Alaska's North Slope in winter - planned ski travel over the Arctic tundra thwarted by extreme cold

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In the late winter of 2022, I headed to the Arctic North Slope of Alaska with my teammate, James. Our plans saw repeated knocks, but I thought I'd share the preparations, and what happened on the snowy tundra, with you all.
Footage by Alex Hibbert and James Redden.
Feel free to ask any questions in the comments!
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[@garylawrence9347]

Personally I would be really interested in videos just on your prep for polar expeds - A bit geeky but would have liked to see you make the vapour barrier for the sleeping bag.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Any other topics you'd like covered?

[@Pillowcase]

I'll second this - all the different parts of your preps seemed like they'd make interesting videos. food prep, equipment prep, clothing, boots.

[@watchableraven3517]

@@Pillowcase Especially interested in food prep! Also, I like your name.

[@garylawrence9347]

Hi Alex, thanks for your interest in my comment, looks like a few guys have highlighted a few things, I also would also like to see some general camp admin things many people wont think of /bear protection / why you have to do certain things / cant do others because of xtreme temperatures / what clotherng layering system you use-what materials you use. Iam personally interested in all this geeky stuff. Love the channel are you doing any live speeking events or tours in the future ?

[@SD-unlimited]

As already mentioned, the clothing/attire and boots that can hold up to, and withstand those conditions would be an interesting topic.

[@danielculpepper8772]

An adventure either way! Thanks and keep them coming!

[@jpsimon206]

Haha, useful as a stepping stone. That's got to be the most glowing recommendation Fairbanks has ever gotten.

[@just_chris5957]

What I learned well working on the north slope it that wearing goggles helps with the wind

[@Pillowcase]

looking forward to a video about the flapjacks - would be very useful as snacks while sailing!

[@hadorstapa]

My first non-Alan video. Very interesting, and looking forward to the next.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Thanks David. Some find weaning themselves off Alan to be hard.

[@gafrers]

Wonderful "short adventure" even if the result were not the expected ones

[@MCallsen]

Massive preparation and then another weather extreme :o On another note, I bought a steel boat 2 days ago, so I can come and rescue Alan up north :)

[@revtoyota]

Its nice to see areas of my state in the videos. You didn't mention it so i have no idea if you use this trick or not but waxing the bottom of your sled helps a ton when it gets below -30f.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Thanks. Waxing sledge undersides isn't something ski haulers tend to do as the wear, the quantity, and difficulty to reapply, takes much of the benefit. Instead, trying to find the best low energy runner or sledge underside is the current R&D. UHMWPE is better, but is a nightmare to shape and bond to other materials.

[@jimgreen5788]

Alex, interesting flip in word meanings when it comes to flapjacks. On this side of the pond, it's an alternative term for pancakes. Do you have to pinch yourself as a reminder that this is part of the country which is also home to NYC, tropical Hawai'i, nearly tropical southern Florida, and the desert SW?

[@n0pe213]

Hi Alex, would you be willing to go over vapor barrier liners? Your favorite/least favorite and also information about the sleeping bag liner? I’m a backcountry skier/mountaineer that gets very sweaty easily and therefore cold. Thanks, keep it up!

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

I will, yep. You're not the only one to ask.

[@n0pe213]

@@AlexHibbertOriginals awesome thanks so much! Your advice is incredibly helpful. I teach avalanche education and use some of your cold weather tips in classes.

[@Leightr]

As my favorite outdoor humorist Patrick McManus noted; "The tent was rated for four men, provided the men were midgets and on exceptionally good terms with each other."

[@solarfunction1847]

I wonder if you could make a one of those wide & long timber plates with spikes made from stainless steel into a metal boot hinge that you Velcro to your boot so that you would have some type of traction on the snow where it was minus 40 or more? If the bottom plate which touches the snow had bent spikes at a 45 degree angle then it might help you pull the 100kg sled behind you easier? Perhaps I have no right to ask such things as I have no experience in such things but it just seemed functional to copy the action of show shoes for soft powder but make one for slippery harder snow that still has a bit of compression?

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Yeah, you can get small snowshoes that are light and flex a little, but only need to combat a slight sinking into hard-ish snow. But you can't take a half dozen items of 'traction-ware'. The sledge would soon weight a lot more than 100kg!

[@PsRohrbaugh]

"flapjack" means pancake, at least in the American south

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Amazing how language wiggles around like that.

[@martindohnal55]

I wonder, do you keep the battery in your camera all the time and just take the camera out of the pocket when needed? Or do you keep the battery separate in the ziplock for example closer to the body? Thanks a lot

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

If a camera is small enough, wrap it in a plastic bag and stow it close to your body warmth. If it's a larger camera, yes you either store the camera cold and insert a warm battery for use (careful with tiny batteries as they cool v fast) or make a tethered usb lower cable from a battery pack stored near your body.

[@martindohnal55]

@@AlexHibbertOriginals one more question. What poles for pulling a sled do you use or recommend? fixed lenght or 2 section ? and which model ? Thank you

[@nicholaspassaro8400]

When exactly did time run out for the routes you wanted to do on the north slope, and why (financial or ice melting)? Thanks!

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

It was a combination. Straying into April at the tail end would be dangerous with the melt, plus it's $300 per night in Deadhorse to hang around waiting.

[@nicholaspassaro8400]

@@AlexHibbertOriginals Super helpful thanks!

[@Fantic156]

Makes my cries of "It's a bit cold" when I'm bringing horses in at 6am seem rather wimpy. Excellent video .. ;)

[@Jehty_]

So maybe I missed it, but what was the reason why you decided to stop the trip? I understand that because of the snow conditions you wouldn't have been able to travel as far as you planned, but why was that a reason to cancel the trip? Did you had a place that you wanted to reach? Just wondering.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

A combination of factors really. The uncertainty about when the conditions would allow reasonable progress. We needed to be able to ski somewhere with an airstrip. Then the Covid, which aside from James' quite nasty symptoms, seems to mess up thermoregulation for a time. There's also another difficulty on the Jeep trip (that was supposed to just be to bide time until conditions improved) and I'll cover that in another video. In the end we also ran out of time to do a route that we considered worthwhile before the spring thaw.

[@krimke881]

And If that wasn't exciting, and you don't run to get a book. Nothing is! =)

[@tengonadacluewhatsgutsprec1419]

Are those degrees in Celsius or Fahrenheit? Its confusing to try and assume given that the film takes place in America but you sound like a Celsius user.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Exactly the case. I tend to refer vocally in C, and the graphics are F. -40F is -40C though.

[@Vortagh]

Wait - you can just get your hands on a large bore rifle in Alaska as a foreigner?

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Temporary import from Canada, where I'm licensed. Non-resident aliens in Alaska can no longer buy/rent.

[@Vortagh]

@@AlexHibbertOriginals Oooooooh, that makes sense. I was wondering if you brought it with you, but I didn't expect it to come from Canada. Interesting. Thanks for clearing that up!

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Yes it was a bit of a surprise, and a dealer in Fairbanks had to have a two week discussion with their ATF rep. It's a recent change, or just a very rare ask. Outsiders assume that Alaska would have permissive gun laws, but only if you're an Alaskan it turns out.

[@teeanahera8949]

Maybe an N95 mask may have protected you from UV, wind, cold and …..

[@JonMadsen70]

:)

[@saheilaanarzee5552]

hwyyy

[@theskunkworks]

You guys should look into No-Fog face masks and should be wearing goggles. Leaves no exposed skin.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

For prolonged travel, total skin coverage makes breath escape very hard to achieve, and so insulation ices up. Use of fur ruffs and other face protection based on the wind and conditions is a time proven tactic. I've never had a cold injury to my face. I've also never found any anti fog product that avoids icing when the user is exercising hard.

[@jpsimon206]

Perhaps you would prefer to avoid the subject, I will understand if you do not respond. All of my experiences in the tundra, it was unheard of to go even as far as the latrine unarmed. Most alaskans outside of the cities, in my observation, travel heavily armed at all times. I'm curious, with you being from the UK, and being in the states and a zone of nebulous ownership, do you follow this maxim? If not, may I ask what you choose in the way of self-defense? Do you think this idiom is incorrect? Uniquely American? Can one "rent" weapons while overseas?

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

I wouldn't say all Alaskans out of cities are heavily armed, and no, non-residents can't rent firearms in the state.

[@1abdullahjabbar]

1st

[@ThePaulv12]

LOL

[@VinceW187]

Whe the artic says no or your wife says no, the result is the same. You can't win against such forces of nature

[@darko714]

The consequences of defying the Arctic are slightly more serious.

[@SScott-nr9vl]

I find this kind of exercise in narcissism ridiculous. There's no need for a human being to be out in 40° below zero weather just for the sake of it. It's unnecessary, dangerous, irresponsible and I see no need it should actually not even be allowed. Had he had that malfunction halfway through you would have had to call someone inconvenience them It's just ridiculous.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

I'm absolutely certain that none of your own elective or leisure activities come with any risk of accident, or involvement of third parties should things go wrong. Been to a sports game that needs policing? Pointless and a waste of scant resources....

[@darko714]

You sound like my ex-wife, but less fun.