Hey guys,

I read part of a book a few years back. "North to Cree lake" I think it was. The trapper who they were making the book about said that at real low temps, -60, I think, that the tres would actually explode. Is this true? And if so why only some trees? Seems there wouldn't be a tree left if they all blew up from the colder temps.

Like I said it may be a stupid question, but I have wondered about it for years now.

Thanks !!!

I havent seen anything explode lately... But tree limbs you can't break by hand in the spring or fall will easily snap in
-50 temps, as will anything mechanical. Brittle yes. explode no.

I've heard of trees "exploding" also. I think it may occur with some trees when the sap inside the tree cannot withstand the pressure??? I'm not sure though.

Urban myth. Think about it, why wouldn't we see exploded trees throughout the bush. Many of us trap in areas that have extreme temps. I actually read a paper on this years ago debunking the myth. I have heard cracking noises during extreme cold but that doesn't result in an exploded tree. Wait a minute, maybe some of those trees are terrorists.

This is not related to the temps but beach trees(commomly hollow) can have gas built up within the hollow. I know my uncle was trying to smoke a squirrel out of one once and the tree burst(and I mean BURST) into flames from the inside out like it was soaked in gas. Pretty wild.

I hear alot of trees "crack" when it's extremly cold, sounds like an explosion, years ago I was stuck at my cabin for 19 days none of which got above -60 in the day and bottomed the thermometor out at -75 for 3 days (low as it went) there was "explosive" sounds day and night and would wake you right up when the cabin logs would crack and sometimes you could watch the crack go down the log.

Thanks Guys,

What ya'll have said about them cracking and sounding like explosions is probably what the book as talking about.

I would think that would be pretty danged sacrey myself, LOL. I can't imagine it being cold enough to freeze a tree even to the point of it cracking or splitting. Ya'll are some tough cookies. My hats off to ya.

Man i dont know how you alaska boys do it. And to think thats where i wanna live.

Takotna said "crack" that was pretty cool!

-30 below is about as cold as I wanna deal with.... Anything else is just stoopid!!!

- Clint

lol

but -30 is oK?

KyBoy,

I had to smile and giggle at that. I thought I was the only one "old" enough to know of such a thing. LOL

When I was younger, my uncles in Tn. would "smoke" many critters from trees. Or "saw briar" them out. Of course I have seen Uncle John just reach in and grab them too. But he wasn't an ordinary human either. LOL

We went to Smoke a old dead snag oak one day. Found out it was full of dry leaves. That thing was like a blast furnace within a few minutes. We could hear it roaring 1/2 mile away. Didn't hurt to much, but skeered us half to death.

-30 is pretty normal trapping conditions!

If it's colder than that it's just not fun, things break, and there's a lot of potential for someone to get hurt!

- Clint

That's why we were "stuck" at the cabin for so long

I suppose it all depends on what you are used to. Years ago during the state basketball tourney in Fairbanks, I stepped off the plane in -35 and inhailed deeply through my nose. I swear all my nose hairs fell out. If I lived up there I think if I didn't do some serious research and have someone show me the tricks to survival I have no doubt I would become a statistic. We have people show up here from inland (Kansas etc) to do some fishing or whatnot and they are always getting into trouble. The colder it gets the more you have to stay on your toes no matter where you are. Every so often around here we'll have extreme icing conditions out commercial fishing, but as far as spending a day riding a sled around in -30 to -40 you guys are WAY tougher than I am. In fact after reading about -60 temps I'm going to sit by the stove for a while.

I know...I just thought that statement was quite humorous from a lower 48er.

I've transitioned over.... I'm Alaskan all the way now! I hate the heat.........

Here's -30 right here!


- Clint

clint you need to grow some hair, your head is going to get cold.

Cajun...ya are nuts......get some clothes on ...sheesh......LOL


Seriously, when i was younger, I loved the cold weather, I longed for the coldest days to set in. Caught more critters then, or so I thought. In looking back now, it was the "romance" of it, ya know, being like the Mountain men. LOL

Now that I am older, I don't mind a few days of cold, but I look forward to seeing the high 30's and 40's. My old bones just ache if it gets much colder that that. I am not sure I could handle the cold ya'll have to deal with, but I would so like to try it. Cold aching bones or not, I wanna get there someday.

Takotna that wouldn't have been around January 1989 when you experienced that cold spell was it? I was up there then and it sure was a cold spell to remember.

boss, I'm pretty sure 1989 was it, a lot of records were broke in the interior. You find out how good a traping partner you got cooped up for that long, that's for sure.

cool pic paul.

I have heard the trees crack in extreme cold, it is loud, like a shotgun going off, make you come right out of your boots, I have had the boards in the house crack like that too in extreme cold, scares the freak out of you.

(look of confusion)

How do you pee at that temp?

My wee willie winkie would prolly freeze solid in the amount of time it took empty the bladdah.

lol...my first guess is, "ya dont"...second is, "in a bottle under your coat"

I have no third guess

Snowman....LMBO......I don't think I would have to worry about that....couldn't if I had too.

You just go like you normally do, except you have several layers of clothes to get through before you can do the deed!

- Clint