Sleeping inside the truck (Winter camping) heating needs

Me too. Generator dies for any reason (and there are lots of reasons it could even in normal conditions) and there goes your block and battery heater. You are praying that the truck starts at that point because if it doesn't you are so far up shit creek that you are absolutely screwed aside from some kind of rescue.

 

Venturing into the Alaskan wilderness without a firearm is like boating without a life preserver.

Bears aren't the only danger. Wolves enjoy a soft sack of meat too, and moose are responsible for more attacks on people than bears and wolves combined. Then there's always the two legged predators, and you can be sure they will be armed here.

It's his choice. He's the one who has to live with it. I've never heard wolves howl in the distance and wished I didn't have that 10mm Glock on my side, I'll tell you that.

 

That's what I was trying to get at,, but I don't think it took for some. All wound up on booze (of which there is a lot of up there) and you become Superman to bear spray. It's a gargle wash to some bears. No effect at all. Just pisses them off more. Not gonna bet my life on a can of spray.

AT LEAST a 10mm and/or a shortie autoload shotgun.

You hunch up in the woods to take a shit, set the shotgun or pistol by your wipe paper. Simple dumb rule,,but it will save you.

Alright,,dogpile on.

Done talking about guns.

 

Right on, I'm Piling on....
Maybe a little too much in this post. But I'll make it my last one on this topic. Remember these are just one guys opinions. But a guy who has been there, lives it, and loves it. The Arctic is beautiful. I've been reserved in my other posts.
In fact I'll be direct. So listen up.
..."The risk of insult is the price of clarity"



No bears in December? Bear spray?......what are you telling this guy? And why would you try to tell some one that. It's life threatening advice and absolutely stupid.

Look guys, it just isn't that simple. He will be going past grizzly country. He will be going past the warmer climates of -25, where bear spray might even spray a slight dribble at that temp.

You're not in California mountains. Or Montana. Or anywhere else. And bear spray doesn't work on polar bears. And it doesn't work in those temps. And.... Do You realize how big these animals are?

Buy a damn gun. Learn how to use it. These things hunt you. Start thinking about that.

Spots, sat phones other fancy new gadgets. Great. Wonderful. I like them too. Makes you feel good. Probably works well in Califonia where there are rescue crews that can be arranged and dispatched.


Now now listen to this carefully. There isn't a Rescue team standing by up here. There isn't a way to get to you in a storm when you are slowly freezing to death in your old army surplus Gear at -49 with a 50 mile an hour wind. You can call in a helicopter to come get you under certain circumstances. In good weather. Maybe. And if you think it cost a lot getting your little Toyota up there, wait till you get the bill for a Huey to fly you in and out. Things to think about.


Do you know how fast your skin freezes at -45 in a 20 mile an hour wind?

Be prepared. Odds are 75% of time you won't need all of the gear you bring. 25% if you do, and don't, you'll die.
Get lost on a side trip in the back country that time of year with out it, I promise you the odds just went to 100%. You will be June's headline when they find you. But don't worry, you will be preserved. Be prepared.

Everyone here keeps talking as if this is were weekend camping trip to Tahoe. With a few hibernating bears. Good roads. A nihpghly snow storm. And if you have to, just bring hand warmers or let your truck run all night, in case you need to drive back out to Starbucks for a quick warm up......

North of 66. You f' up. Something happens that you can't plan for. You can be dead real easy.

Starting to sink in?

A side trip here to go drive on some ice roads or a frozen lake some where, isn't a side trip Up to Colorado trails.... Get out. Slip on the ice alone and get hurt. Too bad. It's dark. It's cold. It's windy. Truck won't start? Too bad. You better figure it out. You better have a back up plan ready to go. No? To bad. Your dead and June's headline.

Start thinking....

This where most reading this are sitting comforatably in their homes, thinking, "man this guy is out there.. You don't die just because you went to Alaska... What an idiot... Go to Walmart and get your gear, you'll be fine...".

You can think what you like. But going to the Arctic, unprepared in the winter with inadequate gear, is a good way to get dead.

You know most people are gone for the winter right? A lot of operations shut down for the winter. Closed because it's winter and they can't operate. Even with all their support and knowledge and technology.

This is where I digress...


To be completely truthful, I signed up in a here and posted, because the fellow seems likes a nice guy, who is from a place in the world where the north is completely foreign to him. And some of the other posters advice, well, it is lacking...... I don't in any way want to dissuade him from his adventure. I hope to hell he goes! Most people these days are happy taking there new 4x4 down a gravel road and then to Walmart.

I've spent many many years across Canada in the North, in the Arctic, on my own, in equipment, not in equipment, with survival gear and with out, alone, with people, flying in, fly out, snowshoes, snowmobile, boots, no boots. Frozen stiff, frozen knees to the point of sitting in tub for hours before the scissors could be used to but my pants off because my knees were so swollen from freezing, ever freeze a wrench to your hand? Ever walk a mile in frozen clothing? Been through ice? Been through ice and walk a mile in frozen clothing that is actually frozen stiff, not really a walk so much as a waddle... Etc etc etc etc etc etc etc. Lock you keys in the truck? Have to break the window to get in, and then have to drive mile after mile in your gear!... Things are different at -45. They can be beautiful. They can be f'ing miserable.

I am still in one piece and have all my appendiges... So far. By sheer luck some days. But... I know many many guys and gals, missing a few toes, fingers, ears, screwed up faces. Etc etc etc. All because they mistakenly got caught out on a broken snowmobile, car, or simply walking and let themselves, get frost bite. It happens. It's ugly. Ever seen a guy with frozen cheeks?

I take great cautions when I venture out. In polar country. You don't just open the door and walk out. You open the door slightly and look outside first. I travel with full survival gear. If my 5 star don't go. I don't go. Period.

Bears. You better believe me, they hunt you. And you better believe they are out in December. And yes, there are moose as well, stay away from them. Moose do not like you, they want to stomp you into oblivion. Wolves. Possible, but usually they stay away. Usually. Try to hunt one... They can be hard to find! People, well, there are idiots everywhere.

Even when you have an idea of what you need, everything still goes wrong at times. But being as prepared as possible has saved my life. And many others too. Unprepared, ill advised, bold people, do not fare well.


To the original poster.

GO. It's not going to be cheap. Get the gear.

go to Prudhoe. Dead horse. Try the Dempster while you're up there.

Do it, you only live once. Don't let all of this talk and BS on here turn you off. Just make sure you have the gear and are ready for what you're getting into. That's all. No different than being prepared and geared up to cross the Sahara. No difference, just different gear and knowledge set required. Same mind set required.

Do your research, talk to people who are, or have been up there, take your time. And above all else, take this time to enjoy it. Take the time to find a dog trainer who runs sleds. Go dog sledding! Watch for the northern lights! Drink coffee all night and sit out in your new gear, and watch them. It is amazing.

Talk to locals first about running the ice roads. I know you want to, but find out the ice conditions first. I know, I know, captain obvious here... but, I've spent a few times in helicopters looking for the hole in the ice.... I used to know a few guys who liked running ice with out checking it. Used too.

I know I've been crass in a few comments. Maybe even dramatic some would say. But trust me. Be prepared. Get the gear. Have fun. Stay sharp. And, I'll shut up now.


Maybe we'll pass each other somewhere! If I see a little red Tacoma, I'll wave!

Take care, and stay warm my friend.
Good luck with it.

 

Well mr no guns required...

A clean camp in the Arctic? don't cook where you sleep? ... again, I'm not sure you're gettin it.

Exactly where do you propose he cooks? Where and what will he keep clean? Are you talking about setting up a tent? 50 feet away from the food? How do you propose he gets back to this camp after cooking? Where is that camp again? Where's my truck? ...where'd my foot prints go? Man it's dark out here...

TRUST bear spray? No.
Don't go in the back country off on your own with bear spray. It won't work on Polars. or grizzly south in the summer....
Don't take a gun, ok... So be it. But don't think bear spray is going to help. It'll probably be frozen anyway.

He will be cooking on his tail gate most likely with the food in the back of the truck.


ONE LAST TIME.

YOURE NOT TENTING OUT AT A CAMPSITE. YOURE IN THE ARCTIC. IT DIFFERENT.

DO NOT CAMP OUT ALONE IN A TENT UP THERE IN THE WINTER. STAY IN YOUR TRUCK. A POLAR BEAR WILL WALK RIGHT THROUGH THAT TENT AND KILL YOU BEFORE YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. IF YOU DO HAVE TO TENT, SLEEP WITH A LOADED SHOTGUN AT THE READY. THAT IS NOT A JOKE.

DO NOT WANDER FROM YOUR CAMP SITE. KEEP IT IN SIGHT AT ALL TIMES. TRUCK, TENT, CABIN, I DONT CARE WHAT IT IS OR THE REASON. DO NOT LEAVE IT. GET LOST GOING FOR A PEE, OR TO MOVE YOUR FOOD PREP OR COOK AREA, OR GET A BETTER VIEW. YOU GET LOST SO EASY. A SLIGHT WIND CAN OBLITERATE EVERYTHING ON THE GROUND QUICKLY. EVERYTHING WILL BE WHITE AND GREY. EVERYTHING. NO DEFINITION. AND ITS DARK IN DECEMBER. ALL THE TIME. SOME NIGHTS WILL BE PITCH BLACK. ITS ALWAYS DARK.

I DIGRESS...


Not too mention, you probably won't be cooking out much up there on the tailgate...
Don't worry you'll figure it out. Bring stuff to eat in the cab though that you don't have to get out of the truck for.

 

My comment was more poking fun at the op not being serious. I wouldn't go without a gun.

 

Yeah kinda funny that as soon as he said no more gun talk the gun talk exploded.

 

In case no one wanted to read that entire post. Be Prepared. Can't go wrong.

 

There is nothing fun about when it is -50 F and you turn the key and nothing happens .

It is to bad some people find out they were not prepared the hard way.

 

I wonder if you pulled/pushed the panic button, how much it would cost to be chopper'd out. It must be up around $1600 per hr or more. It was about $750 per hr for a Heli search and rescue back in the 80's here in the PNW.

 

I would bet closer to $ 5000.00 an hour

If not lots more !!!

 

Anybody read "to build a fire" by jack London? Something made me think about that... Oddly enough, even though I hate cold and snow and wet, stuff like this just makes me want to go.

 

otherwise known by 'How Things Go Bad'

 

They charge you for search and rescue? Don't tax dollars pay for the military? EMS? Not sure how I feel about having to pay for being rescued. That would piss me off something fierce. And I work in healthcare where nothing is free unless you're broke. That's only because one can't get water from a rock. Back on topic.......if it's not feasible to get a permit for a firearm to travel through Canada, what's a guy to do? I would go the shotgun route but not if they confiscated it at the border. I guess buy it in Alaska.

 

Just doing something that would under normal conditions just be a pain.

Like changing a tire. Replacing a broken wiper

Cold below Zero dark windy !!

You can`t take off your gloves because your hands would freeze

Unless you been there it is really hard to understand

Not one word about sweating

 

Tax dollars come from ??. Believe it or not, your already paying for it, and you get to pay again. Hope for local help to pick up your call,,however far away local is and weather permitting.

Medivac grab/haul is big bucks. That gets added to your end bill. Or they might just yank it out of your wallet inflight.

 

Bingo. It is hard for people to imagine even what -10 is like with problems. -40 in Alaska is a whole other ball game. A hundred miles from a cell signal -40 in the dark with howling winds is about as worst a nightmare as I can imagine to have a problem in. Maybe I'm not adventurous enough but I would be stressing out the whole time I was up there.

I'll tell you one thing for sure, twenty five degrees will be shorts weather after you come back from that environment.

 

I don't like the idea of idling a gas powered motor for that many hours. These trucks are not diesels. I would think its a lot of wear and tear

 

I think that the wear and tear is acceptable given the situation. Cops idle their cars for almost their entire shifts and they still last a long time. A couple nights won't be a huge deal I think.