Arctic Ocean Expedition: Winter 2007

[VikingVince]

I grew up in rural Minnesota...another sub zero climate where winter temps were frequently -20F and worse...with wind chill, -50 to -70 was not uncommon. Sometimes cars and pickups would just go dead while driving down the road...although that was more the exception than the rule...so many more things can break and fail in extreme cold.

As has been already pointed out, it would be a BIG mistake to ever turn your vehicle off. (unless in a village) I wouldn't do this trip with Optima batteries either...they only have 800 cold cranking amps (CCA) at ZERO degrees. I don't have the formula...but CCA drops preciptously by -50 or more temp/wind chill...and the Optimas won't cut it if starting from dead cold.

I would think twice about stopping to sleep. You have to leave your truck running and if it would stop while you're sleeping (very possible)...well, you're ********d...then you'd be hoping for another vehicle to come along. If there were 2 drivers in each vehicle, you could drive shifts and not stop until you get to villages.

And definitely get studded tires! (and chains)

 

[paulj]

On one winter camping trip in Wisconsin with a substandard battery (on an early Trooper II), I took the cold battery out of the car, and warmed it up in a pan of warm water. The water had been warmed on a camp stove.

paulj

 

[Scott Brady]

Thanks for the additional info all! A little danger justs adds to the experience.

Chris and I will both have "bug out bags" with sleeping bags, tents, emergency provisions, etc.

I dont see a reason why the last few nights (at the coldest temps) wouldnt be spent in or very near a village, so that will likely be our plan.

 

[IggyB]

Once more on the mileage. Engine sucking in -40°C air will use more gasoline cause the air is so dense. The engine sensors have an ambient temperature range at which they perform best. At the limits of those temperatures they have considerably more error built in. Also, some of the industrial applications use a heat exchanger to preheat the air into a compressor or an engine.

Couple of Scepter cans would work well as a backup to an aux. tank:victory:

If you are going to shut off the engine at those temps, engine coolant heater is a must(and a place to plug it into 120 vac)

 

[Scott Brady]

Doin-it and IggyB,

Thanks so much for the detailed responses. I intend to do more research as the year unfolds. Look for much more information in late summer :campfire:

 

[flywgn]

Oh boy, this thread has been good to read while I sit in my 67ºF office and sipping a (told you I have a large pot). I think I may look into getting another dish to install at Punta Bufeo (that's Baja California...warm Baja California) so's not to miss a single chapter of this adventure.

Brrrrrrr. I'm getting chilly just reading about it.

Don't forget, though, with all this talk about -40º you won't have to worry about whether it's centigrade or Fahrenheit. :xxrotflma

 

[calamaridog]

I think the most important question to ask yourself before a trip like this is "will you eat human flesh?":eatchicke

You know, just in case

But seriously folks, this sounds like quite an adventure:wavey:

 

[paulj]

Tonight on History channel, Ice Road Truckers.

 

[paulj]

Article about the mild Arctic winter that shortened this expedition:

http://www.uiso.org/content/view/622/46/

Inuit See Signs In Arctic Thaw
String of Warm Winters Alarms 'Sentries for the Rest of the World'
By Doug Struck
Washington Post Foreign Service
Wednesday, March 22, 2006; Page A01

 

[Scott Brady]

Thanks for the article Paul.

It is quite possible that our trek will not be repeatable in another 10-15 years.

We will start doing more detailed planning after I return from Morocco, and this thread will grow much more active.

 

[gcec]

Visit http://www.landroveradventure.com/to2tuk/?&MMN_position=38:38

They did did the trip in Feb 2005

 

[Desertdude]

Check out todays weather forecast up in Tuktoyaktuk

 

[Scott Brady]

Thanks Stephen. Good info

 

[OutbacKamper]

Scott;
I was just wondering how the planning is going for this trip??

Quote from Garry Wescott/Turtle Expedition (re: Russian expedition):
"At sixty below zero, metal can crystallize and snap, and plastics---like photographic film and the vinyl sides of our Four Wheel pop-up camper---can become as brittle as a potato chip. Tires and fan belts can freeze and crack like glass and a 5-15W Arctic oil turns to heavy jello. Gear oil becomes solid."
http://turtleexpedition.com/adventures/intro.php
From my experience much of this is true even at -40C

I notice that the Turtle IV F350 could not carry all the fuel and spares required on the Russian trip without a trailer. Have you considered taking a trailer to carry all that extra fuel and gear? Several responses have warned about not shutting down the engine in cold weather, but you do have the option of a gas (or diesel) powered Espar/Webasto style coolant heater or generator (to run electric block heater/battery heater/interior heater). Either of these options would probably save enough fuel to justify their additional weight and expense. The possible advantage of the generator is that both vehicles could operate on one generator and, in an emergency, flat batteries could be recharged.

Cheers
Mark

 

[Scott Brady]

Update:

Logo

Tires

Extreme snow rated BFGoodrich AT KO with low glass rubber and 60 durometer tread blocks. 295/75 R16 (34x11.5)

Lights

IPF HID's 2 driving on bumper and 4 spots on roof. Fog lights under investigation.

More updates soon