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Oh, the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful . . .
When I was in basic training from December 1979 to February 1980 at Fort Dix, New Jersey we went on a bivouac and slept in pup tents. It got down to 17 below zero that night. I was wearing everything I could and bundled up tight in my mummy bag, and pulled the drawstring tight so I had a small hole to breathe through. I froze my @$$ off anyway. Some other company decided it was too cold and didn't spend the night but we stayed. It was so cold that whenever I almost fell asleep I shivered so hard that it kept me awake all night. Meanwhile the women, who were supposed to be our equals in every way, slept together in a GP Medium tent with a coal-fired stove in each end. I never tent camped anytime there was snow on the ground as a civilian. There have been many times I needed to cover up with an insulated blanket over the top my sleeping bag, but I was warm enough to sleep. Those pictures sure brought back memories.
I've looked and looked all over the internet and can't find a blanket like mine. It's insulated like a thin sleeping bag, but since it's a blanket I have a choice of laying on it or covering up with it. It was sold as military surplus but I don't remember where I got it. It's supposed to be a Marine Corps casualty evacuation blanket IIRC. It's woodland camouflage and heavy for a blanket. There's no way to replace it so if anything happens to it I'll have to buy another sleeping bag and try to fit one inside the other.
Frank, I have never camped below 0, and don't have the desire to. In 2014 when on the Paiute, I learned about comfort ratings on sleeping bags. So the fact that my bag was rated to 30 degrees F really meant that you wouldn't die at 30, but you sure wouldn't be comfortable. I too woke up shivering on the Paiute because we camped above 10,000 ft, and it dipped into the 30's.
My sleeping bag is comfortable at 50 degrees but sometimes it's in the low 40s or even the 30s when I camp out. That's why I need my blanket. I got a tall & wide bag and there weren't many to choose from, so I got this thin one without enough insulation. I don't do mummy bags. Otherwise that bivvy would be great to have. If it was as tall and wide as my sleeping bag I might get one.
Me, I'm a wimp! I did get my winter camping merit badge in Boy Scouts though while in a bad Iowa snowstorm. I happen to be a vintage Airstream enthusiasts. This trailer may be my "base camp" while on ATV adventures. All I do is turn up the thermostat until I'm nice and warm and comfortable. The trailer is designed for "boondocking", more likely in WalMart parking lots however.
ATVs and motorcycles are why God invented "toy hauler" trailers. I didn't mean to get us off the thread topic. It's just that I like camping in my old Airstream.
Our ATV adventurists in this thread rough it and overcome obstacles and problems along the way without a camper. The campfire photo they posted is spectacular. We'll see what's instore for Claycope.
The campfire photo they posted is spectacular. We'll see what's instore for Claycope.
Well, here's a glimpse. First video from the trip. You get the feel for what we did though. We have some big trips planned in throughout the summer. Lots more to come.
Excellent video! I want more! This sure looks like an opportunity for a high priced "adventure vacation". Maybe three or four nights in the backcountry with you as the guide.
04-16-2017, 11:16 PM
I was wearing everything I could and bundled up tight in my mummy bag, and pulled the drawstring tight so I had a small hole to breathe through. I froze my @$$ off anyway. Some other company decided it was too cold and didn't spend the night but we stayed. It was so cold that whenever I almost fell asleep I shivered so hard that it kept me awake all night. Meanwhile the women, who were supposed to be our equals in every way, slept together in a GP Medium tent with a coal-fired stove in each end. 
I never tent camped anytime there was snow on the ground as a civilian. There have been many times I needed to cover up with an insulated blanket over the top my sleeping bag, but I was warm enough to sleep. Those pictures sure brought back memories.
