What's the coldest you've been in the bush?

[stepbystep]

Some mates and I had gone on a surfing/camping expedition, we were 16.

The day temp was 20-25, surfed until the sun was setting. Came out of the water only to find the cave(limestone as well Corvus) we were camping in was leaking from above onto our gear, we had no tent, just surfboard bags and fleecie gear. Everything was saturated including our 2 boxes of matches. Night time temp dropped to 2 degrees(we did check it the next day). WA often has v. cold nights.

The sea breeze kicked in at probably 20 knots or so. We spent the night jogging on the spot and thankfully sharing a couple of bottles of whiskey(that was the best stupid decision of that expedition)

Finally got a fire going at 4.30am, not that we could feel the warmth. Remember heating water in the billy and pouring it over our toes to warm up, never felt pain like that before, I'm sure it was some form of frostbite. The next day was 32 degrees. Go figure, but man were we cold.

Still went surfing the next morning at 9am. Oh the impetuousness of youth

Have been pretty careful in Tas so far, but I'm sure I will get caught out soon - it's in my nature

[bushrunner]

Great story Stepbysteb.
That put a grin on my face.

[Son of a Beach]

Reminds me of a sailboarding trip in mid winter at musselroe bay where we repeatedly sailed until fingers were numb then threw a heap more logs onto our beach fire until we thawed and warmed again then went out on the bards again. Reapeat until exhausted then return home in the combi sitting on an eski crammed between the seats sqashed between masts and gear.

Ps. I would not drive 2 hours each way to do this these days but loved it at the time.

[jwalker]

One of my coldest (self-inflicted) experiences was a XMAS day snowed-in at the Labyrinth. Given our walking intentions had become redundant due to the unseasonal dump, a few of us thought a game of barefoot frisbee (wearing only thermal bottoms) would provide good entertainment. It took my feet a full 2 hours to thaw out, buried under six or seven sleeping bag clad bodies holing out in one of our 3 man tents. I serioulsy thought my feet would never come back to standard operating temp!

[davehenderson]

Way back in 1986 I was on my honeymoon (1st one) in Scotland and decided to go on an walk up to an old mill on a river in the snow and ice, it was apparently about minus 8 but we were pretty well prepared until I fell in crossing the river on the way back. Soaked to the bone and bleeding profusely from a wound to the shin we were about an hour from help. It was a long way home indeed, every time I think I am cold today I realise it's never as cold as that day
Dave

[Funky_Bunch]

-15 just outside of mt loch carpark at mount hotham in vic. we decided to snow camp rather than pay resort priced accom just outside the ski boundry. it was only a matter of 200 m trudge through the snow to get first lines every morning.

[Lindsay]

Adam you dont really know what cold water is unless you have experienced the North Sea (Arctic Ocean) knees turned blue and the B ollicks went north and that was in Summer almost as cold as a wash in Waterfall Valley first waterfall in winter
c

I feel your pain Corvus. Bouncing around the North Atlantic in February, even wearing all the proper gear the cold was something can't be described.

[ollster]

Had -7 inside the old New Pelion Hut once... that was with a full hut of people, and a fire going overnight. Boots and socks that had been wet but left near the stove overnight were frozen solid. Had spare socks, but not very nice to put frozen boots on.

Friend went to splash his hair in the river and came back with ice crystals in it.

[Buddy]

A winter climb up the Frenchman many years ago in August gave us the experience of -12C. Definitely had our attention.

[dancier]

Paddling alpine rivers in Vic during winter or on snow melt, some places receive little sun during the day and it only takes a few rolls before you're near freezing but you just had to play harder to warm up. The Mitta Mitta gorge was a classic but it was always great water.

[Area54]

Got caught out a few years ago on a family trip, only took summer gear (september in qld), we got -6. Had our then 2yo daughter huddled between us, I fondly remember giving the girls most of the blankets and not being able to turn over lest I dislodge the careful layering! One very cold and stiff side the next morning. The kids loved it, crunching around on the frosted grass.

A mate did some washing, he tried hard to convince us that they were frozen, not just 'well worn'


A recent trip to Chicago saw -12. I was secretly wishing it was colder.

Attachments

[Drifting]

those would be better than taking a cold shower!

[north-north-west]

Phurt!!! You haven't lived until you've changed into a sem-frozen wetsuit in the middle of a Mount Gambier sheep paddock, with that glorious southerly wind that's touched nothing except a few whales since leaving the Antarctic whistling past your more sensitive bits.

[Macca81]

Paddling alpine rivers in Vic during winter or on snow melt, some places receive little sun during the day and it only takes a few rolls before you're near freezing but you just had to play harder to warm up. The Mitta Mitta gorge was a classic but it was always great water.

your avatar disturbs me... i cant stand paddling a dancer... anything but a dancer...

[ILUVSWTAS]

That pic would make a great ad for bonds...

My house is in the bush... we had -8 here last year, pipes froze solid. A couple cracked when they thawed out.

[Macca81]

That pic would make a great ad for bonds...

My house is in the bush... we had -8 here last year, pipes froze solid. A couple cracked when they thawed out.

interesting that they cracked when thawing, it should happen while freezing...

[ILUVSWTAS]

Well they probably did, then froze solid, then when they thawed we noticed they had cracked......

[rcaffin]

-17 C, near Grey Mare Hut. Comes of camping at the bottom of a frost hollow.

[frank_in_oz]

A couple of years ago we walked from The Walls of Jerusalum to Cradle Mountain (Lodge) via the Never Never in June or July. We did not have much snow fall but it was pretty cold at times.



We spent two nights at Dixon Kingdom Hut - it got a bit chilly in there at times



On the second day we had a look around the area (it was our first time in there) and headed up Mt Jerusalum. On the way back I decided to "Walk on Water", yep, know it was stupid but it was also a hell of a lot of fun.

The day before as we were walking in, Sue, my wife had slipped while poking at ice in a tarn with her walking pole. She slid in, up to her armpits, (with pack attached) Once we dragged her out and dried her off a bit , we did a fast runner to Dixon Kingdom. it was a pretty funny (if not dangerous and scary) event. Now, THAT water was cold....

There are a few more pictures and stories here if anyone is interested (it is an oldish post so the formatting is a bit rubbishy sorry) http://ourhikingblog.com.au/2007/07/liven-on-edge-or-was-it-in-cold.html