Detecting In Really Cold Weather

[Steve Herschbach]

I got an email inquiry and wanted to share my reply here…..

Hello Steve, What's your thoughts on cold weather winter metal detecting, I'm thinking of trying it....... i.e. lowest temperatures for metal detector use, best metal detector for cold weather, etc..etc... Thank you

There are no particular limitations around cold weather detecting other than your comfort, and target recovery. The last is why I stop detecting in winter. If snow is in the ground I can’t get to what I want to find, and even if not, the ground is frozen. Frozen dirt is like digging in asphalt. Some very dry desert areas are detectable in frozen conditions, but anyplace with moist ground you may as well just forget it.

You can detect snow, like recent drops in playgrounds under equipment, or ski/sledding slopes. Jewelry would be the main goal for those doing that. A small pick or digging shovel works well as long as the device can chip/dig in snow compacted into ice. You don’t detect fresh loose snow, but well traveled packed snow areas.

Any detector will work. Some LCD displays may grow dim or even blank in very cold weather, but no way to know which machines are prone to that short of trying them. So in general it would be best to be set to dig more by ear than eyeball. Use low temp batteries like Energizer Lithiums. Some newer models with built in NiMh batteries may get shorter run times due to cold batteries, so replaceable batteries would be more reliable. But not something I’d worry about too much initially.

Personally after living a lifetime in Alaska I’m over cold weather, and simply choose to detect when it’s more comfortable. 

Hope this helps, Steve H

 

The Cremation of Sam McGee
by Robert W. Service

 There are strange things done in the midnight sun
  By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
  That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
  But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
  I cremated Sam McGee.

Now Sam McGee was from Tennessee, where the cotton blooms and blows.
Why he left his home in the South to roam 'round the Pole, God only knows.
He was always cold, but the land of gold seemed to hold him like a spell;
Though he'd often say in his homely way that "he'd sooner live in hell."

On a Christmas Day we were mushing our way over the Dawson trail.
Talk of your cold! through the parka's fold it stabbed like a driven nail.
If our eyes we'd close, then the lashes froze till sometimes we couldn't see;
It wasn't much fun, but the only one to whimper was Sam MCGee.

And that very night, as we lay packed tight in our robes beneath the snow,
And the dogs were fed, and the stars o'erhead were dancing heel and toe,
He turned to me, and "Cap," says he, "I'll cash in this trip, I guess;
And if I do, I'm asking you that you won't refuse my last request."

Well, he seemed so low that I couldn't say no; then he says with a sort of moan:
"It's the cursed cold, and it's got right hold till I'm chilled clean through to the bone.
Yet 'tain't being dead--it's my awful dread of the icy grave that pains;
So I want you to swear that, foul or fair, you'll cremate my last remains."

A pal's last need is a thing to heed, so I swore I would not fail;
And we started on at the streak of dawn; but God! he looked ghastly pale.
He crouched on the sleigh, and he raved all day of his home in Tennessee;
And before nightfall a corpse was all that was left of Sam McGee.

There wasn't a breath in that land of death, and I hurried, horror-driven
With a corpse half hid that I couldn't get rid, because of a promise given'
It was lashed to the sleigh, and it seemed to say: "You may tax your brawn and brains,
But you promised true, and it's up to you to cremate these last remains."

Now a promise made is a debt unpaid, and the trail has its own stern code.
In the days to come, though my lips were dumb, in my heart how I cursed that load.
In the long, long night, by the lone firelight, while the huskies, round in a ring,
Howled out their woes to the homeless snows-- O God! how I loathed the thing.

And every day that quiet clay seemed to heavy and heavier grow;
And on I went, though the dogs were spent and the grub was getting low;
The trail was bad, and I felt half mad, but I swore I would not give in;
And I'd often sing to the hateful thing, and it harkened with a grin.

Till I came to the marge of Lake Lebarge, and a derelict there lay;
It was jammed in the ice, but I saw in a trice it was called the "Alice May."
And I looked at it, and I thought a bit, and I looked at my frozen chum;
Then "Here," said I, with a sudden cry, "is my cre-ma-tor-eum."

Some planks I tore from the cabin floor, and I lit the boiler fire;
Some coal I found that was lying around, and I heaped the fuel higher;
The flames just soared, and the furnace roared--such a blaze you seldom see;
And I burrowed a hole in the glowing coal, and I stuffed in Sam McGee.

Then I made a hike, for I didn't like to hear him sizzle so;
And the heavens scowled, and the huskies howled, and the wind began to blow
It was icy cold, but the hot sweat rolled down my cheeks, and I don't know why;
And the greasy smoke in an inky cloak went streaking down the sky.

I do not know how long in the snow I wrestled with grisly fear;
But the stars came out and they danced about ere again I ventured near;
I was sick with dread, but I bravely said: "I'll just take peep inside.
I guess he's cooked, and it's time I looked";. . . then the door I opened wide.

And there sat Sam, looking cool and calm, in the heart of the furnace roar;
And he wore a smile you could see a mile, and he said: "Please close that door.
It's fine in here, but I greatly fear you'll let in the cold and storm--
Since I left Plumtree, down in Tennessee, it's the first time I've been warm."

There are strange things done in the midnight sun
  By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
  That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
  But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
  I cremated Sam McGee.

[kac]

Temps that are really below freezing I won't dig as I think it could damage the electronics especially the built in batteries and lcd screens.

For frozen ground usually woods hunting there may be just a little top ground frozen but if there is just a lot of snow then it is pointless as all your depth is given up to the snow itself. Beach hunting I am generally limited to the tide line and cuts at low.

[dogodog]

My rule is snow = No, Deep frozen ground = No. If it's just cold 35/45 degree's I rubber band a hand warmer to my control unit and give it a go, Just be careful of hitting your coil on something hard. Most times out in the cold are just not fun so I use my time to catalog coins and data created in the warmer month's. Detecting in the cold is really not worth the effort even if I know something good lurks in my future, I'll wait till spring.

[Chase Goldman]

Electronics is not likely to be damaged simply by operating it cold weather, but as Steve noted, performance might take a hit.   One thing you should never do is attempt to charge Li Ion batteries when ambient temps are below freezing (discharging via normal use is fine) That will almost certainly result in damage to the battery electrolyte chemistry and will permanently reduce capacity and usable lifetime.

I've detected frozen ground where we picked out frozen balls of dirt containing a target and threw them next to a fire pit we had set up so they could thaw.  It's really not worth the work and frustration unless for some reason that day happens to be your only chance to access a desirable site.

Really surprised how frozen damp beach sand becomes impossible to scoop or even dig in.

[F350Platinum]

I have Raynaud's syndrome in my hands and feet, but I'll go out down to about 34 degrees. I use either Milwaukee or Craftsman insulated nitrile gloves:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-X-Large-Red-Latex-Level-3-Cut-Resistant-Insulated-Winter-Dipped-Work-Gloves-48-22-8923/306812013

The Milwaukee gloves also come in black, so if it's a sunny day they stay warm. I also keep a pair of these in my truck, they generate EMI so we I can't hold the detector with them but they heat my hands up fast and last all day on the lowest heat setting.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09F2MQTFN 

I also have heated socks but usually my feet are ok in boots with thick wool socks. Raynaud's is awful. Didn't know I had it until I was in my 40s, I thought everyone had the same problem. 😵

 

[kac]

Handwarmers don't get too hot to warp the plastic? I could see how rubber banding one to your unit would keep you warm though.

[dogodog]

350 looks like were brother's from another mother. I to have the Raynaud's not so bad though. Usually my index and middle finger on my left hand and oddly my knee caps. I hate loosing feeling in my middle finger Ha Ha. Usually starts right around November/December but sometimes earlier. Mine started when I turned 43. Heated anything really doesn't help me, seems like I just have to relax for it to go away.

[Dig It]

[Dig It]

Did that, Got tired of That, Gave into AK. in summers lower forty 48 in winter, always swinging somewhere...

[Dig It]

Did end up detecting a bit of Shiny out of thawed ground under rock.