My sister is going camping in Dorset....

[candidrachel]

on Saturday! Don't you think that's crazy??? It's JANUARY!! I thought she was joking at first. Brrrrrr!!

[Rolling Stone]

With all the new gear that's available these days, not so crazy. Solitude won't be a problem, for sure!

[dcclark]

I have to admit: I don't really understand where Dorset is, in climate terms. But if there's snow there, then that's actually better than no snow, when it's cold out. You can build a great shelter out of snow, which acts as great insulation.

Hope she has fun!

[candidrachel]

She's got thermals and extra thick sleeping bags. Her little boy is staying at my mum's in Swanage (the town where they are staying). My mum still thinks my sis is joking about the camping trip!

I'm sure they'll be fine. They are taking a bbq with them so they'll be warm and wel fed! You won't catch me camping in January. I have trouble rousing myself out of my nice cozy centrally heated bedroom and exra thick duvet.

Climate wise. Its bloody freezing what with the wind chill factor blowing off the English Channel! Arctic temperatures!

[fletch]

Originally Posted by dcclark

I have to admit: I don't really understand where Dorset is, in climate terms. But if there's snow there, then that's actually better than no snow, when it's cold out. You can build a great shelter out of snow, which acts as great insulation.

In climate terms Dorset would be decribed (with the rest of the UK) as northern temperate. Weather wise it will be bloody freezing! No settled snow but somehwere between 10 and -5 based on the weather and probably quite windy.

Sounds like fun if you have got all the right gear, without all the right gear it will be bloody misserable.

And to me a BBQ is not the right gear, it will be difficult to light in the wind and most of the heat will be wasted rather than heating food or people. You can't light it anywhere near a tent for a start and who wants to sit around in the wind trying to get some heat from a BBQ when there is a nice warm tent away from the wind and rain. You need a nice high presure stove with a good windshield, something that can boil a billy can of water in under 5 mins so you can make yourself a nice warming cup of tea or some soup. You will even be able to light it in the porch of a tent to help warm the place up.

With only a BBQ I would be spending most of my camping time in the local pub but that is no bad thing!

[dcclark]

I agree... a BBQ is a very strange choice!

fletch, are those temps in Farenheit or Celsius?

[candidrachel]

Hmmmm the BBQ..... get this:

Its not a proper bbq its one of those disposable things from the supermarket! They do however have one of those special pressurised stove kettles that boil up within seconds (there is a special name for these but can't remember the name). So at least they can have hot drinks (provided of course there is water available). I'm sure they will abandon the bbq idea head off to the local pub for some decent grub and roaring fire!

My sister's boyfriend used to be in the army so I'm sure he will be using his survival skills and I think that is part of this challenge to a degree.

[fletch]

Originally Posted by dcclark

I agree... a BBQ is a very strange choice!

fletch, are those temps in Farenheit or Celsius?

Celsius

candidrachel - Sounds like they will have a great time then. I'm jealous. The disposable BBQ will be about as usefull as a chocolate teapot though.

[dcclark]

Originally Posted by fletch

Celsius

OK, I'm really not trying to be a climate snob here, but... that means that it could very well be above freezing... or at worst, somewhat below freezing. I can totally understand the misery of camping in wet conditions though.

I'm mainly saying this because our wind chills today are around -26 (C)!