Above the Arctic circle in February (1 Viewer)

[DavidG58]

Some will find my idea weird, some others are possibly having similar thoughts, hopefully some will already have done the same as I want to, it is you I am appealing to, for now at least

I am partially retiring in December and for our first MH escape I would like to take a trip to the top of Norway, next February with the principle objective of seeing the Northern lights

I have looked at routes, mileages fuel costs, price of alcohol and ticked those boxes so far, but am really troubled by .......

Can you drive a standard MH and use it in arctic conditions, we have a winterised MH so fairly OK there, but do I need special tyres? are the roads permanently snow / ice covered in February?

I have heard from an ex army friend that they used to leave all vehicles with their engines running overnight when that far north due to the effects of the cold!!??

So has anybody else done it?

Can I please have positive and negative opinions please

David

 

[flatpackchicken]

Hi David, To help you with your questions, I will try to explain,,,,,,
1. You cannot drive in arctic conditions that far up as it will be about
-40/50 below and roads could be blocked with 10/15' snow drifts,
2. most people get about on skidoos.
3. Most vehicles are parked up for the winter and use snow chains if they have to get about.
4. The use of 24 hr engine running is because some engines will freeze solid and just wont turn over.
Best bet is to forget it and fly up there and see the lights, Regards Garry Flatpackchicken

 

[Snowbird]

Have driven above the circle several times, but never that early in the year. There is snow and ice at the side of the road in the beginning of June, so in February you are really going to be in trouble. Another thing is that it is hardly daylight at that time of year. Personally I would never drive in the dark up there, there are to many wild animals wandering around. Some weigh around 2 tons . A motorhome would definitely come worse off against a full grown moose. If you must, you must, but do it at your peril. It can go down to 30 below up there, diesel does not work to well at those temperatures.

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[MR. FUSION]

I was up at Nordkapp on the longest day this year......my god its a wild place even in the summer. I was told the Norwegians sometimes have problems keeping the roads open after heavy snowfalls. The roads are also very narrow in many places, so could be difficult for a MH in the snow.

Some of those tunnels go miles into the bowels of the earth and are pretty scary again even in the summer. They will be wet and slippery and cold in the winter. I can also tell you that many of the Norwegians IMHO are not very good drivers and I can imagine some are not that good in the snow and ice either.......

RAC site says for Norway:
At least 3mm of tyre tread, from October to March
Winter tyres between November and March, if your hire car is registered in Norway
winter tyres at least but I think snow and ice will be to much for a MH that far north

Loaf of skanky bread is £3.50+ better stuff is up to £5+ luckily diesel is comparable to UK but everything else is a fortune, take as much food as you can with you!

Cleanest remotest and most beautiful place I have driven in......

in the summer the locals regularly seem to roll up at 3am in the morning and start a Barbie at your wild camping location if its not far off the road-funny lot :thumb: good luck

 

[DavidG58]

Maybe I was a bot over optimistic on timing

Some may call me daft or worse, so Feb not a good time to go. I love the idea of no darkness in summer, but that makes it a devil of a job to see the Northern Lights!!

How late in spring can you go, or early autumn to get long cold nights, but clear roads, and enough daylight to do 200 miles a day sensibly in daylight

David

 

[flatpackchicken]

Hi David, I think your best bet is from June to end of October to be safe, after that you may get heavy snow falls where you will need snow chains and serious sub freezing conditions, but wait till Alf from Sweden comes on as he lives in the middle of Sweden and he will be able to tell you exactly the score, Regards Garry Flatpackchicken

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[jonandshell]

Some Funsters will be spending time at Val Thorens in the Alps, the highest ski resort in Europe, in Feb.
Can I suggest this would be a good dry run for you? Temps are a persistent -5 down to -25 normally.
I spent time near Nordkapp with the Army, it was a bit extreme, even compared to VT!

 

[Snowbird]

Some Funsters will be spending time at Val Thorens in the Alps, the highest ski resort in Europe, in Feb.
Can I suggest this would be a good dry run for you? Temps are a persistent -5 down to -25 normally.
I spent time near Nordkapp with the Army, it was a bit extreme, even compared to VT!

I presume the army flew you in. The problem the OP has is, he will first have to drive there overland. I wish him luck in February, he will sure need it. Have driven over the Taurus mountains and the High Atlas in winter and that can be bad enough, but above the Arctic Circle would be bordering on suicidal.

 

[DavidG58]

Some Funsters will be spending time at Val Thorens in the Alps, the highest ski resort in Europe, in Feb.
Can I suggest this would be a good dry run for you? Temps are a persistent -5 down to -25 normally.
I spent time near Nordkapp with the Army, it was a bit extreme, even compared to VT!

I like the alps, but my reason for going is the Northern Lights, so need to go North. I have already rethought the February idea. Not retired in time for this autumn, but that is now my revised plan, travel up in September hope to get lucky

Thanks for input though

David

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[DavidG58]

I presume the army flew you in. The problem the OP has is, he will first have to drive there overland. I wish him luck in February, he will sure need it. Have driven over the Taurus mountains and the High Atlas in winter and that can be bad enough, but above the Arctic Circle would be bordering on suicidal.

Am I the OP? If so what does it mean, hoping it is was not an insult!

Suicidal tendencies have been abandoned, a late summer, early autumn option next year seems much more sensible and on the basis that you get 24 hour light in June and no light in December the nights should be pretty much 12 - 14 hours in Sept / October so plenty of time to see the Lights

Thanks very much for putting me right

David

 

[Phill D]

i did 7 winters in Norway, 4 inside the Arctic circle in Februrary... and trust me you dont want to be taking your motorhome there then

There are all sorts of you would need to adapt your van too to get you through the visit not to mention your personal equipment / specialist clothing.

it was often bad enough driving / travelling in an oversnow vehicle let alone a motorhome.

Norway is beautiful especially around the fjords but winter inside the circle is no joke and not for the ill prepared.

 

[jb0371old]

Top gear did it

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[wivvy's dad]

OP = Original Poster

I spent some time in Abisko years ago filming for Scania. In the middle of June the warmest temperature recorded was 12deg C, and it was 24 hours of daylight.

We were shown photographs of the area in winter, and where they had managed to plough through the snow, it was 12 feet high on either side of the road - so you would never see anything anyway......

Lots of folk had their car engines plugged into electric heaters overnight to keep the oil thin, or at least thinner than frozen.

 

[Wildbill]

i have worked up there in winter on a rig designed to work in those conditions we lost power we lost our stem within for hrs it was a big lump of frozen steel the accommodation doped to -15 we moved in to snow caverns because they were only -3
if you brake down your van will freeze in 20 min it will draw every bit of heat out of you and any one in it it will just be a fibre glass or steel clad box the engine will be-cum a lump of ice
any vehicle that wernt in use were plunged in to the manes to heat them we use studied tyres on trunks 4x4 and snow ploughs from Oct til march or even later and never went alone at lest two vec but we were Gerard up for it

if you brake down you might not see any one all night and when they find you you could be already dead

1 are you planing to do this yourself if so you will die:Sad:

2 if you are planing to go with a group no Les than three vans carry wood and wood burning stove there is no shortage of trees just a small burner axe an bow-saw
practise using them:thumb:

3 sat phone as you may find mobiles don't work
4 good quality ski winter clothing:thumb:

5 a way of lighting your fire flint stick tinder as lighter can sum times wont work
matches are prone to condensation condensation and get damp:thumb:
6 emergency rations sum way of heating them hexime work well in Arctic conditions

but if well prepared with a local guide you might even have a slim chance
but don't do this unprepared reserch reserch reserch

the norges do keep there roads open the mane ones and they travail on studied tyres not winter tyres as the road up there will just be ice covered tamarack when i worked up there it was sum times not possible to get around to move any thing not even a snow mobile

 

[electricscott]

let us know how you can on as we would like to do something similar by travelling around the Baltic sea, e.g. up through Norway and back down again through finland. :thumb:

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[Snowbird]

Am I the OP? If so what does it mean, hoping it is was not an insult!

Suicidal tendencies have been abandoned, a late summer, early autumn option next year seems much more sensible and on the basis that you get 24 hour light in June and no light in December the nights should be pretty much 12 - 14 hours in Sept / October so plenty of time to see the Lights

Thanks very much for putting me right

David

Certainly was no insult. You were given good advice by people that have travelled up there. Whether you take that advice is entirely up to you. I have reread what I advised and for the life of me cant find anything that could be taken as an insult. The AA wont be much help up there am afraid, you will be on your own as even the Sammi hibernate in the winter.

 

[the stig]

Certainly was no insult. You were given good advice by people that have travelled up there. Whether you take that advice is entirely up to you. I have reread what I advised and for the life of me cant find anything that could be taken as an insult. The AA wont be much help up there am afraid, you will be on your own as even the Sammi hibernate in the winter.

Dave
I think he interpreted your OP to poss meaning OAP but someone has already posted it that you were referring to Original Post

Andrea
x

 

[DavidG58]

i have worked up there in winter on a rig designed to work in those conditions we lost power we lost our stem within for hrs it was a big lump of frozen steel the accommodation doped to -15 we moved in to snow caverns because they were only -3
if you brake down your van will freeze in 20 min it will draw every bit of heat out of you and any one in it it will just be a fibre glass or steel clad box the engine will be-cum a lump of ice
any vehicle that wernt in use were plunged in to the manes to heat them we use studied tyres on trunks 4x4 and snow ploughs from Oct til march or even later and never went alone at lest two vec but we were Gerard up for it

if you brake down you might not see any one all night and when they find you you could be already dead

1 are you planing to do this yourself if so you will die:Sad:

2 if you are planing to go with a group no Les than three vans carry wood and wood burning stove there is no shortage of trees just a small burner axe an bow-saw
practise using them:thumb:

3 sat phone as you may find mobiles don't work
4 good quality ski winter clothing:thumb:

5 a way of lighting your fire flint stick tinder as lighter can sum times wont work
matches are prone to condensation condensation and get damp:thumb:
6 emergency rations sum way of heating them hexime work well in Arctic conditions

but if well prepared with a local guide you might even have a slim chance
but don't do this unprepared reserch reserch reserch

the norges do keep there roads open the mane ones and they travail on studied tyres not winter tyres as the road up there will just be ice covered tamarack when i worked up there it was sum times not possible to get around to move any thing not even a snow mobile

Just in case the others had not made it clear how daft I was being you certainly have, thanks, travel timing plans already modified, September at a few degrees above suddenly sounds so much more sensible!!

I can't believe how niaive I was being (or that I cant find out how to spell naiive) thinking I could just drive there with maybe some snow chains at worst.

Many thanks to all you wise ones who saved me certain embarassment and possible death

David

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[DavidG58]

Certainly was no insult. You were given good advice by people that have travelled up there. Whether you take that advice is entirely up to you. I have reread what I advised and for the life of me cant find anything that could be taken as an insult. The AA wont be much help up there am afraid, you will be on your own as even the Sammi hibernate in the winter.

Absolutely no offence seen or taken, info very much appreciated, I had just never seen the OP reference and did not know what it meant. Others have put me right already

Thanks David :thumb:

 

[Phill D]

Just in case the others had not made it clear how daft I was being you certainly have, thanks, travel timing plans already modified, September at a few degrees above suddenly sounds so much more sensible!!

[HI]I can't believe how niaive I was being (or that I cant find out how to spell naiive) thinking I could just drive there with maybe some snow chains at worst. [/HI]

Many thanks to all you wise ones who saved me certain embarassment and possible death

David

hi David, not naive at all, if you were as naive as you think you would have gone and done it without any consideration or looking for advice... we happen to have been there..:thumb:
easy when you know how :Blush:

 

[DavidG58]

let us know how you can on as we would like to do something similar by travelling around the Baltic sea, e.g. up through Norway and back down again through finland. :thumb:

This was and still hopefully is more or less my plan, but please take note of all the climate related reasons to completely avoid winter. Next September hopefully we will be off and as long as I have seen my Northern Lights will be heading home before too much snow falls.

Good luck if you get off before us

David

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[alfandM]

HI David, iv'e been reading your proposed travels to experience the wonderful sights of the Northern lights known up here as the Aurora Borealis, firstly i would put your mind at rest and say yes it is possible to travel up here and see the Northern lights, but you do not have to go to top to have this experience, there is a place just North of the Arctic Circle that have great shows, its a place called JokkMokk in Sweden, and in february they also have there big Winter Market,ive heard of a English woman who worked for a university in the uk who went to JokkMokk to study the Northern lights, she was so amazed what she found and saw,she gave her job up and settled in jokkmokk and carried on her research to this day,so David all is not lost by not going to the top,even we have some fantastic views and we are in the middle of Sweden,David as long as you compare your MH and your self/s wisely you can make this trip with no problem ,February can be cold down to -30/-40 dry air Not damp air, so feels much warmer, if you would like any more information and winterizing on your MH we are always on hand to help you just pm us, Regards Alf&M.

 

[DavidG58]

Many thanks Alf and M for the first positive comment, I had thought I needed to wait till later in the year and maybe the -30 still makes me think I might!! The market sounds great as does the potential views of the Aurora Borealis, (I use Northern Lights to avoid spelling issues!!) and I would save a fortune in fuel.

Get the kettle on, if only I could I would be off tomorrow

Many thanks, are the roads kept clear of snow in February around there, or do we still need special tyres?

I am all excited again, it is our wedding anniversary on the 14th Feb I can't think of a better thing to experience that a sighting of the Aurora, and shopping as well

David :thumb:

David

 

[alfandM]

Many thanks Alf and M for the first positive comment, I had thought I needed to wait till later in the year and maybe the -30 still makes me think I might!! The market sounds great as does the potential views of the Aurora Borealis, (I use Northern Lights to avoid spelling issues!!) and I would save a fortune in fuel.

Get the kettle on, if only I could I would be off tomorrow

Many thanks, are the roads kept clear of snow in February around there, or do we still need special tyres?

I am all excited again, it is our wedding anniversary on the 14th Feb I can't think of a better thing to experience that a sighting of the Aurora, and shopping as well

David :thumb:

David

Hi David,we are pleased to help you with advice and what we don't know we will try and find out for you,normal road tyres are a NO NO up here in Scandinavia in winter time, studed winter tyre's are best,but Mud and snow all Terrain tyres with a good set of snow chains just in case are good also, the roads up here are kept well cleared of snow but you will not be driving on tarmac ,you need to have the MH antifreeze at a 50/50 mixture and buy concentrated screen wash you mix your self, i mix 70/30, these are just a few tips for winter use up here, on the other hand you can fly to jokkmokk via stockholm, at jokkmokk rent a car and travel,stopping at hotel, walking home's, cottage rentals, and more, and take the wife on a snow mobile safari,so again all not lost , september& october is not the best time to see the Northern lights, Jan,Feb, & March is better , so again all is not lost,there are several choices, the later probably being more kinder to the purse, ps late summer/Autumn is also agreat time to visit Scandinavia, Regards AlfandM.

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