How do you folks survive up North?

[Gunslinger808]

I gotta ask, I've never lived North of the Mason Dixon, and can't imagine what a -10 or 20 degree high is like.
A lot of fun is made about our 120 summers, but at least if you're caught outside you can survive for a day or Two.
Caught outside (or if your power goes out) up there I can imagine your life span can be numbered in minutes.
What do you all heat with?
How do you keep your vehicles running?
What do all the really poor folk do?
I really have no idea of what it's like.

 

[ralph7]

I gotta ask, I've never lived North of the Mason Dixon, and can't imagine what a -10 or 20 degree high is like.
A lot of fun is made about our 120 summers, but at least if you're caught outside you can survive for a day or Two.
Caught outside (or if your power goes out) up there I can imagine your life span can be numbered in minutes.
What do you all heat with?
How do you keep your vehicles running?
What do all the really poor folk do?
I really have no idea of what it's like.

I understand your query.
It was in the low to mid 30's here today and I was real happy to be in the heated work van for most of the day.

 

[Steve O]

I moved from Minnesota to Texas.

 

[arjay]

Ive worked and played outdoors most of my life in the mountains.Dressing in layers is the key.That and modern fabrics are a big improvement over what we had 20-30 years ago.Wood stoves can be very handy in a power outage. Some gas fireplaces will work without power.One advantage that isn't talked about is being able to eat like a starving teen and staying skinny lol.Ive never been able to adapt to temps above 90,let alone high humidity.I blame my genes ;-)

 

[SW_shooter]

I was born and raised in MN, lived there until the ripe ol age of 30. I hated shoveling and blowing snow, pushing stuck cars and driving on packed snow covered roads.

I remember as a kid I had a block heater on my car and would plug in the car each night before calling it a night. Whenever needing to go somewhere I would have to go out and start the car and let it run and heat up before driving. (now in the heat of the south you do the opposite, start the car and let the AC cool it off before driving).

One thing I will say in favor of the north, you can always add layers to get warm, you just can't get naked enough to get cool sometimes.

 

[hangnoose]

COLD SURVIVAL

They gots to wear shoes & even socks sumtimes. Personally I'm part polar bear & very well naturally insulated & can survive with shorts down to the 30's with a filson wool duck hunting hat/ wool vest & a hoodie if it's real cold.

 

[kozmic]

The temperature is no doubt an issue and must be taken seriously when it's this cold outside. You can get through it if you use your head, plan ahead and minimize your time outdoors when conditions are worst.

In my mind, the real problems are with the driving and walking conditions. Slippery roads, uneven paths, deep snow, high winds and white outs make car and foot travel hazardous.

In general winter survival becomes somewhat routine, but things can wrong in a hurry if you don't pay attention and "play by the rules".

 

[bdsorcic]

Born and raised in Wisconsin. ... Still here at 67, today it was -13 with wind chills equaling 35 below, wife and I went out grocery shopping this morning. No one was in the stores so we had everything to our self's.Yes, it was cold, the bitter wind stings like a bee, but we are used to it and accept our life! Wish we lived down south yes, but can not afford to move due to the current housing values, we did plan on moving once we both retired, but things got screwed up so we have to sit where we are, Ha-Ha!! Ugh!!!

 

[arjay]

Ive got a kid working out in the oilfields.His job is all about moving water,laying temporary pipelines and running pumps.This time of year,that worries me.

 

[ralph7]

Ive worked and played outdoors most of my life in the mountains.Dressing in layers is the key.That and modern fabrics are a big improvement over what we had 20-30 years ago.Wood stoves can be very handy in a power outage. Some gas fireplaces will work without power.One advantage that isn't talked about is being able to eat like a starving teen and staying skinny lol.Ive never been able to adapt to temps above 90,let alone high humidity.I blame my genes ;-)

Then you should wear shorts!

 

[aphelion]

People can adapt to anything. Most can get used to it. That's one of the reasons there are so many of us.

 

[Murphy's Law]

I grew up in Michigan but joined the Navy and sailed the pacific and always been in warm climates. Been here in Tampa going on 30 years. When "my time" comes, I don't even want my body to go back up north!!

 

[LAKOTA169]

Beach season here in Michigan. Taken last February on the Detroit River.

 

[max]

Last night and today was about as bad as I have seen in over 60 years. If you don't keep your cars inside or have a new battery, there is a good chance they won't start. Pipes freeze under houses and esp mobile homes.

 

[redneckemt]

High for today was ten I believe. I m south of Nashville. Dixie has done froze

 

[Sven]

Hey, it's no problem -- it's a dry cold!

kozmic pretty much summed it up. At 10 below, bare metal stings when grabbed with bare hands -- ya need gloves to pump gas. At 20 to 25 below just the air has a kind-of sting to it on bare skin. I just picked up a night shift and the Jeep was sitting outside overnight at 30 below. Started fine because I have a good battery and 0W-30 oil. Antifreeze is tested to minus 50, and NO, it won't freeze if the windchill is minus 60! The seat was hard as a board and shocks, tires, etc were very stiff. The steering wheel won't straighten out by itself, when you finish a turn in a parking lot -- you have to turn it straight. We make fun of it, but you do need to pay attention to what you're doing if you're outside. Zero to 5 above is not too bad. I shoveled snow the other morning at 5 above and was actually dressed a bit too warm. My wife gives me a bad time, but yes, my beard keeps my face warmer.

Like kozmic said, I can add clothing to keep warm, but I can't get naked enough to keep cool in the heat. One of these summers I'm going to head down to Mesa just to see what that desert heat is like. (I want to do some Jeeping again east of Florence, but think I'll wait 'til Feb. or March) Why don't you join me in Minnesota some January???!

 

[arjay]

Then you should wear shorts!

Id go nekkid in the summer if the neighbors wouldn't complain.Shes such a crank...

 

[rattlesnakedaddy]

I grew up in Georgia, moved up to the Northeast a little over 10 years ago. It's something you adapt to, as I suffer a bit from the heat when visiting family in Nashville and Atlanta now. The key for outdoors is layers, and being prepared.

We primarily heat our house with #2 Oil, and supplement it with our wood burning stove. Our house was built in 1900, so when we have power outages, it is relatively easy to survive without. Hot water and primary stove is propane, and will run when the grid is down.

The cars run fine in the winter, just keep a good battery and plenty of washer fluid handy. I usually keep a small shovel (in case I need to dig out), extra blankets, boots, and some food in the car (water will freeze so I carry a bottle in and out with me).

As much as I resisted them, cell phones have made things much safer when in need of help.

YMMV,

RSD

 

[Sven]

Lakota, the only way I'd do that is if I was just coming out of a good hot sauna!

 

[Dominus_Lex]

It may be cold (0 right now and falling), and yes 18 inches of the white stuff can slow down your day a bit, but I really like to focus on what we do not have here in Michigan.... Earthquakes, Hurricanes, Tornado's (very rare) Venomous Snakes, (we have the Eastern Massasuga Rattler but they are nothing compared to warmer areas) Scorpions, a large wild fire (which is very rare) burns for a week and eats up a few thousand acres, and the bears tend to leave folks alone. In the end you dress warm, keep the gas tank full, keep a good set of tires on the 4x4, and dream of that one week in February when you get the heck out of dodge and go anyplace warm (by that I mean over 45 degrees).... Upon your return it will be March, you can see the light at the end of the winter, and the mosquito's will soon be humming.....