tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post8429886187225285247..comments2023-12-28T21:22:10.935-07:00Comments on Jill Outside: The Fairbanks Journals, days 4-6Jill Homerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983065990450931943noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-71636372905853291422014-01-12T16:12:35.437-07:002014-01-12T16:12:35.437-07:00I'm glad you had some nice cold weather while ...I'm glad you had some nice cold weather while you were here. Back to 35 below the past couple of days, but might break tonight instead of lasting all week like it often does. <br /><br />Yes, the quality of the light really does make up for the short hours. Since it's often clear and the moon is out, I've found SE Alaska darker in the winter than the Interior. And it's exciting how fast we gain time--by March 20th we have to gain enough to be equal to CA--and everywhere else. We'll be gaining over 7 minutes a day in a few weeks.<br /><br />Propane: Would the weed burner start at -25? I think that's getting close to the lower limits for propane. <br /><br />Another alternative is a small gas generator with light weight synthetic oil to power the engine and battery heaters. Has the advantage of not having to do much for the hour it'll take to warm up except stay warm. Some people with the newer 4-stroke snowmachines carry one into cabins!<br /><br />Baffin Island: If no one has suggested him yet, you might want to contact Fairbanks researcher Matt Sturm who has snowmachined from Fairbanks to Hudson's Bay.<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Arctic-History-500-Mile-Snowmobile/dp/160223163X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389567738&sr=8-1&keywords=Matthew+Sturm<br /><br />Tom<br />Fairbanks<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-3249368772946082112014-01-05T11:09:19.987-07:002014-01-05T11:09:19.987-07:00Jillifer, I think that first photo is the best you...Jillifer, I think that first photo is the best you've ever taken. Wow.Ingunnhttp://www.trailsnail.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-16506035023499832312014-01-04T23:55:00.148-07:002014-01-04T23:55:00.148-07:00Beautiful Northern Lights. What an adventureBeautiful Northern Lights. What an adventureMichelle Alyssa Tranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358973035630429533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-27071831638219226222014-01-03T17:44:42.772-07:002014-01-03T17:44:42.772-07:00You guyz are crazy.......wonderfully, exciting, ed...You guyz are crazy.......wonderfully, exciting, educational to read crazy!!!! Tip o' the wolly cap to your exciting, and entertaining adventures.Slo Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13727494438183513283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-4164364374365661412014-01-03T14:59:28.486-07:002014-01-03T14:59:28.486-07:00I'll give those Goggles a try. I found that at...I'll give those Goggles a try. I found that attaching a fleece underneath the goggles that covers cheecks and nose and ears both goes a long way to prevent fogging as well as keep your bits covered. When it's -30 and the wind is howling, the smallest crack feels like a knife stuck into your face. I had reasonably good experiences with el-cheapo Smith goggles. Oftentimes for me, fogging occurs when I panic-add some clothing incorrectly.<br />The cold avengers work for sure, but it's a pain in the ass to use when you need to blow your nose, and the fleece always gets wet/iced up, too. I also use covering my mouth or not to regulate temperature, important when you are in hilly terrain. <br />Thermo-regulation is probably also important in keeping your goggles fog-free, but I have to say it's a LOT easier than done when you're stomping sleep-deprived over snowdrifts through a cold windstorm on the Yukon ...Beathttp://www.beultra.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-562473237521609382014-01-03T13:07:48.045-07:002014-01-03T13:07:48.045-07:00Hat in a hot spring, who knew? I live in 70-degree...Hat in a hot spring, who knew? I live in 70-degree California, these things take time to learn! Ha ha. <br /><br />Goggles — I despise wearing them, so I admit I've never extensively testing anything and I usually wait to put them on until ice has formed around my head gear, so there's no seal and moisture from my breath leaks inside. <br /><br />Beat uses the Cold Avenger mask and characterizes it as effective but extremely unpleasant. Breathing is somewhat stifled at more strenuous paces, and there's still a lot of snot leaking out of your nose with nowhere to go. At least fleece, you know ... absorbs it. I like the versatility of a fleece balaclava. It's easy to move around, open and close to eat and drink, and the ice can be beaten off to the point where it's almost dry, no matter how icy it gets. I agree that fleece is not effective in the wind. Here I was wearing a windproof hat, a thin felt-like face mask, and a windproof buff, not my favorite balaclava. After I froze my cheek in the sidewind (while trying to get a drink), I was afraid to pull my face mask down. Thus, avoiding eating and drinking afterward. But the system was plenty warm enough. <br /><br />I agree that winter gear is a puzzle that takes time and experience to finesse. I also, however, believe that there is a large difference between staying outside for 8 to upwards of 18 hours at a time at highly variable effort levels and often weather conditions, compared to the shorter periods of time that most gear is designed for. When people tell me that a certain type of boots work great for them and I find out they rarely go for winter rides longer than two hours, I'm less inclined to buy those boots compared to something that I'm told works marginally well by someone who spends much longer periods of time riding outside. Jill Homerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02983065990450931943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-1075689353277518052014-01-03T12:41:21.966-07:002014-01-03T12:41:21.966-07:00Jill, good grief, how do you get hypothermia in a ...Jill, good grief, how do you get hypothermia in a hot springs...hat, Jill, hat. <br /><br />For the wind - face mask and goggles. You don't even feel the wind. Smith I/O goggles are the only ones on the market that don't fog up at all, they're fantastic. Never, never, never touch the inside of your goggles though, you'll ruin the anti-fog properties and you'll be back to where you started. I've mentioned the Cold Avenger face mask to you before - it's far superior to any fleece wrap. <br /><br />Wind can be annoying but there is sufficient gear on the market to make wind a non-issue.<br />Jill M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-32292433209448870302014-01-03T12:06:57.701-07:002014-01-03T12:06:57.701-07:00I used to think that. I have cold feet under a dow...I used to think that. I have cold feet under a down blanket in bed when it's 70 degrees. However, no problems out there ... go figure. You won't know until you try I think, unless you know you have Raynaud's syndrome. Not saying you should, just a thought :)Beathttp://www.beultra.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-29382917808133325162014-01-03T11:53:49.019-07:002014-01-03T11:53:49.019-07:00Trips to Tolovana always tend to be epic and it de...Trips to Tolovana always tend to be epic and it definitely sounds like yours was! Clueless tourists before you. Glad you made it out okay and that you didn't have to use the weed burner!Corrinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18079166369675219383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-78231256608066324682014-01-03T11:30:56.723-07:002014-01-03T11:30:56.723-07:00I hate the wind at pretty much any temperature.I hate the wind at pretty much any temperature.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01212228308225991239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-41357878247468844012014-01-03T10:25:23.590-07:002014-01-03T10:25:23.590-07:00Interesting definition of "good times"!Interesting definition of "good times"!Jerry Critterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870618647449723147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-56658185160719538022014-01-03T10:05:43.901-07:002014-01-03T10:05:43.901-07:00Sounds like great training for ITI!Sounds like great training for ITI!Dannihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02201053516148787578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-20346154757615449782014-01-03T09:38:10.073-07:002014-01-03T09:38:10.073-07:00I honestly think I couldn't be in temps that c...I honestly think I couldn't be in temps that cold. My circulation is not as good as yours apparently. It does look beautiful though.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11166776565191771729noreply@blogger.com