Basejumper.com - archive

What effects do extreme cold temperatures have on B.A.S.E. gear?(pilot chute,canopy,susp. lines,cut away cables) Does it ever get too cold for the gear?

I only have 30 jump yet so don't take it to seriously but... from what my mentor told me:

It's possible to jump when it's cold (I actually jump at -20C so -4F in Quebec city...). But, My friends had few PC hesitation with a ZP PC. Specially if your PC is stock in you rig since long time or if you have to stay long in the cold weather before you jump...

So, if you want to jump, use a F111 PC. you can also repack your PC at the last moment.

But anyway, base jump it's fun even in the cold weather! We jump every week right now in Quebec and it's always really cold!!! We jump again tonight (-15C or 5F)

Have a good winter! Keep jumping!

I personally think the jumper
would give out before the gear.

i made a jump from a antenna a couple a years ago in minus 25 celsius..burr, but i couldn`t say it affected the gear in any way...at that time i jumped an old Mojowith a velcro container, ...but i guess at minus 50 celsius the cutaway cables would be a little crispy

I don't know if temperature would affect your gear directly, but ice and snow in your equipment can definitely be an issue. See BFL #6.

No problems at all.. in fact, the colder air makes your canopy fly better!
Last year at Baffin Island, we were routinely jumping in -20F without the wind chill. The gear took it like a champ. The worst concern was making sure you had enough feeling in your hands to pitch, then grab your toggles.

Nothing, if not packed wet.
Last winter we did a 49m B and a 90m chimney in -30C.

Would the yellow cable that is part of your three ring system become brittle/cracked from such an incredibly cold temperature? If so, replace it with some other material or just constantly check it.

If it did, it wouldn't be catastrophic. The yellow cable coating might crack, but the stainless steel aircraft cable underneath should be just fine. You of course would want to check for sharp pits and any possible fraying it cause to the three ring loop.

but there is no stainless steel aircraft cable in most yellow "cable."

You're right. It's not stainless.

this has me curious to the point of doing a test with a cooling system and that darned yellow "cable" just to see if there really is any danger.

I'm sure there is data available on the temperature limits of the cable and coating, but I'd be interested to see your results as well.....