by stumphugger » Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:04 pm
I had a similar experience to Mukilteo's in the Methow Valley. I took a job there, but there was no housing to rent. I did have electricity so was able to run 2 electric space heaters. The refrigerator quit working during freezing weather, which was from November till March. I rented a frozen food locker. My wall near the bed frosted but with heat tapes and keeping the faucets dribbling, my water kept going. I found myself going to the tavern that had a woodstove going. After about 2 or was it 3 years, I finally found a house to rent. It was wonderful to be warm in the winter. My trailer went on to be a real travel trailer. I think the electric heat saved it from rotting.
So, I'm not big into coldweather camping. I happened to be in a tent when it got down to 19, and I found out that the down had clumped up in my old sleeping bag so I emptied the car of seat covers to add to my bed and cozied up to the dog. I sold my teardrop, but stayed in it one Christmas night. The weather was in the upper 30s and my dog and I were the heaters. I also had a good sleeping bag. We warmed the Little Guy up to 47 by morning.
Now I have a Pointy Trailer and it has been in 29 degree weather in Central Oregon. It has a heater and hot water and seems quite decadent. Since I wasn't plugged in, I ran the heater before going to bed, and a bit in the morning. The secret is to have a good sleeping bag and poly fleece longjohns.