it's been below -20C for most of january here in Mtl but this morning it felt like spring was just around the corner, -13C , no wind. Car wasn't even hard to start. :-)

 

Well it dropped down to minus 45 C here this morning, breaking records that stretch back to 1968. That's without windchill.

My RX-7 is not moving, nor will it until the mercury rises to around minus 30 or so. Lower than that and there is NO chance it will start, let alone push enough heat to warm up the cabin. As a consequence, I have to drive my Dad's minivan today.

Joy.

 

Oh come on, it's not that bad! Vancouver weather is very much like Seattle - they rarely have any now (1 or 2 days/winter). In Calgary, it was warmer than Michigan for all of January until this week, around or above freezing for over 2 weeks straight. Canada is a pretty big place, and the climates and weather varies a lot...

Regards,
Gordon

 

I feel your pain my man. I spent three years in Fairbanks, Alaska ( Ft . Wainwright '83 - '86). In the dead of winter it regulary got down to as low as -60 F. Thats with no windchill as Fairbanks/Ft. Wainwright sit in a bowl like deppression and there is absolutly no wind in the winter.

Oh and the ICE FOG brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I got so cold that the we used to judge the temperature by how low down the Post heating plant's smoke stack the steam would settle before leveling out. The warmer the temp the higher the "flat top would be. At -40 F the steam would actually come out the stack, roll down the sides and then flatten out and stay there! The colder the temp the lower the cloud!

Dont forget about the flat spotted tires bouncing you around! And there was no excuse when you car was a block of ice.

 

Yeah and it is so dry outside you can feel the moisture being sucked out of your eyeballs!

 

Well, I was over at Canzoomer's for a few hours (with my Pathfinder). It has "auto" 4WD and an automatic trans. In the auto position, when I was leaving, the center diff. light said it was "locked" even though it wasn't. He he, too cold for the sensor I guess. I use a garage, unheated. It's a balmy -15 C in there! It actually feels really warm.

I guess my 3rd gen RX-7 is in "cold storage" in the garage .

 

Well, this last Sunday in Dallas it was 71 F and I was driving around with the windows down :p

It's been colder this week (high's near 50 F)

Gotta love Texas

 

Last night, I drove between Chicago IL & Detroit MI during their latest snow storm. Snowed the majority of the way with 15-20 mph winds.

I was driving a 4WD Yukon....there was NO WAY my RX-8 would have made that trip.

The RX-8 is a great vehicle, but it does have its limitations.

I'm ready to get back to AL & my RX-8!

 

Yes it is! Its funny to hear people complain about -40 temps or whatever. This is the harshest place on the earth and when I go back to the US I will never complain about the cold again! We have buildings with dorm rooms to keep warm. My job requires that I work outside some of the time. Its difficult sometimes when I have to put up a weather tower somewhere outside in neg temps with winds howling for like a 12 hour period. Thats when you feel the cold. Especially if you get stranded overnight. Most people here get the luxury of going back to their nice warm houses. But, I still love it and only have to work like 5 months a year.

Jeff

 

Yeah! Your right! When I 1st got here back in September, I had frequent nose bleeds because of the dryness. I just came from 95 deg w/100% humidity in FL to -100 with NO humidity and winds that exceeded 50 knots. I 1st said I quit becaus eI thought I was going to die! I blink and my eyelids get stuck together and it sucked! But, I just got back to McMurdo Staion on the tip of the Continent and the temps here are much better. Summertime temp here is 0 degrees and I walk outside with shorts and a T-shirt! Here is a good picture of a nice day here. I showed a harsh day, I figure I'll show a good day!:D

 

-100? thats insane! guess you cant stay outside too long when its that cold.

 

Do you ride around in snow mobiles out there?

Working in those extreme temps you deserve at least 5 months off!

 

Not really! We do have extreme cold weather clothing. If you happen to get stranded in the cold, we learned how to build icewalls and caves to keep the winds off. Its only bad when the winds pick up. Cherry Hill huh? I ggrew up in Runnemede and Camden for 10 years of my life! My family is all there. Go Pat Steaks! and Geno's!:p

 

Yeah! Skidoos are fun as sh*t! Well I get those 6 months or so off because I am a seasonal worker. Any electronic techs out ther want to come work next season? HEHE

 

Jeff,

Where's the pick of the bad day?

 

whats the pay like?

 

Its on a link on the 2nd page I think.

 

Around 5-6k's a month. People are jealous of us here because we make like 4 times the amount others do and don't really work that much. The hardest work is putting up AWS towers in the cold. Otherwise we just sit and wait for our radar or comms or whatever else to break. Sit and wait meaning....internet, games, sl**p (you fig that1) eat eat and eat free. drinks are cheap too. 2 bucks. Cake job man!

 

did you ever watch the movie the thing when you were there? :D

is that 5-6k per month only for the 5 months you work or do they pay you for 12 months?

 

Dude! Your killing me. No, thats not for 12 months. I choose to be a seasonal worker, so they pay me a week before I ever leave for the "ICE" and a week after plus accum vacation and holidays. Then during the off season, they will send me to various radar or AWS or UPS schools and pay me well for it. I get a suite, like 50 bucks (taxfree) for food, a rental car...etc. You can also become a full time employee and eventually become a GMO (Government Manager of OPS) and make a ton more! I never saw the Thing here. I should huh?

Jeff

 

Woops, like 50 bucks a day for food times like 8-9 avg weeks! Sorry for the typo RX-GR8

 

BRRRRRRR! I'm shivering just thinking about those temps. It's a balmy 3 degrees F here in the middle of IL, home of the Simpsons and some guy named Abe. All major roads are clear so I get to drive my 8 tomorrow to work finally. Next year it's snow tires and rims!

 

I dunno... it's sounding kinda temping to me too...

 

I hate to burst your bubble man, but you have to be an american citizen. If you are then we can talk.:D

 

I am... got the big navy passport and the "Certificate of Citizenship" (I was born abroad) to prove it... :D