Going Arctic…with a disability
Lessons learnt for cold adventours
When it comes to managing in cold temperatures in the UK, we’ve got a lot to learn from our Scandanavian neighbours. Sustained sub-zero temperatures in Britain are rare, (though maybe not this year) but when it comes to minus thirty and colder – Arctic temperatures – what about the challenge of having a disability and keeping warm?
A lot of disabilities affect circulation, adding an extra dimension to adventuring in far northern latitudes. A few people have contacted me in the last year, about going ‘up north’ with a disability and how to keep warm. So here are a few things I learnt, and found useful, particularly when skiing across the Greeland icecap.
The traverse of the ice took us 29 days, unsupported, camping, with temperatures down to minus 35 C…and I didn’t get cold once. I’m paralysed from the chest down, with no movement or sensation below that level, and can’t thermo-regulate – so normally I get very cold very easily, particularly my core body temperature. So if you have a disability, and aspire to Arctic or Antarctic latitudes, I’d encourage you to go for it. There are ways to keep warm, and you’ll have an indescribably special experience.
What I learnt..
Keeping Warm
Wear more clothes than you think you need – you can always lose them if you’re getting too hot. The key is to avoid getting cold in the first place, to stop core body temp from dropping too low (otherwise sleepless nights of shivering…)
Use a ‘layering’ system. I used a base layer of merino wool (warmer than synthetic stuff, and also doesn’t stink even after wearing it for a month). I also used merino wool ‘shorts’ (as underwear), for extra warmth on the hips. Good brands are Smartwool, Icebreaker etc. On top of that I used Polartec stretch fleece. Layer 3 is a thicker grade of stretch fleece pants. Layer 4 not including the shorts was a pair of synthetic insulating trousers – Mountain Equipment make a good pair, with braces to keep them up, and I also have a good pair made by Patagonia. The Mountain Equipment trousers I used are called Cirrus Pants, with Polarloft insulation. See www.mountain-equipment.co.uk.
If you’re going to be sat static for a long time outside, e.g. on a dog sled, skidoo, or in a sit-ski, I’d recommend another layer too. I used a short sleeping bag, with a thick pile base, and a down top, with a central zip. I put that on my legs and around my bum, on top of the other 4 layers.
Other gadgets I found useful were disposable heat pads that you can buy from outdoor shops – on contact with air, they heat up. I used them on my feet (one between my inner thin sock, and outer thick sock) and also in the nape of my neck at night, as someone gave me the hint that the nape of the neck is like a G-spot for keeping warm). I also took a fish tank thermometer, with two temperature detectors and a digital display, so I could easily check the tempeature of my foot (monitor on the end of a long wire – normally in the tank) and my hip (the other deterctor normally outside the fish tank!). It did a lot for peace of mind, and keeping an eye on my feet temperature without having to strip down to check.
Camping
If you’re camping, you might want to sleep in some or all of the above (I slept in it all!)
If you’re camping, I’d recommend an ‘Exped’ Down Camping Mat. They are thicker than Thermarest style mats, and with down fill, are warmer. Also I had no pressure sore problems on this. Regarding pressure sores, I used gel seats in my sit-ski, and although cold in the morning, it never froze, and soon warmed up when sat in it.
Feet
The most vulnerable part of the body, I was worried abou them. I wore two pairs of socks with disposable heat pads in between, sat on top of my foot above the toes. Also used the fish tank thermometer (see below) to monitor their temperature. On top of the socks I wore thick felt boots (from Norway) and an outer boot (made in Finland) with felt sole, and insulated waterproof outer. SorryI can’t remember the names of the boots, but I can track them down.
Getting around
Getting about is a challenge with wheels on snow, though when it is packed hard it goes quite well. I usually wrap 5mm climbing cord around my tyres like snow chains. It works quite well for grip but deep fluffy snow is like pushing through sand - hard. Mountain bike tyres would be good, but most wheelchairs need a different wheel size to take MTB tyres.
I used a sit-ski made by Praschberger in Austria and imported into the UK by Draft Wheelchairs. I asked for a downhill ski seat (carbon fibre moulded seat) on this cross-country ski to help give me more support (due to my lack of abdominal muscles and poor balance) and also to help keep warmer as it is well insulated with foam. www.praschberger.com and http://www.draftwheelchairs.com.
Toilet stuff
If you use a cathether, I figured a few things out. I put catheters in the freezer, along with bladder wash solutions. The catheters were okay, and were still flexible in cold temperatures (I was worried they might go brittle and snap). The bladder solutions freeze so best to keep them warm (I put them in my sleeping bag at night and my body heat kept them usable). If you’re worried about leaks, then do everything you can to avoid them. I taped all the connections together between my catheter / bag etc. with zinc oxide tape to make sure nothing popped off, and I reinforced bits of my catheter bag I know are vulnerable to bursting, with the same tape, and duct tape on top!
As for the other end of toilet stuff, I dug a hole in the porch of the tent (used a double-porched tent by Hilleberg so the toilet pit at one end was well away from the door and kitchen area at the other end). I use a low camping chair which are no longer made, and I’m trying to track a source down with a gel seat on top, and a trowel / spade to dig a big pit beneath. Also Equal Adventure Designs make something called a ‘Field Toilet’ which can also come with snow feet which is designed specifically for this, though on the expensive side.
Hope this helps, and encourages you to go far north!
If I can help more, please get in touch.
