Time marches on, and the preparation continues for my upcoming treks. This week I weatherproofed the seams on my new tent, and with temperatures hovering in the -20's I decided to test it out. On Saturday afternoon I headed down to the sandbar and spent some time practicing setting it up and taking it down, which is always easier said than done when using gloves. As I worked, mist drifted in from a span of open water that is narrowing with each passing day. It covered everything in a fine lattice of ice crystals, and before long my face was shaggy with frost.
As day faded into night, I climbed into the tent and settled down to read. I wasn't far from town, but outside the only sound was the occasional groan from the ice as it flexed and shifted in the channel.
I slept, although it was not as comfortable as I had hoped. My sleeping bag is ostensibly rated to -40C, but until last night had never used it below -10C. Overnight the temperatures dipped to -25C or so, which is far from extreme, but it soon became clear that this was close to its useable limit.
There was one consolation, though. Later in the evening I became aware of a strengthening glow outside, and I climbed outside to find the world awash in moonlight. I have never seen it shine so brightly, and the effect was breathtaking.
