2012 Arctic Courses. <<>> Discussion thread. <<>>

[Teepee]

The decreased heating time of the water with a fuller cap of snow is down to less heat escaping from the pot. The snow will insulate better than a lid or snowball.

It's definintely not down to the mass/surface area ratio but thats splitting hairs really.


That said, I'm happy to provide a remote snowball collection and delivery service

 

[rik_uk3]

The decreased heating time of the water with a fuller cap of snow is down to less heat escaping from the pot. The snow will insulate better than a lid.

It's definintely not down to the mass/surface area ratio but thats splitting hairs really.

That said, I'm happy to provide a remote snowball and collection service

Only saying what I was told by someone who lives and camps in the Arctic, what do they know lol.

 

[forestwalker]

Not a great idea Wayland, your exposing less of the mass of frozen water to heat thus slower melting, small amount of water to start things off then add loose snow (I was told by a chum from Yellow Knife).

Also, if you just have dry snow in the pot it may scorch. Lids are nice in one way, because otherwise you get "smoke water", which is rather foul tasting. I melt some snow to water (or take it from a canteen), and add snow such that it ia always wet slush in the pot until there is a good layer of water (say 5 cm), then one can pile on the snow.

A fairly large pot is nice, in cabins one sometimes see stainless steel buckets for melting snow on the woodstove. But lugging it around is not so nice, so 3-5 l is about the ideal to carry.

 

[Wayland]

Just a thought at the moment but would it be a good idea to organise a mini meet up next winter, maybe somewhere in the Midlands, to sort out some of the group logistics before flying out?

I think I know somewhere we might be able to use.

Right guys.

I've talked to Phil about using Rough Close for a pre trip meet up in January and there are a couple of options.

1. We could have an exclusive mini meet.

2. We could have our own little corner of a normal meet up (Would probably be the last full weekend in January)

3. We could be there at the same time as the normal meet up but have a different part of the site.

I can see advantages to option 2 but what do you think?

OK guys, this is the score.

Unless I get a stream of posts saying that it doesn't work for people I'm going to suggest we go for option two - Our own little get together at a regular meet up.

It'll keep cost down, be more convenient for Phil and the Rough Close crowd are a good bunch to socialise with anyway.

I'll give this a couple of days and then fix it with Phil, probably for the weekend of 28th /29th January 2012.

Right guys, if you want to do this, the meet thread is now up and you need to get your names on the list so that Phil knows about numbers.

I'll be taking my kit with me and I've also got maps of the area for everyone to see.

I'll bring some interesting books along too.

 

[DUCky]

That's the meet planned 27-29 january right? If you guys are so kind as to allow foreigners, I might fligh over to birmingham on friday to join in the fun. Anybody know how I can get to the site from Birmingham airport?

 

[Wayland]

You'd be very welcome.

It might be easiest if one of us comes to the airport to collect you.

We should be able to sort that out between us. The Birmingham International airport isn't far off.

Alternatively you can get a train to Tile Hill which is less than a mile away if you feel like hiking in.

 

[Mesquite]

Just to add to Waylands comments should you fly over don't worry about packing food unless you've anything special dietary wise.

There's a large supermarket 10 minutes away that you can stop off at if you're collected from the airport or if you hike in I'm sure someone would be kind enough to run you up there to get all you need for the weekend

 

[Woody]

POLITE NOTICE
Guys,

A quick notice regards flight booking for this Expedition. A number of people have contacted the office asking if they can proceed and book flights.

As stated in the terms and conditions and Expedition description the go/no go date for the expedition is the 15th January. Between now and then all number of things could affect whether the Expedition runs, not just the lack of student numbers.

These measures are put in place to protect both the individual and the expedition providers. If some one wants to risk booking their flights before this date (to get a better deal) they do so completely at their own risk and niether BCUK nor Bushcraft Expeditions take any responsibility for any loss incurred as a result, should the expedition not take place.

Woody

 

[DUCky]

Woody,

The go/no go date is clear to me and it has been stated several times before so if people try to hold you accountable, they must not be able to read

I for one must admit that preparing for a trip, making kit lists, sorting out gear and sorting out travel arrangements and all that is half the fun, so the sooner I can start doing that, the sooner I can start the fun. I am sure it is an 'amateur' thing and in my case comes from sitting behind a desk too much for too long

I think the message we are all sending here is that we are really excited about the prospect of the trip.

Just to manage expectations, what are some of the things that are not related to the number of participants that will impact the decision on the 15th of January whether or not to go ahead with the trip? Anything we can do to improve the odds?

Regards,

Lennart

 

[Badger74]

Any of you in Rothwell Park, Leeds today training? I saw a man practicing sledge/pulk pulling using a lorry tyre as a substitute.

 

[DUCky]

I found some discussion online about whether to wear your trousers over your packboots or in your packboots. Wearing them over your boots in order to keep snow out of your boots or wearing them in your boots keeping your pants dry/clean.

When wearing my army boots, I am a 'pants over the boot' type of guy and wear gamaschen when things get wet. I tried my packboots with the excellent codet 210 pants (which I bought in the states for 69 USD in army surplus, which I think is an absolute steal). They are thick pants and I have to fidget a bit to get them as I want (over the felt liner, but inside the boot) but I think pants in is the way to go. What's your strategy? Do you go over the boot, or in the boot over the liner or perhaps in the liner?

 

[forestwalker]

Mostly I have boots -- the Nokian wellie, the home made mukluks, the sami fur boots -- that all will take my wool pants on the inside. The outer cotton pants (from an old Swedish rmy snowsuit) goes on the outside. A piece of elastic tied in a loop live on the outside of the boots, and then is quickly place on the outside of the pants. Snowproof for digging and travelling in deep snow.

One thing; if it is fiddly getting the pants in the proper position you will hate it -- unless you hacve the patience of a saint -- when it is -35 C and dark. Try it with the something on your hands to get an idea.

 

[DUCky]

Forestwalker, quite right, I already experimented. Pants over the boots I can do with mittens on. Pants in the boot I can do with gloves. Pants neatly in the boot over the liner I can do with liner gloves. My packboots have laces and to do them up right, I am going to have to get to light gloves/liners.

I take care stuffing the pants in the boots because if there is a crease/crooked fold or something I will notice that after a few kilometers walking around.
Quikest and easiest is over the boots and take my gamaschen like I do for my army boots.

 

[Teepee]

I had to google Gamaschen to find out they're gaiters

 

[Wayland]

Just a thought at the moment but would it be a good idea to organise a mini meet up next winter, maybe somewhere in the Midlands, to sort out some of the group logistics before flying out?

I think I know somewhere we might be able to use.

Right guys.

I've talked to Phil about using Rough Close for a pre trip meet up in January and there are a couple of options.

1. We could have an exclusive mini meet.

2. We could have our own little corner of a normal meet up (Would probably be the last full weekend in January)

3. We could be there at the same time as the normal meet up but have a different part of the site.

I can see advantages to option 2 but what do you think?

OK guys, this is the score.

Unless I get a stream of posts saying that it doesn't work for people I'm going to suggest we go for option two - Our own little get together at a regular meet up.

It'll keep cost down, be more convenient for Phil and the Rough Close crowd are a good bunch to socialise with anyway.

I'll give this a couple of days and then fix it with Phil, probably for the weekend of 28th /29th January 2012.

Right guys, if you want to do this, the meet thread is now up and you need to get your names on the list so that Phil knows about numbers.

I'll be taking my kit with me and I've also got maps of the area for everyone to see.

I'll bring some interesting books along too.

Only Teepee and myself signed up for this so far.

I'm also trying to work out how much wood I need to order for our corner so I could do with knowing if anyone else is coming.

 

[Loenja]

Only Teepee and myself signed up for this so far.

I'm also trying to work out how much wood I need to order for our corner so I could do with knowing if anyone else is coming.

ive got an exam on the 27th, but could possibly make it on the 28th, but would arrive by train on a cheap ticket (at about 2 in the morning) ... i need to think this through first though...

 

[DUCky]

I was planning to come by, but unfortunately have another appointment on Saterday so would have to fly out for just a day which doesn't make much sense.

 

[Wayland]

ive got an exam on the 27th, but could possibly make it on the 28th, but would arrive by train on a cheap ticket (at about 2 in the morning) ... i need to think this through first though...

I am sure we can sort out a collection for you even at that sort of time.

 

[Wayland]

I was planning to come by, but unfortunately have another appointment on Saterday so would have to fly out for just a day which doesn't make much sense.

No problem, look forward to meeting you in March then.

 

[kiltedpict]

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