate your temps very very effectively via layers.
Make sure you gear covers all your exposed parts - hood fit and balaclava + goggles are important as it so easy to get nip and bite in those temps. Also make sure you carry spares of safety critical stuff like gloves. On the topic of gloves, go for layers, and given you're on a bike make sure you have some gloves that you can work in, but still offer a good thermal barrier - an old bike is bound to break down.
Because you're on a bike, you also need to consider wind chill, which could be horrendous if the ambient temps are -20 to -30.
Make sure you practise to death setting up camp before you leave - everything needs to be on autopilot, as extreme cold affects your cognitive ability and tactile feedback. You may need to set up your camp in an emergency due to an accident.
Pay particular attention to lack of tactile feedback that thick gloves offer. Personally I would do a thorough review of your kit and make sure things like zips are long and fat enough to be able to grab hold of wearing your gloves. My bill put longer cords on all his zips for Everest and it was godsend as it meant he could keep his thick mits on and still use all his zips. Look at the bike controls and tools and see whether you can use these in thick gloves.
If possible the best thing you can do is to practise with your kit as much as possible before you go to find out what works and what doesn't. Make a list of all you kit and review it thoroughly to see what the failure mechanisms are (can you mitigate against it) and what how critical would it be if you lost that bit of kit. If it would kill you, take a spare or an alternative.
What's the likelihood of getting your kit wet - if it's high, then consider synthetics rather than down as it loses it's insulating properties when wet. Depends on how far north you are, but wet kit can be dried overnight due to the low humidity.
Good luck, you're nuts.
P.S. Will a Ural support electrically heated vests and gloves? If it will, given you won't be generating your own heat through exercise, I'd seriously consider getting some.
Never camped but been out in -30 in the arctic circle and done a fair bit of winter climbing and my BIL has done Everest so know a little about the topic. I'd echo what has already been said re sweat - it really is a killer so make sure you can regulate your temps very very effectively via layers.
Make sure you gear covers all your exposed parts - hood fit and balaclava + goggles are important as it so easy to get nip and bite in those temps. Also make sure you carry spares of safety critical stuff like gloves. On the topic of gloves, go for layers, and given you're on a bike make sure you have some gloves that you can work in, but still offer a good thermal barrier - an old bike is bound to break down.
Because you're on a bike, you also need to consider wind chill, which could be horrendous if the ambient temps are -20 to -30.
Make sure you practise to death setting up camp before you leave - everything needs to be on autopilot, as extreme cold affects your cognitive ability and tactile feedback. You may need to set up your camp in an emergency due to an accident.
Pay particular attention to lack of tactile feedback that thick gloves offer. Personally I would do a thorough review of your kit and make sure things like zips are long and fat enough to be able to grab hold of wearing your gloves. My bill put longer cords on all his zips for Everest and it was godsend as it meant he could keep his thick mits on and still use all his zips. Look at the bike controls and tools and see whether you can use these in thick gloves.
If possible the best thing you can do is to practise with your kit as much as possible before you go to find out what works and what doesn't. Make a list of all you kit and review it thoroughly to see what the failure mechanisms are (can you mitigate against it) and what how critical would it be if you lost that bit of kit. If it would kill you, take a spare or an alternative.
What's the likelihood of getting your kit wet - if it's high, then consider synthetics rather than down as it loses it's insulating properties when wet. Depends on how far north you are, but wet kit can be dried overnight due to the low humidity.
Good luck, you're nuts.
P.S. Will a Ural support electrically heated vests and gloves? If it will, given you won't be generating your own heat through exercise, I'd seriously consider getting some.
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