Alaska Highway, H&S Company. Interview by Donna Blasor-Bernhardt: Hugh remembers that they sat in the snow to eat. He first put his spoon in his coffee to warm it otherwise it was so cold that it would remove skin from your tongue or lips. Food would freeze or turn to icy slush in their mess kits.
On the inside of their tents it was so cold that the canvas “sparkled white with frost”. He stated that the temperature dropped to 72 below zero. Daylight was very short during the winter.
They were given double mummy sleeping bags, two blankets, a comforter. They wore arctic underwear and socks to bed. Some of the guys wore gloves and sweaters to bed.