I seem to remember in discussion about “wild children” how they didn’t seem to notice differences in heat and cold?
I have also noticed that to a certain point (about -10) ‘cold’ is a state of mind, and can easily be ignored.
I’ve also read stories about Eskimo and other assorted northern Canadian and Alaskan peoples considering it a ‘shorts and t shirt’ day when it’s about 10 degrees F outside.
Wouldn’t this stand to reason, then, that the Vikings would have been raised to live and withstand the cold?
Wouldn’t it also stand to reason that our Gore-Tex and down jackets have removed this ability from ‘modern’ man?
I can personally attest to cold and heat being relative. I remember a summer vacation in Alasks during a local “heat wave”. All the locals were complaining about the 70-80 degree (F) weather, the folks on the trip who were fromm Seattle said it was very pleasant, and myself (Texan) and the other Southerner (Tennessee) thought they were all crazy because it was quite cool.
Also, many Australians living here (Osaka) complain bitterly about the (to me) mildly cold winters - 30-40 degrees F.
As for wool, in my experience, it’s better than most man-made fabrics. I found that Gore-tex had to be kept very clean to retain it’s water resistance. Also most man-mades loos their insulating properties when wet. I can’t say that for certain about the most recent - I haven’t bought any cold weather outdoor clothing for years, so the latest ones may be better.
Last summer, I attended a Viking day at a local museum. Given the materials they had, Viking ships were masterpieces of engineering. Given the amount of effort and inteligence in their ships, it seems a valid assumption that they had clothes and gear to match.
As far as their tolerance to the cold, they might have been somewhat adjusted to it, but they certainly didn’t like it. In Norse mythology, the unworthy dead go to Niflheim where the Hel rules over them in a hall named Damp-whith-sleet. In depictions of the various halls in Asgard, there is always a fire in the hearth and every one is comfortably warm
Someone asked about the length of viking boats. The two featured in last months Nat’l Geographid were 72 feet and 118 feet. I forget the beam. It said that the 118 footer could hold 100 men. They were clinker built. The planks were about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch thick, which gave them a bit of flexibility. This flexibility allowed them to absorb waves.
The early innuits similarly made their kayaks with a joint in it. This allowed the boat to flex with the waves. They could adjust the flex by moving the balast in the kayak (i think the correct term is something like “bikai”)
Thanks for the great info, folks. I find this stuff simply fascinating. I can’t believe they never told us any of this stuff in school For example that the vikings not only landed in the Americas, but that they helped tame russia, traded with Byzantium and traded with Asia.
So, is anyone ready to start a debate on the Theory of thTemperate Zones in Great Debates?
well I do not know what they did or did not tell you in school but I would say it is widely known the Vikings sailed the Med and settled in Sicilly and other places.
I am a bit disappointed the link I posted did not raise any interest but I guess we’re concentrating on the Vikings and not about the hardships of sailing in general.
Sailor, I too would like to discuss sailing, hardships and pleasures. What is your vessel of choice? Gentlemen, maybe we should excuse ourselves to another thread.
