Barnacles Loc: Northern California

My Grandad told a story about a camping trip in Nort' Dakota when there was a sudden cold snap. He said that the water that they had boiling for coffee froze so fast that the ice was still hot!

Mauwehu Loc: Norwalk Ct

As a scoutmaster, learning that I couldn’t sleep with cold feet but the worst was a winter survival camp out in Maine at 40 degrees Below 0 F —-so cold I worried if there would be grandchildren in my future??!!!

lipsticker Loc: Hartford Wisconsin

Date, 1-2-83 maybe 84. Float trip Goose hunt, Glenrock Wyoming.Temp -10.
Now the story, Friend and I decided we were going to do a float hunt on the North Platte, Shoot some Geese. Morning was COLD and the wind, ever been to Wyoming? You maybe get five Calm days a year! Started the trip with Tim up front me in the back. Had drifted maybe a half mile when we came around the point of a island. In the back water there was a whole bunch of geese, soon as we came into sight they came off the water and headed for the sky. Tim got excited and rather than let me swing the cannoe for him to shoot he kind of twisted in his seat up there (Tim wasn't a little guy) next thing I know his first shot went off as I'm watching the gunnel on the cannoe disapear! Not Good. Needless to say Over we go! Now mind you we are dressed for COLD. Not wearing PFD's had cushions in the cannoe. Water was deeper than I am tall and I have my hip boots on to make things even more interesting. I'm submerged and there is no touching bottom. When I got my head above water I'm now fighting those Hip boots, Yes they fill and no the current did help. I see Tim scrambling up the shore but I'm in a spot to say the least. The cannoe is upside down and moving down stream faster than me. Fortunatly I always had a "Rat Tail" Bout 15 feet of rope tied to the back of the cannoe, I some how mannaged to grasp that rope with maybe a foot to spare...Anyone believe in Guardian Angles? Getting hold of that rope allowed me to get kind of vertical in the water. It took what felt like a awful long time for me to begin to get footing and make my way to dry land. Now we are soaked head to toe, It's cold, yes the wind is blowing. No way to start a fire. Wet lighters don't work.
We were a mile or or so from my In-laws home, START TRUCKIN.. When we made the porch things wern't working right! We were frozen like popcicles, I couldn't get my arms to workin to turn the door nob, so I banged on the door with my head, Yep my head!
When the door opened the circus really began. We came throught that door and with out any reservation started peeling off all that frozen , wet outerwear. Didn't stop there! My mother-in-law was firing up the showers, there were two, my Father-in-law was laughing his back side silly as he stoked the fire place. No time for modisty, Joan (My Mother-in-law) got full "Exposure" from not only me but my Buddy Too!
A good warm shower, lots of layers of dry clothes, a seat on the mantle and a whole bunch of hot coffee, we were getting warm and yes, we were alive.
Lost all of my gear, gun, shell box, paddles, cushions. Did retreive the cannoe a few hours later. Tim saved his gun.
You would think something like that would put a damper on hunting for a while, Well...
I borrowed a shot gun from my Father-in-law went back into town and picked up a few boxes of shells so Tim and I could hunt TOMORROW! This time we decided we would hunt our blind and take the dogs....

Dakoda Loc: Cle Elum, WA

I had a similar incident in Hubbard, OR. It was so cold the sheep were having trouble delivering the lambs. We spent the night, helping deliver the babies, three nights in a row. My girlfriends mom and dad had the day shift. It was probably only about 5 below, but that was enough. I’ve had minus 9 here at the house in Cle Elum a few times.

Dakoda Loc: Cle Elum, WA

You funny:-)

WiBob Loc: NE Wisconsin

My first ice fishing trip was a regional Boy Scout event when I was maybe 12 years old. Back then they didn't cancel events, even when the wind chills were 50 below (actual temp ~20 below). I was a poor kid with no experience, hence no equipment. My K-Mart parka and non-insulated boots kept me going for about 3 minutes in that weather. Leaving wasn't an option when I was with a big group of scouts, so I spent most of that miserable day hiding in the back of a van (with the door open - not my van, not my rules) hoping I would somehow make it back home alive.

It was many years before I would try ice fishing again.

Maid Marion Loc: Corvallis, OR

The coldest I know of here at the farm was Feb. 1975. They said it was -20 with 18" snow. The whole family ,all 5 of us walked on the creek. I had never seen it frozen before.
The neighbors were lambing, he said he had only seconds to get to a lamb before it froze to death. We lost all our camellias and the Arizona Cypress tree.
We found out the college had recorded a temperature inversion, the bottom 2' was -40. My Mom said the creek had frozen once before when she was in high school, that would have been 1918.

Betts Loc: Finger Lakes NY

Thank you for all these great stories!

Maid Marion Loc: Corvallis, OR

Your Angel was certainly busy that day making sure your rope was long ENOUGH and your In-laws house was close ENOUGH

lipsticker Loc: Hartford Wisconsin

Marion, I've kept "Him / Her " busy most of my life! Thank the Lord I got a GOOD one! 😇

Barnacles Loc: Northern California

When I get to heaven, I'll be able to recognize my angel right away. He'll be the most exhausted, worn out, bedraggled angel there. I've put him through a lot!

lipsticker Loc: Hartford Wisconsin

I hope there's a little beer there, I know I owe one anyway.

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

I was born and raised in Wyoming. You’re telling the truth!!!

lipsticker Loc: Hartford Wisconsin

Was the one thing that bugged me most. Could always pretty much bet on a breeze!