One of the stupidest @#$%ing things I've ever done for a story...

When I was in Silverton Colorado a while back, one of the locals told me that during the winter everybody kept a week's worth of survival gear in their cars. We are talking food, water, blankets, fire stuff, etc.

Also cars aren't insulated worth a damn. In what passes for cold down here when I drive to work in the mornings I run the heater wide open, when I get to work and park it takes a minute or so to stash my coffee cup and grab my crap, it is feeling cold already by the time I get out. I can see where in -11 temps it would get bad in a hurry.

I also had the same evil thoughts as GPS. There might be snow on the roof but there's still a fire in the furnace.

Did you guys have to use the facilities at all? What did you do for that?

Curmudgeon wrote: Also cars aren't insulated worth a damn. In what passes for cold down here when I drive to work in the mornings I run the heater wide open, when I get to work and park it takes a minute or so to stash my coffee cup and grab my crap, it is feeling cold already by the time I get out. I can see where in -11 temps it would get bad in a hurry.

I always wondered why cars were not insulated better. It is not heavy stuff, but makes the car quieter, makes the heat and cooling more efficient, and generally makes your car a nicer place.

If, for the rest of my life, I only ever received merino wool socks as a gift, I would be fulfilled. Nothing better in my opinion. Icebreaker brand is my favourite. Smart wool will do.

In reply to mad_machine:

Generally: weight and space.

Looking forward to reading the full story. About 10 years ago, a buddy of mine and I did a winter ski-camping trip in the Adirondacks. It was definitely an experience to remember. Of course, we were prepared for it, so I never got all that cold. We each carried a Nalgene bottle that was a lot different than our other bottles to handle "nature calls" (only #1's). It's amazing how cold you feel when you have to go and how quickly you warm up after you have. Naturally, going in a bottle is a bit easier for a guy. Since then, I keep empty bottles in my car for such situations. I've been stuck in traffic jams and had to use them a couple of times. While I can hold it pretty well, my Dr. said it's not a good thing to do post-kidney stones.

Staying warm at those temps is tough. Best thing is to keep moving...once you're still, you need a lot of insulation to keep warm. I've done a good amount of winter camping, and under 20°F the sleeping bag and pad need to be pretty beefy!

Well, since you brought it up...

We had a "SheWee", but I refused to use it. Went outside and used a snowbank. Nothing more invigorating than a -20 wind blow-drying your nether regions.

That's going to be a great story, Lesley.

When I was younger, I used to sleep in my car when I'd go skiing in the Colorado mountains. This was an old Subaru wagon. I'd drive up into one of the national forests, flop the seats down and curl up in my sleeping bag. I don't know how cold it got, but I do know that one time near Crested Butte we were the coldest spot in the continental US that night. Something like -5F in town, and I was at least a thousand feet higher.

I never did anything unusual. Just a good mummy bag and a hat. I don't even think I wore socks - keeps your clothes dry for morning. No idling the car or tea lights. I used to keep a winter survival pack in the car that included things like candles, food, first aid and space blankets but luckily never needed to use it. For an added bonus, I think the thermostat was stuck open so the car wouldn't generate any heat as I drove downhill out of the mountains to the ski area.

The biggest adventure I had doing that was when it snowed overnight. Driving out of the forest, I couldn't see where the road ended and the ditches began, and predictably found one of the latter when I expected the former. I dug myself out with a snowboard.

Here's an idea: cars aren't well insulated. But snow actually insulates pretty well and will keep the temp at about freezing as it melts. What about piling a bunch of snow on the roof and windshield?

Yes, we actually considered that too. In fact, if the temperature got really low, we had a shovel and were even prepared to either insulate the car, or build an igloo if we had to.

I camped in the Colorado mountains, near Engineer's Pass. It was cold, and had hailed that day, but nothing like this. Worst part for me was the lack of oxygen - I've got asthma, so even hiking to the loo was an ordeal.

And here my idea of "winter survival prep" is making sure the thing never gets below 1/8th tank in case I get stuck in traffic for a long time...

Did you actually get any heat from running the engine for only 15 minutes? It generally takes me that much in vigorous driving to get any heat.

No, it didn't warm up much. But it probably went a long way towards both morale, and taking the edge off hypothermia. We went at least four hours or more between start-ups, so it was good and bloody cold. My toes and fingers are still a bit tender.

Lesley wrote: Yes, we actually considered that too. In fact, if the temperature got really low, we had a shovel and were even prepared to either insulate the car, or build an igloo if we had to. I camped in the Colorado mountains, near Engineer's Pass. It was cold, and had hailed that day, but nothing like this. Worst part for me was the lack of oxygen - I've got asthma, so even hiking to the loo was an ordeal.

Went over Engineer Pass on a dirt bike. It was August, 42 degrees F and sleeting. Desolate but beautiful area!

wow, i really need to really think about getting things like a small pack into the truck for the winter now after reading this and keep extra cholthes in there that would work. right now i have a couple of pillows and a blanket thats about it.

The thermal sheet bag could make the difference between living or not - or even suffering serious frostbite. Best of all, it folds up into a little pouch. I'm going to make sure I've always got a 12-pack of handwarmers, dry wool socks and a bag of tea lites too.

Boo hoo. You got chilly feel. I wore a wig, cutoff shorts and monser heels for my worst decision.

Your toes will warm up. I'll never stop getting letters from inmates.—jgp

Be careful what you wish for

I followed along on Facebook and thought you were nutballs (I still do), but the story did have a lot of value.

Back in December, I drove over Donner pass to get to the 25 hours of Thunderhill in 2 feet of snow. There was one point where I had to turn off of I-80 and go down CA-20 to Nevada City. I didn't see a single car or light from a home for 2 hours of 10-15 mile per hour driving. The snow was blowing sideways, and in many sections I couldn't see where the road was in front of me, driving blind. It was probably one of the dumbest things I've ever done.

Luckily I was prepared for a cold weekend at the track, but if I had wrecked, or gotten stuck, I'm not sure I'd have survived.

Curmudgeon wrote: When I was in Silverton Colorado a while back, one of the locals told me that during the winter everybody kept a week's worth of survival gear in their cars. We are talking food, water, blankets, fire stuff, etc.

You left out cat litter. When I lived in denver, we also kept a couple bags of cat litter in the trunk through winter. It's a quick, easy source of traction. Oh, and I never kept water in the car.....always assumed there would be snow to melt with the camping stove. In retrospect, that might have been stupid.

FWIW, here in FL I keep a big maglight inside the car....lots of stories about people who can't open the door when their car goes into a lake. I plan on leaving via a side window.

Lesley wrote: Boo hoo. You got chilly feel. I wore a wig, cutoff shorts and monser heels for my worst decision. Your toes will warm up. I'll never stop getting letters from inmates.—jgp Be careful what you wish for

Huh? Lesley, you got brain freeze?

Curmudgeon wrote:

Lesley wrote: Boo hoo. You got chilly feel. I wore a wig, cutoff shorts and monser heels for my worst decision. Your toes will warm up. I'll never stop getting letters from inmates.—jgp Be careful what you wish for

Huh? Lesley, you got brain freeze?

Why a wig?

Lesley wrote: Well, since you brought it up... We had a "SheWee", but I refused to use it. Went outside and used a snowbank. Nothing more invigorating than a -20 wind blow-drying your nether regions.

Operating the male dongle is a bit of an adventure in that weather too. It's one of the few times in the outdoors it's not an advantage to have, really. Your body is busy stealing all the blood heat away from it and your fingers at the same time. If you happen to be wearing the right amount of layers for sub-zero conditions... it's like performing surgery to coax the little bastard out where it won't make ice in your pants.

I'm sure Bear Grylls has some sort of sock or small animal carcass he wears as a condom for this sort of thing... I just missed that show before I hiked up Mt Washington in early March.

I used to carry a basic kit but took it out a few years ago. After the GA fiasco, I may reconsider that.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

Lesley wrote: Well, since you brought it up... We had a "SheWee", but I refused to use it. Went outside and used a snowbank. Nothing more invigorating than a -20 wind blow-drying your nether regions.

Operating the male dongle is a bit of an adventure in that weather too. It's one of the few times in the outdoors it's not an advantage to have, really. Your body is busy stealing all the blood heat away from it and your fingers at the same time. If you happen to be wearing the right amount of layers for sub-zero conditions... it's like performing surgery to coax the little bastard out where it won't make ice in your pants. I'm sure Bear Grylls has some sort of sock or small animal carcass he wears as a condom for this sort of thing... I just missed that show before I hiked up Mt Washington in early March.

Bear Grylls is a fool.

But I agree, the coldest outside pee I had was when it was negative 25 windchill, something mildly warmer without. A buddy peed first, he said "dude, you can't go in the house, and this will be the worst pee you ever have" - he was right. Good thing I got to jump back in the one-bay non-insulated garage to continue working on the car after strapping the kerosene salamander heater to our legs.

Speaking for myself, in the relatively balmy temps we have down here Willy the One Eyed Wonder Worm doesn't want to show himself no matter how overflowing Billy Bladder is. I can't even imagine trying to write my name in a snowbank at -20 F.

tuna55 wrote:

Curmudgeon wrote:

Lesley wrote: Boo hoo. You got chilly feel. I wore a wig, cutoff shorts and monser heels for my worst decision. Your toes will warm up. I'll never stop getting letters from inmates.—jgp Be careful what you wish for

Huh? Lesley, you got brain freeze?

Why a wig?

Looks like Lesley included a note from JG but If you've never seen that picture, don't. I had forgoten how badly it burned my eyes.

mad_machine wrote: I always wondered why cars were not insulated better. It is not heavy stuff, but makes the car quieter, makes the heat and cooling more efficient, and generally makes your car a nicer place.

I think the huge source of heat loss you will have no mater what you do to the rest of the car is the glass / windows. Almost no way to effectively insulate them. You cannot go with dual pane like you do in a house.

mapper wrote:

tuna55 wrote:

Curmudgeon wrote:

Lesley wrote: Boo hoo. You got chilly feel. I wore a wig, cutoff shorts and monser heels for my worst decision. Your toes will warm up. I'll never stop getting letters from inmates.—jgp Be careful what you wish for

Huh? Lesley, you got brain freeze?

Why a wig?

Looks like Lesley included a note from JG but If you've never seen that picture, don't. I had forgoten how badly it burned my eyes.

Oh, dog. I remember that picture! Too bad there's no puke emoticon...