Epic trip by the sub-zero hammock master.
Interesting observation on taking the morning constitutional in extreme cold, which I've observed personally many times in similar conditions. My theory is that the body recognizes that this is the #1 (or, haha, #2) priority and amazingly shuts down all other protestations until this job is done.
Very instructional to hear your snowshoe observations, which confirm what I've suspected for a while. The scraping and crunching of modern snowshoes is annoying but they sure are easier to maneuver. No way that wooden snowshoes could handle side-hilling and rocky/icy chutes the way the MSR lightning ascents do, but for long stretches of flat and deep snow those Ojibwes are ideal.
People who say sleeping in down layers is not effective probably have never slept in temps this cold.
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