And microorganisms that would otherwise quickly decompose plant and animal tissues operate at slower metabolic rates in these subfreezing temperatures.
Maybe they didn't tread out a new record, but the dual purpose was to have fun and getting that many riders out in subfreezing temperatures was unsnowmobelievable.
It had just taken longer than the anticipated 24 to 48 hours for salty seawater to gnaw through the wire, probably because chemistry happens at a slower pace in subfreezing Arctic seawater.