tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post6073019715252752837..comments2024-01-23T09:53:06.665+01:00Comments on Going lighter: How to stay warm in -40 CThomas W. Gauperaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105502216379157728noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-8596421462044010572010-12-14T23:26:20.070+01:002010-12-14T23:26:20.070+01:00Mac E: definitely a good idea to start out wearing...Mac E: definitely a good idea to start out wearing less than you think you need, to the point of being a bit chilled, but it is hard when its cold out :)<br /><br />Lightening up: thanks for that comprehensive comment :). Very interesting to read about the airborne rangers. A glass of olive oil sounds pretty hardcore.Thomas W. Gauperaahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12105502216379157728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-16190507664125834782010-12-13T01:03:52.174+01:002010-12-13T01:03:52.174+01:00"I once saw a documentary about some hunters ..."I once saw a documentary about some hunters in the frozen north of Scandinavia who actually ate three times as much food each day in the run up to a long trip so they'd get a layer of fat to insulate them. That's hardcore."<br /><br />The body fat itself doesn't work as an insulation or keep you warm but to stay warm you need energy to keep metabolism running. And in certain winter conditions and on certain trips one simply can not eat as much as he consumes so the rest of the energy has to be taken from the body.<br /><br />For example in polar travelling with heavy sledges (for example because of food and fuel for 120 days and gear to stay warm in -40C temps) one can consume over 8000kcal per day and will likely average over 6000kcal per day. This causes the body to burn itself quite fast and to spare the body and some muscle to make the trip, getting extra mass before the trip is a good idea, even compulsory. And hard core as hell!<br /><br />For example some of the Finnish Airborne rangers who skied to North Pole in 2006 boosted their diet with a daily glas of olive oil. On the trip they ate about 6000kcal/day and lost average around 10kg of bodyweight and two of them 16-17kg!<br /><br />And btw, the guys on the expedition stayed warm in -40C temps with merino underwear, fleece layer (or two) and Gore Proshell. Working hard keeps one warm. For pauses they had down clothing (jackets and pants) made for 8000 meter peak mountaneering. And the tents were heated with white gas stoves while not in the sleeping bag. Watrm tent is great in the heart of winter. =)Lightening up...noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-59716416762454495292010-12-07T22:10:31.609+01:002010-12-07T22:10:31.609+01:00I think in winter you need to start off wearing le...I think in winter you need to start off wearing less than you think you need otherwise you'll need to stop almost immediately to remove layers.<br /><br />I was lazy when I was out on Saturday and didn't bother to remove my softshell even though I was really too warm, when I stopped I needed to add a light down jacket. Out again on Monday it was colder but when I needed to put my shell jacket on I first removed my softshell. Although I was expending more effort than on the previous day I didn't sweat and only on my last stop late in the day I needed to add a layer but only the softshell rather than the down jacket.<br /><br />RichardMac Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11212410938991488721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-45093598098563048942010-12-07T11:54:27.386+01:002010-12-07T11:54:27.386+01:00Jörgen: definitely need to be moving at -40C :)
M...Jörgen: definitely need to be moving at -40C :)<br /><br />Mark: thanks for the link to info on VBLs, I will check it out<br /><br />Joe: thats my quest too, the quest to stay dry :). Had planned to use thin merino though, but will consider using more synthetics<br /><br />Gaute: can you send me an e-mail at thomas_gauperaa-at-hotmail.com ? I need to ask you about something<br /><br />Samh: yes, winter conditions are to be respected for sure!Thomas W. Gauperaahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07477735767319130826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-40356544709978430862010-12-07T04:44:55.119+01:002010-12-07T04:44:55.119+01:00"Now you might say that getting sweaty isn..."Now you might say that getting sweaty isn't a big deal..."<br /><br />No. No, I would not say that. I would never say that when referring to winter conditions.samhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08629434332640594984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-7675063228625759162010-12-06T23:10:16.876+01:002010-12-06T23:10:16.876+01:00I sweat a lot when exercising and find the "m...I sweat a lot when exercising and find the "move so slow that you don't sweat" thing to be impossible... To cope I will skip a shell as long as the wind isn't blowing and just use base layers and fleece midlayer or if it's windy try just merino baselayers (or if it's cold syntethics wih merino over it) and a shell. Top off with a hat like the lowe mountain cap and good gloves I'm fine as long as I'm moving.<br />By the way the Norwegian broadcaster NRK has torrents of one of Lars Monsens tv series http://nrkbeta.no/2008/01/29/norwegian-broadcasting-nrk-makes-popular-series-available-drm-free-via-bittorrent/ This is a year round trip around nothern Norway, Sweden and Finland... I think there is english subtitles available as well...Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16841994530059250060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-37147387267855695892010-12-06T23:03:56.698+01:002010-12-06T23:03:56.698+01:00Joe: that's why I went for the Páramo Mountain...Joe: that's why I went for the Páramo Mountain Pull-On as a base layer for really cold weather - it dries so quickly but is thick and warm as well.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023592697740977989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-24610922587113205472010-12-06T19:50:26.006+01:002010-12-06T19:50:26.006+01:00Eat more. Shower less. I like the sound of this wi...Eat more. Shower less. I like the sound of this winter backpacking! ;-)<br /><br />I was out in very similar conditions on the weekend as you Thomas. I wore a Power Dry hoody (the MEC version of the R1) and my Rab Alpine Pull-on which is Pertex Equilibrium. I stayed just the cool side of warm but more importantly I stayed DRY. This has been my quest this winter. I know I can stay warm but I somehow always used to end up damp. No problem on a day hike or even an overnighter (we're all pretty resilient at putting up with a bit of discomfort for short periods) but with longer trips on the wintery horizon it's keeping dry that is the key. No merino for me at this time of year. Synthetics, for me, wick better and dry faster.Joe Newtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00907231785281446095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-81389121618841023402010-12-06T11:22:00.785+01:002010-12-06T11:22:00.785+01:00Thomas: no I haven't, but I read a very useful...Thomas: no I haven't, but I read a very useful analysis on Andrew Skurka's website which you should check out and which has given me pause for thought - http://www.andrewskurka.com/advice/technique/vaporbarrierliners.php<br /><br />Mark: I once saw a documentary about some hunters in the frozen north of Scandinavia who actually ate three times as much food each day in the run up to a long trip so they'd get a layer of fat to insulate them. That's hardcore.<br /><br />Jörgen and Thomas: thanks, very useful discussion.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023592697740977989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-4092534157735650532010-12-06T08:49:57.357+01:002010-12-06T08:49:57.357+01:00-40 C is terribly cold. Standing around not doing ...-40 C is terribly cold. Standing around not doing anything in temperatures like that makes it very difficult to stay warm. Even on a dog sled you are actually doing some work.<br /><br />Even apart from getting your base layer soaked, sweating is always poor energy economy. In order to keep the body temperature around 37C the body looses energy (through evarporating the moisture on the skin) and, of course, water. Both the energy (coming from food) and water (coming from drink) certainly could be put to better uses when the solution is so simple; take of some clothes.<br />Rule of thumb; if your are sweating and not already naked you wear to much clothing ;-)Jörgen Johanssonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01527089654222009239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-19288132320076319052010-12-06T00:09:45.018+01:002010-12-06T00:09:45.018+01:00I suspect merino is far too namby-pamby for Lars. ...I suspect merino is far too namby-pamby for Lars. Just look at him! He probably wears the whole sheep.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12083525341687060234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-75151224946216292262010-12-05T23:59:12.152+01:002010-12-05T23:59:12.152+01:00Merino wool prevents bad odours. Juxtaposing that ...Merino wool prevents bad odours. Juxtaposing that to Lars Monsen's advice to shower less I assume he wears merino wool garments. ;-)<br /><br />During my relatively few winter camping trips a merino wool base layer and long johns (Woolpower 200g/m2) have kept me warm in -13C. On top I wore a Woolpower full zip jacket (400g/m2) which I just love.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18253951925863505423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-40350879232520633232010-12-05T23:50:08.988+01:002010-12-05T23:50:08.988+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18253951925863505423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-61612014682041113862010-12-05T23:03:35.452+01:002010-12-05T23:03:35.452+01:00Maz: I have no experience with VBLs, but have plan...Maz: I have no experience with VBLs, but have planned to experiment with it on my next winter camping trip, that is if its cold enough. Have you tried it?Thomas W. Gauperaahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12105502216379157728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-58367246396594038102010-12-05T22:42:10.648+01:002010-12-05T22:42:10.648+01:00Thomas, what do you think of VBL - Vapour Barrier ...Thomas, what do you think of VBL - Vapour Barrier Layers?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023592697740977989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-55204808937284039722010-12-05T21:09:12.606+01:002010-12-05T21:09:12.606+01:00Yes. I just tested your setup, and it's not ba...Yes. I just tested your setup, and it's not bad if you keep moving at a reasonable pace. <br /><br />The Hangfire is a nice top, but looking at it closer, I'd be really interested to compare it to an R1. In some places, the lining appears to be nothing more than padded mesh, with patches of micro-fleece here and there. I've noticed that sometimes it feels a little cold, which backs that up. I should do a proper review, and maybe I will...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12083525341687060234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-56002936878837964122010-12-05T20:07:14.961+01:002010-12-05T20:07:14.961+01:00What I was wearing isn't really my typical set...What I was wearing isn't really my typical setup. I would definitely add my Thermawrap Parka or a down jacket, as well as more hand and head insulation. I just wanted to test that setup as I knew I would be back home within an hour ;)<br /><br />That First Ascent Hangfire hoody looks interesting.Thomas W. Gauperaahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12105502216379157728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7126757310189627315.post-72036865473685636952010-12-05T20:00:39.494+01:002010-12-05T20:00:39.494+01:00Nice summary of your winter gear Thomas. I'm w...Nice summary of your winter gear Thomas. I'm walking around in similar conditions (-10 now), but I tend to get a little colder it seems. I'm not usually so bothered about my legs, but on my top I have a base layer, First Ascent Hangfire hoody (a little heavier than the R1 I think), and often my Halti down jacket. Often I get too warm in that and have to open it for venting. I'll try going out with the Driclime, but I feel I might be too cold. I really need to sort out some decent layered gloves though. Hate having cold fingers.<br /><br />As for -40C, it seems Lars is a big fan of wool! When it gets really cold I slip on a fleece and a warmer base layer.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12083525341687060234noreply@blogger.com