Sea Gull lake at a -35 degrees F. and so did Ely this morning.
I had a balmy -28 degrees F in Brainerd.
Good day to split woof for you wood burning people.
Gets around zero going cross country skiing before the bugs get too bad.

Also the State Cross Country ski finals in High School is at Giant Ridge today. I believe it has to be at least a ambient -4 degrees F. before they race.

Yeah it's about -5 right now just north of the twin cities

Years ago I did a dog sled trip with Wintergreen (on Valentine's Day weekend no less). We did 2 nights 3 days in unheated tents. The "tent" was actually a parachute. It was a great trip, but the second night the mercury went down to -37º F. Even in a bag supposedly rated for -50º, it wasn't fun at night. Face was always cold and don't even ask about having to get up and pee in the middle of the night.

Still, the rest of the trip - and especially the dogs - was wonderful.

OneMatch: "Years ago I did a dog sled trip with Wintergreen (on Valentine's Day weekend no less). We did 2 nights 3 days in unheated tents. The "tent" was actually a parachute. It was a great trip, but the second night the mercury went down to -37º F. Even in a bag supposedly rated for -50º, it wasn't fun at night. Face was always cold and don't even ask about having to get up and pee in the middle of the night.


Still, the rest of the trip - and especially the dogs - was wonderful."

You’re more adventurous than I am! That is too cold to sleep outside for me.

OneMatch: "Years ago I did a dog sled trip with Wintergreen (on Valentine's Day weekend no less). We did 2 nights 3 days in unheated tents. The "tent" was actually a parachute. It was a great trip, but the second night the mercury went down to -37º F. Even in a bag supposedly rated for -50º, it wasn't fun at night. Face was always cold and don't even ask about having to get up and pee in the middle of the night.


Still, the rest of the trip - and especially the dogs - was wonderful."

Uff DA! Bet you left the guitar home on that trip!!!!!

Freddy: "

OneMatch: "Years ago I did a dog sled trip with Wintergreen (on Valentine's Day weekend no less). We did 2 nights 3 days in unheated tents. The "tent" was actually a parachute. It was a great trip, but the second night the mercury went down to -37º F. Even in a bag supposedly rated for -50º, it wasn't fun at night. Face was always cold and don't even ask about having to get up and pee in the middle of the night.



Still, the rest of the trip - and especially the dogs - was wonderful."

Uff DA! Bet you left the guitar home on that trip!!!!!"

Been there done that many times with some days -35 degrees F..
Winter camping is a learning experience, and you have to be much more prepared for something going wrong. Your life depends on it.

Benefits-no bugs, no shortage of permits etc. Use to be Half Price in Quetico to free in the off season.

Disadvantages, long long nights in the sleeping bag and a occasional frostbite and hope for no slush and wet boots and socks.
I LOVE IT. I GUESS THAT MAKES ME ABNORMAL-WHICH EVERYONE HAS FIGURED OUT BY NOW.

4keys: "

OneMatch: "Years ago I did a dog sled trip with Wintergreen (on Valentine's Day weekend no less). We did 2 nights 3 days in unheated tents. The "tent" was actually a parachute. It was a great trip, but the second night the mercury went down to -37º F. Even in a bag supposedly rated for -50º, it wasn't fun at night. Face was always cold and don't even ask about having to get up and pee in the middle of the night.



Still, the rest of the trip - and especially the dogs - was wonderful."

You’re more adventurous than I am! That is too cold to sleep outside for me. "

Well I am much smarter and older now!

Freddy: "

OneMatch: "Years ago I did a dog sled trip with Wintergreen (on Valentine's Day weekend no less). We did 2 nights 3 days in unheated tents. The "tent" was actually a parachute. It was a great trip, but the second night the mercury went down to -37º F. Even in a bag supposedly rated for -50º, it wasn't fun at night. Face was always cold and don't even ask about having to get up and pee in the middle of the night.



Still, the rest of the trip - and especially the dogs - was wonderful."

Uff DA! Bet you left the guitar home on that trip!!!!!"

Ha! Most definitely!

With this extreme cold is there any hope for fewer bugs this year?

Atom: "With this extreme cold is there any hope for fewer bugs this year?"

No lol. Winter cold has no affect on summer bugs. And these temps were pretty typical in past winters.

I've been told that the emerald ash borer does not survive past -30'. It hasn't been that cold t my house and I will lose a 1000 ash tress in the next few years.

But I also heard that -30' just makes mosquito larva mad and they come back all ornery.
Tom

tumblehome: "I've been told that the emerald ash borer does not survive past -30'. It hasn't been that cold t my house and I will lose a 1000 ash tress in the next few years.

But I also heard that -30' just makes mosquito larva mad and they come back all ornery.
Tom"

My gosh, terrible. Where are you located?
I know in Minnesota by Mille lacs were starting to see oak wilt and had a fugus wipe out a lot of black spruce trees which i have been removing this winter.
Birch bores are also hitting us.
Things are changing, but nature is never stagnant.

I’m Winter camping and it was 49 degrees above zero this morning in Apache Junction Arizona.

Zulu,
A little cold for Arizona, but sure looks pretty!

tumblehome: "I've been told that the emerald ash borer does not survive past -30'. It hasn't been that cold t my house and I will lose a 1000 ash tress in the next few years.

But I also heard that -30' just makes mosquito larva mad and they come back all ornery.
Tom"

Tom, oooooof.

Sounds like you have plenty, but let me know if you are interested in any other standing dead hardwoods - I've unfortunately got lots.

What a change 49.5 degrees f.in Brainerd now fields are getting bare and seee low 40's up the gunflint.
Spring is in the air.
But won't match 2012 when March 30th I was canoeing in the BWCA

Lower 40's in Duluth today, I hope enough snow stays for the John Beargrease sled dog race coming March 2nd.

LindenTree: "Lower 40's in Duluth today, I hope enough snow stays for the John Beargrease sled dog race coming March 2nd."

Wouldn't that be terrible. They have had such a run of bad luck with snow this last few years.
Those sled dogs and driver are such good athletes and so much time caring for the dogs. Such dedication.

Pinetree: "

LindenTree: "Lower 40's in Duluth today, I hope enough snow stays for the John Beargrease sled dog race coming March 2nd."

Wouldn't that be terrible. They have had such a run of bad luck with snow this last few years.
Those sled dogs and driver are such good athletes and so much time caring for the dogs. Such dedication."

There’s a reason I bought a Gitche Gumee-capable kayak to augment (supplant) my ski quiver when we came back to MN in 2018:

gravelroad: "

Pinetree: "

LindenTree: "Lower 40's in Duluth today, I hope enough snow stays for the John Beargrease sled dog race coming March 2nd."

Wouldn't that be terrible. They have had such a run of bad luck with snow this last few years.
Those sled dogs and driver are such good athletes and so much time caring for the dogs. Such dedication."

There’s a reason I bought a Gitche Gumee-capable kayak to augment (supplant) my ski quiver when we came back to MN in 2018:

"

Yup. Anyone older person who has spent most of their time living, playing and working close to nature (farmers, loggers, foresters, ice anglers, Nordic skiers) knows first--hand how much the climate has changed in the past few decades.

Extreme variabiity in snow and rain, steady decrease in the intensity and frequency of deep cold, warm temperature records set at a rate three times that of low temperature records. A cold winter by today's 30-year "normals" would be an average one 50 years ago.

But get used to it. No change in sight. Just more heat in the system.

50 degrees in Brainerd today, just south of here people starting to do Maple Syrup.
Use to be end of Mach than April. Last few years been starting in February.
Snows almost gone and water levels are going to be low this spring here. Going to need spring rains. Trouble is early springs means it stays brown longer instead of later when snow melts, it turns green right away.
Ice in lakes is about 26 inches. About 8 inches below normal.