Noob question: Go to ground?

[guySmiley]

I've been in a situation where it would have been better to sleep on the ground and there was a choice.

Goat Rocks Wilderness Area in Washington. The rain/mist/clouds were blowing sideways, and the last two trees before having to cross a glacier (miles before going below treeline again) had the hammock oriented so that the mist was blowing through the ends of the tarp.

I gamely soldiered through it, hung my hammock and coped, but I'm certain I would have been more comfortable had I slept on the ground that night.

[SilvrSurfr]

For the most part, the ground is an even 65 degrees no matter where you are.

I'm waiting for the explanation on this as well. It seems like permafrost would not exist if this were true.

[Dogbone]

For the most part, the ground is an even 65 degrees no matter where you are.

Some one needs to send the memo to Alaska

I'm waiting for the explanation on this as well. It seems like permafrost would not exist if this were true.

+1

[NickoftheWoods]

For the most part, the ground is an even 65 degrees no matter where you are.

Umm, this member lives in Florida, that may be a factor.

When it's 40 below 0 in MN, WI, or MI I would love to find a 65 degree snowbank to snuggle up in.

[bear bag hanger]

And how does it freeze?

If you were to stick a thermometer in the ground, you would find that about four to six inches deep, the temp would be about 65. Your body heat will warm that layer up a bit in about, I guess, a couple hours. It's what I've been told and I've never had reason to doubt it, but have never really tried to test it out.

When I was told this, I believe the person was talking about the lower 48, not Alaska.

[SilvrSurfr]

If you were to stick a thermometer in the ground, you would find that about four to six inches deep, the temp would be about 65. Your body heat will warm that layer up a bit in about, I guess, a couple hours. It's what I've been told and I've never had reason to doubt it, but have never really tried to test it out.

I just don't think that's possible. First of all, you can't stick a thermometer in frozen ground. And because it's frozen, you already know that it's below 32 degrees. One human is not going to thaw out the ground 4 to 6" deep - not gonna happen in a coupla hours, I don't think.

[Bannerstone]

If you were to stick a thermometer in the ground, you would find that about four to six inches deep, the temp would be about 65. Your body heat will warm that layer up a bit in about, I guess, a couple hours. It's what I've been told and I've never had reason to doubt it, but have never really tried to test it out.

When I was told this, I believe the person was talking about the lower 48, not Alaska.

Depends on the area you're talking about, it's not uncommon for us to have a foot or more of frozen ground here in Ohio. Our local building codes require foundations to be 32" to be safely below the frostline. Below frostline in our area the temps run in the mid 50's.

David

[ibgary]

I think the main reasons for going to ground are, lack of trees and local park policy.
Weather I could see as wind that would tear the tarp down. My solution, which I've used in the past. Lay on the tarp in you bag and take a roll to rap the tarp around you like a burrito.

[moos]

Thanks for all the comments everyone.

On this issue:

If you were to stick a thermometer in the ground, you would find that about four to six inches deep, the temp would be about 65. Your body heat will warm that layer up a bit in about, I guess, a couple hours. It's what I've been told and I've never had reason to doubt it, but have never really tried to test it out.

When I was told this, I believe the person was talking about the lower 48, not Alaska.

This is generally true below the frost line, but that's the key. Depending on where you are, the frost line can be up to 6 feet deep or more. Geothermal heat pumps are built on the concept you describe, but they bury the heat exchanging lines for those ~20ft deep. Water pipe regulations by state are also based on the depth of the frost line. A quick internet search shows that for my county in Atlanta, frost line depth is 12 inches.

You don't want to lay on cold ground. Your body will lose the heat loss battle every time.

[bear bag hanger]

OK, my statement was a little high, the temp is about 50 to 55 and a bit deeper than a few inches:
http://answers.google.com/answers/th...id/747431.html
the basic reason is the huge mass the ground represents.