W is for wind chill...

[compilerbitch]

Well, last night wasn't fun. I don't know if my tent wasn't up to the job, or my sleeping bag, or both, but I froze. I was wearing several layers, two hats (yes, layers on my head), a scarf, gloves and really thick socks inside my sleeping bag (which is rated to -20C), and I found myself getting colder and colder. I dozed off a couple of times, but when I woke up shivering I realised that, whilst I wasn't actually hypothermic at the time, I would be if I got any colder, so I got up (this was about 2.30am/3am, I don't remember) and went to the mess tent in camp which has a diesel-fired stove. I then spent the next couple of hours huddled next to it, then I eventually fell asleep for a while.

What I *think* happened was, the design of my tent is basically pretty bad -- it seems to assume relatively little wind, with precipitation falling more or less vertically. However, last night it was basically raining horizontally, and since the outer fly doesn't seal against the ground, wind (with rain in it) just blows under it. The inner tent is fully enclosed, but the fabric is not waterproof beyond about 4 inches above the ground, probably to ensure enough ventilation in warmer climates. I am going to attempt to rig something more effective later -- I can probably get away with taking a few garbage bags and duck-taping them around the edge of the fly sheet, then weighting them down with rocks to make a seal around the base of the tent all the way around. It won't be pretty, but last night was horrible, so...

Oh, and the army cot I got from Polar Shelf broke too, so I wasn't a happy bunny. I've asked for another one to be sent out on the next Twin Otter, hopefully today.

Comments

[pinguhateseng.livejournal.com]

Gah, coldness in tents is baaaaaaad. I support the comment about extra clothing though: it could actually be negating the effect of your sleeping bag. But it seems that the tent is the real issue here, hopefully world-saving duct tape should help deal with it.

I know this will sound werid, but do you have a hot water bottle (or a bottle that will withstand hot water being in it?) handy? You can put it in your sleeping bag for a while before you plan to get in. It might help get you off to sleep and then your own body heat should keep the bag going.

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

The hot water bottle thing is a great idea -- I am intending to fill my water bottle with hot water tonight and just use that. Someone else here recommended it earlier today, oddly enough, and said that it really helped her.

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

oh boo! I'm sorry that the tent is such a dud. Have you tried the little handwarmer and footwarmer doohickes? I think you ahve enough for 2/3 of your days.