What's the coldest you've ever been at an event?

[Mike Ventura]

Re: What's the coldest you've ever been at an event?

For me, a Ft. Granger living history in (maybe) 2001 / 2002? It was so cold (15º was the warmest that it ever got) that a bunch of us went to the 4H livestock shed next door and about 10-12 of us pooled our blankets / ground cloths and laid out like a can of sardines on the straw in one of the stall. It was open air, but the sides of the stalls at least broke the wind. I don't think that I slept 5 mins.

Then, Perryville (2001?) when we threw down on the ground and awoke covered in frost.

Bentonville Progressive March from Ben Tart's property to the battlefield (2000? 2001?) when it was bitterly cold and the wind was blowing about 25 kts. Coldest I've ever been in the saddle.

[Huck]

Re: What's the coldest you've ever been at an event?

Now, we did do a winter camp in Colorado, (photots on my facebook) I know it was in the single digits one night. The sibley stove was working overtime...

[Secesh]

Re: What's the coldest you've ever been at an event?

Being in California our winters are pretty mild by most of the Country's standards...but I'd have to say Fort Tejon State Park, early 1990's...it got into the low 20's at night.

[coastaltrash]

Re: What's the coldest you've ever been at an event?

Duck River Line in 2009, Fort Donelson in 2006 and the Saturday night at Backwaters in 2010 come directly to mind.

[johnnyreb43nc]

Re: What's the coldest you've ever been at an event?

Into the Piney Woods 2009 ,
That last night and morning was the coldest and wettest I've been at an event.
Even my slouch hat was so cold and wet,I had to wear my wool sleeping hat underneath as we marched out of the event .
J.T.
Jason Tailford

Liberty Rifles.

[Mcguire]

Re: What's the coldest you've ever been at an event?

Yup, Pat, Duck River was frigid. It was the coldest I've ever been at an event, or perhaps anywhere else for that matter. Sat up practically all night by the fire trying to stay warm. Wrapped myself in blankets and tried to use my breath for warmth. If you tried to lay down the cold ground would knife through you in no time. I think someone said it was in the low teens. I'm from Michigan too, so no stranger to cold.

[tjdull]

Re: What's the coldest you've ever been at an event?

Nov. 1996(?) Western Brigade Kentucky Tactical.

Overnight temp = 19 degrees ... water froze in my canteen, leaked for years. :cry_smile

[GrumpyDave]

Re: What's the coldest you've ever been at an event?

Winter of '64, last and next to last times it was held. In 2008, the temps stayed in the teens and 20's in 2007, single digits with 30-50mph winds for the entire event. Ask anyone who slept in the stoveless Pine Cottage how warm it was. LOL

[ajroscoe]

Re: What's the coldest you've ever been at an event?

Piney Woods, definitely. Will Eichler and I were sergeants and gave up our shelter halves to some of the men who didn't have tents. We ended up staying up all night, drying our clothes for guys, making coffee and hot water for guys to drink, and trying to make it through the night. I know the temperatures have been much lower at events, but that night, with all the rain, and the little wood for the fires, really stands out in my mind.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: What's the coldest you've ever been at an event?

1) 2004 Southern Guard Picket Post: Frost over everything on Saturday night and not enough of a fire to huddle around. Even wearing a great coat didn't help... never have I been so cold while wearing so much kersey!

At least you had an overcoat! At one point I finally got a spot next to the fire to catch a few "Z's" and Terry plopped down between me and the fire blocking all the heat :cry_smile

The 130th Stones River and 1993 Ft Tejon 2nd CA event rank pretty high up there as well.

[Doughboy]

Re: What's the coldest you've ever been at an event?

Liberty Rifles winter picket post 2001 in Boonsboro MD.
There were maybe 10 of us to start. Dropped to about 15 degrees.
What were we thinking?

[Andy Ackeret]

Re: What's the coldest you've ever been at an event?

I will echo the sentiments of the 2004 SGLHA Picket Post. Cold feet, frost on my bootees, overcoat didn't help much, wagon-wheel around the fire to keep feet near the flames, but no one sleeping for more than a small bit at a time. I also seem to recall a field with many frozen socks that were cast aside when fellows changed socks, and a good layer of ice in the canteen.

[thad gallagher]

Re: What's the coldest you've ever been at an event?

Nov. 1996(?) Western Brigade Kentucky Tactical.

That is probably my coldest event as well.

[Matt Woodburn]

Re: What's the coldest you've ever been at an event?

Nov 96 LBL tactical I laid ON the fire in my frozen sleep and my pards put me out.
Perryville one year it snowed 3-4 inches on us and we woke to white lumps which were men under the snow.
W64 was cold but not the coldest.
Duck River Line 09 is the coldest for me. Sucked cold.

[BrianHicks]

Re: What's the coldest you've ever been at an event?

Picket Post in Hohenwald, Tn. in '08. High was Nine degrees. No tents, picketed for two nights along a frigid little stream of a river. This was the same sight as the '09 Duck River Line event.