1/8/14

Well, there's a CNN truck outside right now waiting to do a live interview on national TV.  I did a live phone interview for Arise America last night, and I'm doing another one with FOX at lunchtime today...  This is gettin' crazy.  Anyway, I've been nice and cozy the last couple of nights.  The thermometer inside the quinzhee has been reading close to zero, but I've been using the hot water bottle trick and I've added an extra wool blanket.

More to the point, I realize that a lot of people will be looking at this blog in the days to come.  I want to tell you all about an idea I had at the beginning of December: to turn this into a fundraiser.  I have two organizations picked out that I'd like to collect donations for, and even though I can't give their names yet, they're both deserving causes.  I'll get the information on the donations on here as soon as I can,  but in the mean time, please help me by telling your friends about what I'm doing and this blog!  The more people we reach, the more good we can do for the world!  They're calling me for the interview, gotta go.

1/7/14

Well, reporters from CBS Minnesota and KARE 11 came yesterday and the day before.  Here are their stories.

Hermantown Teen Sleeps Outside On Frozen Nights 
Hermantown Teen Sleeps Outdoors Despite Bitter Cold

1/6/14

Well, I'm still alive.  In fact, I was absolutely toasty last night, despite the low temperatures.  I had an extra fleece sweatshirt with a hood, and a V-8 bottle filled with hot water in my sleeping bag.  The candle went out halfway through the night, but it wasn't giving off much heat anyway.  The water bottle was amazing, though!

1/5/14

So, I "re-did my room" yesterday. The snowy ceiling was starting to slump, making maneuvering difficult.  So, I took everything out; sleeping pads, bags, totes with spare clothes, battery-powered alarm clock,  PVC pipes for making breathing holes in the ceiling, and more.  I used this opportunity to thaw all the ice off my sleep gear inside and dry it.  Then I used a shovel to scrape another seven inches off the ceiling and put everything back.  

On another note, tonight I will truly be tested.  It's supposed to get down to -27.  Lately, it's just been hovering around -19 to -23.  I have a few tricks up my sleeve, like sticking a hot water bottle in my sleeping bag and lighting a candle inside the cave.  Hopefully those will work.

1/3/14

I probably should have started keeping a blog or journal a long time ago, but oh well.  Better late than never.  Nose got cold last night, but that was it.  Sunday night should be a little more interesting.  Monday is supposed to be so cold that the governor cancelled school.  A good chunk of that'll be wind chill, but I'll have to add some blankets all the same.