JohnG,
You need to look up the area with the lowest average temp in US. Usually a race between Embarrass, Mn. or International Falls, Mn. I'm fairly close to both and we know better than to get it out when it gets that cold, hence the funnel!
Yeah I know you get some cold up there, I used to live in Mound and Crystal in the late 50's. Not as cold as your neck of the woods though. I don't know about statistics, but in Six Mile Village outside of North Pole in January of 75 it was -82 still air temperature, confirmed by two thermometers within 50 feet of each other. They were the same brand though. They went to-80 and it was showing on the next mark just below. But, there's normally no wind and it's dry.
I hope to never see anything like that again. While I have seen -50 to -65 a fair amount it's not a common thing. Sustained-30 to -40 is not uncommon. I used to enjoy winters here as it was a challenge, but the shine has worn off. If I was doing the winter time activities that you are, I would feel differently, my hats off to you. I no longer ski, ride snow machines, or make snow angels. I'm doing everything I can to be a snowbird.
