One piece of advice we have received from several seasoned winter expeditionists is to minimize the weight we haul. A synthetic sleeping bag for -40 degrees could weigh as much as 4-5 kg (10 lbs). Western Mountaineering makes a -40 down bag that weighs in at about 2,1 kg (4 lbs. 10 oz.). Combined with a vapor barrier liner and a bivy sack on top, this could prove durable and comfortable. With this in mind Terje asked his wife to pick one up while she was working in San Jose in the USA last week. Now all we need is some really cold weather.
September 30th, 2009
I’d really won’t use a down sleeping bag for such a long trip…We’ll be using The North Face “Dark Star”. A synthetic -40 degree.
Even with a VBL and the bivy bag, all the humidity that is generated in the tent with rapidly affect the efficiency of the sleeping bag.
You might take advantage of the down bag in the first few days, maybe the first week, but you’ll regret it later.
We made the test here in Canada (Quebec) last winter at -28 and we finally decided to go with a synthetic without the bivy bag. The extra weigth of the bag is compensated by the weight we spare from the bivy. Instead we just put our gore tex on the sleeping bag at night(very efficient).
But, in the end, the decision is yours!
September 30th, 2009
We had the same thoughts exactly before we purchased our down bags, based on our own experiences with condensation. But after talking to some polar veterans (Christian Eide, Rune Gjeldnes) we got convinced that the climate on Greenland, and Antarctica for that matter, was so dry that the bags would dry out during the hikes when lying on top of our sleds. This proved true on our last training trip where we had night temps of down to -30 C.
In addition to airing the bags on the sleds, we hang them unzipped out on our skis in the mornings for an hour when the weather permits. That is usually enough to dry then out too.
We also do all our cooking and melting in the vestibule, and keep the tent well ventilated at all times.
Personally I have never used a bivvy bag inside the tent, simply to allow the condensation to escape from the bags surface. I have tried a vapour barrier but the discomfort, combined with the fact that we seem to manage without due to the Arctic Bedding, made me leave it at home on the last trip.
But in principle I agree with you. Down is not always optimal, and I always use a synthetic bag if I will not be able to air out my bag every day.
September 30th, 2009
The fact that you are crossing later in the season will probably help you. The weather will be more appropriate to hang the bags outside in the morning. We hope to start our expedition in early april so we’ll probably face a lot of storm and for this reason we can’t rely on the drying option.
But as I said, every option can be good, in different situation.
We’ll be crossing from east to west…I think you’ll be crossing from west to east right? What time are you leaving? Maybe we will meet!
September 30th, 2009
We’ll be landing on the west coast on the 3rd of May, hoping to be able to start the 5th and reach the east coast before the 1st of June.
When do you recon you’ll reach Søndre Strømfjord?
October 1st, 2009
Well, since we’re hoping to land on the east coast on the first, we should leave Isortoq around the third of april. At this time of the year we are expecting a few storms so we might reach Sondre Stromfjord around the first of may. But we’ll probably stay there until the third…we’re not planning on being back in Canada until the 7 of may, so we’re not in a hurry. Maybe we’ll meet in Sondre then!
October 1st, 2009
Sounds great. We’ll be eager to hear from you about the conditions in the icefall, your weather and general bravery
October 2nd, 2009
We’ll be more than happy to give you that info. Are you just two in your group too? Or are you part of an organized expedition with “Tangent”
October 2nd, 2009
It’s just the two of us. I’ll drop you an email so we can keep in touch that way.
October 3rd, 2009
Cool, we’re just the two of us too. All right for the e-mail!