Working in Scandinavia in winter

[Rich Rule]

I live and work here in Norway.  Bit cold in the hands and some days a brutal doing treework.  The dark isnt an issue.  It is getting your rope or throw line out and realising it is a solid lump as it has frozen in the truck over night.

 

there was once a time I couldn’t get my flip line to open as it was frozen.  I poured some of my flask of tea on it.  Worked fine until I was back at the bottom and unable to detach myself from a 50 foot Silver birch stem.  

 

Couldnt get my harness buckles undone either until one of the guys came over with a blow torch and heater everything up so it could open...

 

Summers are awesome though.  Blue skies, 30+ degrees C and scantily clad girls.

 

maybe the thought of the coming summer is what gets people through the dark nights.

[westphalian]

Aren’t midges a bummer in the summer?

[trigger_andy]

1 minute ago, westphalian said:

Aren’t midges a bummer in the summer?

Same as Scotland as far as Im concerned. 

[westphalian]

a bummer then

[trigger_andy]

Just now, westphalian said:

a bummer then

Bloody nightmare.  

[Rich Rule]

Not where I live.  

 

If you live near stagnant or slow flowing water then yes.  My inlaws place is up in the Arctic and the midge there is a 'kin mare!

 

Oslo, area, there are very few.  I do live pretty close to the Fjord though.

[LeeGray]

2 hours ago, Rich Rule said:

I live and work here in Norway.  Bit cold in the hands and some days a brutal doing treework.  The dark isnt an issue.  It is getting your rope or throw line out and realising it is a solid lump as it has frozen in the truck over night.

 

there was once a time I couldn’t get my flip line to open as it was frozen.  I poured some of my flask of tea on it.  Worked fine until I was back at the bottom and unable to detach myself from a 50 foot Silver birch stem.  

 

Couldnt get my harness buckles undone either until one of the guys came over with a blow torch and heater everything up so it could open...

 

Summers are awesome though.  Blue skies, 30+ degrees C and scantily clad girls.

 

maybe the thought of the coming summer is what gets people through the dark nights.

Sounds like tough conditions with the cold for sure. When you say the dark isn’t a problem is it because it’s not black out like it is here or do you use masses of lights? Was wondering for example how does a brickie or farm fencer get on, same issues. I’m struggling to anything outside here in Northumberland by 4-5pm depending on cloud but luckily have plenty of stuff to do with the lights on in the workshop or butchery etc. When the chap on the radio was talking about it it was dark here and I was thinking f**k I couldn’t do anything out there without the machine or yard lights on never mind start swinging a chainsaw about 60’ up a tree.

 

Only been to Copenhagen, never rural and never more north so don’t have a clue.

[topchippyles]

My sawmill is on the highest point on the heads of the valleys in south wales and try working with the roller shutter doors open,It just blasts across from the brecon beacons straight as the mill and the sas train there so i must be tough. ?

Edited November 28, 2018 by topchippyles

[carlos]

4 hours ago, Rich Rule said:

I live and work here in Norway.  Bit cold in the hands and some days a brutal doing treework.  The dark isnt an issue.  It is getting your rope or throw line out and realising it is a solid lump as it has frozen in the truck over night.

 

there was once a time I couldn’t get my flip line to open as it was frozen.  I poured some of my flask of tea on it.  Worked fine until I was back at the bottom and unable to detach myself from a 50 foot Silver birch stem.  

 

Couldnt get my harness buckles undone either until one of the guys came over with a blow torch and heater everything up so it could open...

 

Summers are awesome though.  Blue skies, 30+ degrees C and scantily clad girls.

 

maybe the thought of the coming summer is what gets people through the dark nights.

so you climb with a good head torch then? must take a bit of getting used to.

[Barry davies]

After hearing on the radio yesterday about a place in Norway where the sun has now set till middle of January I was wondering how outside workers get on. Does everyone shut up and just enjoy the time off, workshop projects etc and make the most of the endless summer days or just muddle on with lights, proper set ups for night working? Find it fascinating that this happens not that far from us. Any experience?

Worked in Finland for 5 years from 1983 forestry and a bit of agriculture work.
We were about 100 miles south of the Arctic circle so a bit of daylight in midwinter.
Mainly we just got on with it, didn't have to work if it was below minus 25 C.
Coldest it got was minus 37 but it is so dry it doesn't feel to bad.
Funny thing on really cold nights you could hear the sound of trees splitting as the sap froze.