ColdWaterFshr Posted January 7, 2014 Posted January 7, 2014 Float out was spectacular as Gavin said. At times it was almost a complete white-out. The road out of Parker was deep with snow but we all had 4WD and it was no problem. Worst part of the drive home was on I-44 as we got closer to St. Louis.
Wayne SW/MO Posted January 7, 2014 Posted January 7, 2014 Did this trip top the others in terms of the amount of snow and temperatures. I know you have had some in snow in the past, but in comparison? Today's release is tomorrows gift to another fisherman.
ColdWaterFshr Posted January 7, 2014 Posted January 7, 2014 I have only been going for 8 years and yes, it was the snowiest I have seen. Probably close to the coldest too. One night got to -3. But I never got cold. Learned a few tricks over the years that make all the difference in keeping warm, especially when sleeping. I couldn't believe the weight on my tent Sunday morning. The 1 inch of ice with another 3 inches of snow glued to it. I was surprised the tent could support it. The Montana tent easily had 300-400 lbs of ice and snow on it.
Wayne SW/MO Posted January 7, 2014 Posted January 7, 2014 The only time I slept in really cold weather, elk hunting, it was 3 on a thermometer in the early morning. We slept in a commercial tepee with a16' bottom radius. It had a small stove in the center, but it didn't do much good. I think it was too tall. I slept in a down Mummy bag inside another sleeping bag and did alright. Today's release is tomorrows gift to another fisherman.
hank franklin Posted January 7, 2014 Author Posted January 7, 2014 Beautiful pic Coldwater Fisher. WOW. But please do tell, your tips for staying warm. At -3F with my usual gear I would definitely get cold, at least somewhat.
countryred Posted January 8, 2014 Posted January 8, 2014 A spill in the river would be a death sentence. They would have to get further in the woods, out of the wind, and build a sturdy shelter around the tent. Food or water wouldn't be an issue but heat would be the number 1 concern. Collect all the firewood they could and keep a small fire going in a rock lined circle. Use the warm rocks to stay warm up. Use each others body heat to help stay warm.. If the vehicle is downstream. someone probably dropped them off,,,and one would think they would check on them.
ColdWaterFshr Posted January 8, 2014 Posted January 8, 2014 Beautiful pic Coldwater Fisher. WOW. But please do tell, your tips for staying warm. At -3F with my usual gear I would definitely get cold, at least somewhat. I don't think you really need fancy gear other than a good sleeping pad. One guy doesn't even have that - he brings a bail of hay/straw and puts that down under his tent. Perfect insulator. The rest is common sense stuff. 1) change out of your clothes before going to bed and put on dry long underwear, regardless of how dry you THINK the stuff you have on is -- it really isn't. Change it. 2) 2 sleeping bags - one inside the other 3) a knit hat 4) hand warmers/chemical packs thrown in the bottom of the inner sleeping bag. OR boil some water just before going to bed and pour it into a large nalgene bottle, screw the lid on tight and throw that in the bottom of your sleeping bag. Stays warm all night! 5) staying hydrated before going to bed. lay off the sauce and sub in a bottled water or two. You will have to wiz, but bring a large gatorade bottle in the tent with you for that purpose, that way you don't have to go outside your tent. As for the survival scenario - I think when the temps really bottomed out like they did 2 nights ago thru today, it would probably be best to stay put and hunker down, finding shelter from the wind would be the most important. Keeping a fire going and staying dry. Eating regular meals and staying hydrated. Floating out with no waders in those temps = not wise.
Mitch f Posted January 8, 2014 Posted January 8, 2014 All good advice that would only be given by someone with a lot of experience doing that. Thanks for the good info! "Honor is a man's gift to himself" Rob Roy McGregor
moguy1973 Posted January 8, 2014 Posted January 8, 2014 On our extremely cold winter camp outs, we learned that the less clothes we wore in a sleeping bag the warmer we were. Of course we had -20* or better rated sleeping bags, and the less the clothes clothes worn let the sleeping bags use body heat to work better. There were guys that would wear thermal underwear and all sorts of other layers and they would be cold throughout the night. A warm knit hat, as ColdWaterFshr said, is imperative too. Most of the body's heat loss it through the head and a knit hat helps keep that in. A really good open cell inflatable camp mat does wonders to insulate the body from the cold ground too. -- JimIf people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles. -- Doug Larson
Gavin Posted January 8, 2014 Posted January 8, 2014 Coldwater's tips are good ones. It works. Think this was the best snow float. We have had an inch or two and colder weather on a few since 2005. February trips are usually colder. We have had plenty of rain a few times, but never this volume of the white stuff. The drive sucked from St. Clair back to town, but today's commute was worse. Lots of folks with silly little vehicles in a hurry. Some small format eye candy.
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