Let's keep in mind we are talking about extreme cold temperatures. I find that when it hits -35C, everything is difficult and there's a sense of urgency that perhaps needs to be experienced to be fully understood.

The amount of spruce you will go through if you're stranded overnight in these temperatures is surprisingly massive.

We can debate endlessly, of course, but I defer to the experience of people operating on the ground. The Yukoners I know view a chain saw the same way most people view a cell phone -- a routine, everyday item.

Minus temps are indeed daunting, but not insurmountable. I have spent -40F in a snow cave with no heat whatsoever, just a good warm bag and ad equate clothing.

My one experience on Danali - minus 20F was a typical day. We had one stormy night when, with wind chill, it reached -80, all in a tent with no heat other than our breakfast stove the next morning. At the 14,00 foot advance base camp, snow caves were very much the desired choice, as well as higher.

The important thing is adequate insulation and shelter from the wind. And yest,if it is your lot to shovel snow off the tent at 2 AM, it will be an unforgettable experience.

Cold is not confined to polar regions. I have personally recorded -32F at around 4,000 feet in N. Arizona (Wupatki Nat'l Monument).
an experienced the same on the nearby San Francisco peaks.

How useful is a chain saw above timberline? Different environments require different solutions.

january of 2011 we had some really below 0 weather in minneapolis.
just to see what it would take to stay warm with a stove kit in the older car i used for general running around I did some testing.
our SUV was much more reliable and I never went anywhere I could not call a tow on my flip phone,no iPhone then.
the end result was that even at 15/20 below I could warm the car up without running the heater and using up gas.one thing I did not do was run the stove until the propane ran out to see how long it lasted.i did keep a sleeping bag and blanket in the car.
if I did any "up north" driving to winter camp I would have a full
set of winter gear along anyway.
I was going to send a photo but I don't see how to do that now.
most photo down loads let you click select on the shot.
nothing to see really just a big coleman burner on a propane bottle on the floor with a thermometer and stuff on the seat.
I would skip the campfire and have a stove of some sort along.

I don't understand the second guessing and armchair quarterback comments in regards to the chainsaw. People up here in Northern Canada live in a very hostile environment and if a chainsaw can make a difference for possible survival then why not? In -40 weather, I would rather be cutting wood with a chainsaw to fuel a survival fire then to be cutting wood by hand.

I’m with you, Teslinhiker, if I lived in Northern Canada I’d definitely have a chainsaw in my car.

Hi,
Which comments exactly are "second guessing and armchair quarterback comments"?

What is the definition of "second guessing and armchair quarterback comments"?