I just took three of my Environmental Science students, along with a couple folks from our faculty for a weekend in the Sheyenne Grasslands of North Dakota.
There was no snow, and yet we were at 0 degrees F (-19 C) with 25 - 30 mph winds. Any water we brought froze. We had to keep the campfire to a medium level due to the winds. Two of the students had cold hands and feet after the first night so we determined that it would be better to turn the trip into a single night. If we had to stay we could have, but to do so would probably not result in ever getting two of the students out again.
Lessons learned:
- 1. Double check students gear, rather than just giving them a gear list.
- 2. All extra water needs to be in thermos bottles, not plastic.
- 3. Snow makes life much easier, (water, cleaning, insulation).
Snow has hit tonight. Life is good!
There was no snow, and yet we were at 0 degrees F (-19 C) with 25 - 30 mph winds. Any water we brought froze. We had to keep the campfire to a medium level due to the winds. Two of the students had cold hands and feet after the first night so we determined that it would be better to turn the trip into a single night. If we had to stay we could have, but to do so would probably not result in ever getting two of the students out again.
Lessons learned:
- 1. Double check students gear, rather than just giving them a gear list.
- 2. All extra water needs to be in thermos bottles, not plastic.
- 3. Snow makes life much easier, (water, cleaning, insulation).
Snow has hit tonight. Life is good!
