Snowsled

1. Shell

The Ice Blue shell is an excellent, low cost, small cargo sled that has been hauled by kites the length of Greenland, been raced over hundreds of kilometres in the Yukon Ultra and carried gear for more sedate outings in many areas of the polar world.

It tracks and glides well, and is comfortable to handle. The size is designed to cater both for individual travellers and also group travel over several weeks when gear can be shared.

The design payload has been increased to 60 Kgs when used with a baseboard, and the shells are now made from thicker and harder plastic sheet, and rated for use to well below –30C.

Notes regarding holes drilled in plastic sleds.

1. When purchased, all plastic shells have rope hauling holes drilled in the top flange as standard.


2. If hauling shafts are ordered, holes are then pre-drilled for these to fit.


3. Holes are only pre-drilled for fitting adjustable straps if these, or a bag, are ordered. (The price of a bag includes straps anyway.) Otherwise it is up to the purchaser to arrange their own load fixing system.

Please note. Any plastic sled will scratch very quickly and easily if hauled over snow-free areas - e.g. airfield runways, roads, moraine, etc, greatly increasing friction and wearing through the base. Sleds are only designed for hauling over snow and ice.

See ‘pulk wheels’ for travel over snow-free areas.

 

 

2. Adjustable straps

There are now four of these per set. They are nylon webbing, bolted to the shell, and sufficiently long to fit over a full sled bag with spare to allow skiis or clothing to be held underneath.

These are included in the price of a full length bag or can be purchased separately.

3. Baseboard

This is 6 mm thick birch plywood, shaped to the base of the pulk and liberally treated with linseed oil. There are two main reasons why this should be used, particularly with heavier loads:-

a.) To ensure that the plastic base of the pulk is kept flat when travelling over hard, bumpy ice - this could otherwise lead to fracture of the material.

b.) Without the baseboard, there is a tendency for the base of the pulk to become convex when the straps are tightened, causing more instability. The plywood keeps the bottom of the pulk flat.

The base can also be used in the tent for cooking on (but protect the wood under the cooker), or as an insulator from the snow.

 

 

4. Loading methods

 

Full length bag + adjustable straps

Made from highly tear resistant, high tenacity, proofed nylon fabric, and is held in the pulk by the four adjustable nylon straps. The top is closed with a heavy-duty full length YKK zip with two sliders and cord pulls, and opens completely from the centre for easy packing and unloading. There is a lifting handle at each end.

 

 

Half length bag

These can be used independently of the sled, having their own adjustable compression straps and carrying handles, with roll down tops and Velcro on top of the side panels. The sled load can therefore be divided - tent and personal gear can be taken to the tent. The Ice Blue sled will fit two of these.

 

 

Stuff sacs

simple stuff sacs in double sewn 4 oz waterproof nylon, with drawcord tops and internal lid and sized so that 4 exactly fit along the Ice Blue sled, with space to spare under the zipped cover.

 

 

 

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