Grand Canyon Trip w/Report

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

SOCALFJ

SOCALFJ

10 Year 15 Year 20 Year
Joined
Aug 17, 2005
Threads
449
Messages
5,644
Location
Forest Falls, CA
Website
www.adventureduo.com
Report here http://www.adventureduo.com/2009/01/winter-at-grand-canyon.html

Camped in the snow in below zero temps. It was very cold (-7 to -17).
IMG_3865.webp
IMG_3877.webp
IMG_3869.webp
 
Last edited:
At those temps we still froze our butts off Brent. It sucked. The furnace ran 13 hours straight and never got the SMB above 30 degrees. It was coldest i've camped in. Sleeping in, thermals, gloves, beanies, wool socks, low degree bags and it was still pretty dang cold.

The water pump for the fresh water froze and the windshield wiper fluid froze, and both had winterized antifreeze in them! The NATO cans with water froze on the back. Truck didn't really want to start in the AM. Fun fun fun!

Brent you notice the sweat shirt Yosh is wearing? :D
 
SOCALFJ said:
Sleeping in, thermals, gloves, beanies, wool socks, low degree bags and it was still pretty dang cold.
Click to expand...

Your supposed to sleep naked in a low degree bag. The theory is that your body heats up the air in the bag keeping you warm. Like a wetsuit heats up a thin layer of water between you and the wetsuit. Your thermals, gloves, beanies, and wool socks actually prevent your bag from doing it's job. I've backpacked many times in bellow freezing temps and always stayed toasty by doing this.
 
Wow. It sure looks pretty. Too bad it couldn't have been a tad warmer for you.

Braden's post made me laugh, however, I have no experience camping in weather that cold. :meh:
 
Wow, incredible shots. Hard to say not being there but I think they may have been worth the cold. How it the world did you keep Dixie warm enough. The coldest I have had Tillie is in the low 30's and that was with a stupid fleece jumpsuit thing. No there aren't any pictures.


Visuals on Braden, not good, but I believe he is right.
 
Mo, Dixie had a wool jacket a relative made for her and a snow jacket. People laugh, but you know as well as anybody.. Bostons get cold easily. She crawled in with yosh and actually kept her warm.

She didn't even want to get out of her dog bed for the most part LOL



Joe, South Rim, most of the North rim can be closed in the winter. Shoot, im surprised south rim was open. Damn people skidding off the road everywhere. I had to winch at least one person out of the snow.
 
cmjrfan8 said:
Your supposed to sleep naked in a low degree bag. The theory is that your body heats up the air in the bag keeping you warm. Like a wetsuit heats up a thin layer of water between you and the wetsuit. Your thermals, gloves, beanies, and wool socks actually prevent your bag from doing it's job. I've backpacked many times in bellow freezing temps and always stayed toasty by doing this.
Click to expand...

OK, I will attest to this but I usually keep the boxers, T-shirt, socks and beenie on. I don't have a bag that covers the head so the shoulders and head need some protection.

Oh and not a bad idea to keep the pants you are going to wear the next day in the bag too. Makes getting dressed the next morning a little more pleasant.
 
Great pics!

Throwing in one or two of those chemical hand warmers into your bag will help with the cold. I've stayed toasty in a sub standard bag in -0 degree weather using this technique.
 
Awesome pics Dave thanks for sharing, looks like another great trip.

As for staying warm, I have a 10,000 btu catalytic heater that I use in really cold temps. I save my gas bottles that are almost empty and use these with the heater for a pre bed time warm up . Fire it up, get the cabin nice and cozy, slip into the bag and pass out. The bottle of gas runs out in a few minutes or more and you don't have to worry about it. My wife and I have a special bag.
dual_alp.jpg


I believe I stay warmer in this than when alone in my 0 degree bag. :D
 
Forgot about the heater effect. Having a Boston in the bag is sweeeeeet but it can be cramped in a snug mummy bag. 103* heater, just sucks when they fart in the bag. :eek:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom