Polar Preparations & Temperature Tribulations

"Hank" handles the sub-freezing temps

With an ominous forecast of multiple days with sub-freezing highs, the campground began to lose the remaining winter camping fanatics.  The campers adjacent to our site had been at the campground since our arrival, and were H-A-R-D-C-O-R-E cold-weather campers.  When we woke, they were outside sitting by their campfire; and when we took The Boys for their nightly walk, they were still tending the coals.  So when we saw these arctic-weather warriors breaking camp, we knew something wicked this way comes.  These folks were also extremely gracious and kind; offering to help us in any way possible.  Since they had witnessed the New Year’s Night EMS disco party, they were well aware of our temporary immobility.  Before pulling chocks, they brought us with a hefty stack of firewood, and provided additional contact numbers should we get into a bind.  Similar to the people of Sparta, these folks were a class act.  Can’t give enough of a shout-out to the families of Kevin R. & Bob L.

With a collection of fallen limbs scattered throughout the campground, I was concerned that the wind may bring one of these large timbers down onto our roof.  Our roof was not the only concern, as the sub-freezing forecast also included near zero absolute temperatures.  This extreme temperature can reek havoc on an RV; freezing/bursting water lines, turning refrigerator coolant to pudding, and making the plastic parts extremely brittle & susceptible to breaking.

My first concern was keeping a supply of water during this cold stretch.  After wrapping our water hose with electric heat tape and further wrapping it with insulation wrap, I felt the hose itself would be protected from freezing.  The water spigot was a different story.  I didn’t have enough heat tape and insulation to wrap the outside tap, and didn’t have much confidence that it would prevent freezing if I did.  With a few basic supplies, I created a heat-sump enclosure for the entire water-point; hoping that the water lines beneath the ground would not freeze.

This heat-sump enclosure was made by placing our folding ladder over the entire spigot, hanging a shop light (with 75-watt bulb) from the upper rung, laying styrofoam panels against the side of the ladder for extra insulation, covering with a 55-gallon leaf bag to keep the wind out & heat in, and wrapping the bottom with more insulation wrap and a cardboard outer shell.  I placed our wireless temperature gauge inside the enclosure so that I could monitor how well the structure was performing.

MacGyver-approved heat-sump structure

My next concern was the refrigerator.  At this point I just put duct tape over the external vents (leaving only a 1” opening) and placed a 75-watt shop light inside.  It didn’t need to stay above freezing—just above 20F.

My remaining concern was the external waste lines.  The lines were disconnected from the sewer, but there’s always “some” liquid in these lines.  if it freezes and expands, we could have a nasty situation when the thaw returns.  All I could do was disconnect the sewer hose and hope for the best.

Everythong east of the Mississippi River has a measurable amount of water.  At 20F, everything east of the Mississippi River has a measurable amount of ice.  Picking up a fallen branch for additional firewood results in picking up the surrounding leaf-litter as well...all stuck together like your grandmothers dish of Christmas candy...in July.

Once again we found in solitude.  Temperatures continued to drop and the clouds moved in.  The dense clouds stealthily moved through the forrest, stealing the colors and texture of natures portrait; making the eye interpret the world as if looking through a frosted cornea.  The wind charging through the treetops, causing them to collide at their apex with a force and sound of two rams cracking horns.

Cold as a sorceress' mamilla in a copper-zinc alloy cleavage-cradle

Then it began to snow.  I sat on the couch watching these "Snowflake Surfers” ride in on their invisible waves, then catch another air-wave to go aloft again.  As the snowflakes perform their abstract dance towards the ground; surfing the wind currents, they don't do anything in unison like rain, but drift around until they come to rest on a (hopefully) frigid surface.  Occasionally they take flight again, dancing on the subtle wind currents while  making their own unique journey through their own unique existence.

Outside temp

Inside heat-sump temp

We stayed below freezing for 4-days, and actually hit zero; but never lost water, electric, or heat.  We endured our “trial by ice” and did better than we expected…after all, we headed south to avoid playing to our inexperience of cold-weather camping.  The heat sump worked much better than expected.  The enclosure kept the temperature about 25F-30F warmer than the actual outside temperature, which enabled us to have uninterrupted water for the entire cold spell.  The refrigerator compressor survived with only a shop light for warmth, and the only pieces of plastic that broke were a few of the ladder rungs.

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate attire.” ~ Unknown

It wasn’t the most pleasant stretch of camping we’d ever experienced, but we now had a newfound confidence regarding our cold-weather capabilities.  Our directional mindset was now re-calibrated, as we didn’t need to run from cold weather…just be prepared for what nature throws at us.

"Snow Dog is victorious." ~ RUSH; By-Tor And The Snow Dog