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Head, Fingers, Nose and Toes:
Keeping Extremities Warm in the Winter
By Sherry Ballou Hanson
Getting cold in winter is serious. Frostbite comes easily, especially to fingers,
toes and ears. “When you get cold, blood shunts from extremities to the
heart and other vital organs, so hands and feet get really cold,” warns
Lucretia Woodruff, Co-director of Bowdoin College’s Outing Club.
Dehydration and/or inadequate food, especially fatty foods that provide
long lasting fuel, contribute to rapid heat loss. You need fluids and calories
to stay warm, and to fuel your activity.
Prepare and Layer
What can you do to be better prepared for such activities as ice fishing, snow
shoeing, cross country skiing or taking a run on the snowmobile? First of all,
suggests Woodruff, listen to the weather so you know what to expect. Then
prepare accordingly, but always allow for surprises such as getting lost,
falling in water, a blizzard or sudden drop in temperature. “Always have a
full change of clothes when you are going out for such activities as ice fishing
and snowmobiling, even cross country skiing.” Add to this a little knowledge
about today’s fabrics and you can avoid a lot of pain and frustration.
Phil Savignano, Director of L.L. Bean’s Outdoor Discovery Schools, deals
with the same problems as Woodruff when preparing people to participate
in Discovery outings. “Stay away from cotton,” both warn. If you are from the
old school that always put on a tee shirt and long johns made of cotton before
going out on the snowshoes, think again. Cotton gets wet as you perspire and
does not dry out, nor does it wick moisture away from your skin. You’re
stuck with wet clothing, and when you stop your activity you can get cold
very fast.
Top Down Layers
Layering is the system today, and synthetics are the first line of defense, even
for fingers and toes. “If you have cold feet, put a hat on,” suggests Savignano.
80% of the body’s heat is lost through the head, so forget the macho image
and put one on, or at least take it with you. You may be comfy while you
blast down that cross country trail, but when you stop for lunch you will cool
off fast. This is the time to put the hat on. Look for one that can roll down
over the ears and back of neck. Gore-Tex works well because it is both
breathable and water proof. The balaclava is great for protecting neck and
ears. Fleece or wool works well for the head, too.
Carry a fleece or polyester neck warmer in your pack, or wear it like a
turtleneck. It doesn’t take up much space and can roll up to cover both neck
and ears. Downhill skiers know the value of a face mask on really cold days,
as do snowmobilers going out on the trail. Neoprene is a good fabric for the
mask, and you can roll it up off your face if you heat up.
New Fibers Keep You Warmer
Maybe you’ve had the experience of putting on what appear to be warm
gloves or mittens, only to have your fingers freezing within minutes. Gloves
don’t allow heat to circulate between the fingers, but allow you to use your
hands better for such activities as lacing and unlacing boots or starting a fire.
The solution, according to Savignano, is a polyester liner glove underneath
wool or polyester mitts. Add Nylon or Gore-Tex overmitts or shells and you
should stay warm, as these are wind and waterproof.
Cold feet can bring even the most avid skier off the slopes. This aggravation
usually results in the skier finding a better solution next time out. But if
you're out in the woods on a snowmobile, miles from anywhere, cold feet can
be dangerous. “Once you have had frostbite, you are always susceptible
afterwards,” says Woodruff. When asked what was the most common
problem with students on Bowdoin Outing Club expeditions, she said: "Not
having the proper boots. We see a lot of people without the right foot gear.”
For the feet, like the hands, a thin polyester liner works well, topped by wool
or polyester socks. Don’t wear so many socks that you restrict blood flow to
the feet. “If you feel like your boot laces are going to pop, that’s too tight,”
says Savignano. When you select boots for your sport, make sure they are
loose enough to accommodate both liners and socks. Don’t choose cotton
socks! Go synthetic all the way. This system of beginning with synthetics and
dressing in layers works, no matter what your sport is.
Keep in mind the nature of your activity. Ice fishing and snowmobiling can
chill the body quickly. Wind against you on the sled requires a total wind
layer over insulating clothing. If you are standing on the ice for hours those
boots had better be well insulated and thick soled. On the other hand,
activities like cross country skiing and snow shoeing make you sweat. When
you stop, you cool down fast. You need to be able to put on and take off
layers. You also need to be prepared with a complete change of clothing in
case you end up soaked in sweat many miles from home. Follow the advice
of experts and enjoy!
About the author:
Sherry Ballou Hanson has published hundreds of articles in magazines,
newspapers, newsletters, and on line publications Sherry was a Health
Correspondent for drkoop.com in 2001. She also wrote the Mid-Coast chapter
or Fodor’s Travel Publications, Inc.'s 2005 Gold Guide, Maine Coast. Sherry
lives in Brunswick, Maine, and in her spare time, enjoys walking, hiking,
inline skating, biking, kayaking, skiing, archery, writing, reading and star
gazing.
Keeping Extremities Warm in the Winter
By Sherry Ballou Hanson
Getting cold in winter is serious. Frostbite comes easily, especially to fingers,
toes and ears. “When you get cold, blood shunts from extremities to the
heart and other vital organs, so hands and feet get really cold,” warns
Lucretia Woodruff, Co-director of Bowdoin College’s Outing Club.
Dehydration and/or inadequate food, especially fatty foods that provide
long lasting fuel, contribute to rapid heat loss. You need fluids and calories
to stay warm, and to fuel your activity.
Prepare and Layer
What can you do to be better prepared for such activities as ice fishing, snow
shoeing, cross country skiing or taking a run on the snowmobile? First of all,
suggests Woodruff, listen to the weather so you know what to expect. Then
prepare accordingly, but always allow for surprises such as getting lost,
falling in water, a blizzard or sudden drop in temperature. “Always have a
full change of clothes when you are going out for such activities as ice fishing
and snowmobiling, even cross country skiing.” Add to this a little knowledge
about today’s fabrics and you can avoid a lot of pain and frustration.
Phil Savignano, Director of L.L. Bean’s Outdoor Discovery Schools, deals
with the same problems as Woodruff when preparing people to participate
in Discovery outings. “Stay away from cotton,” both warn. If you are from the
old school that always put on a tee shirt and long johns made of cotton before
going out on the snowshoes, think again. Cotton gets wet as you perspire and
does not dry out, nor does it wick moisture away from your skin. You’re
stuck with wet clothing, and when you stop your activity you can get cold
very fast.
Top Down Layers
Layering is the system today, and synthetics are the first line of defense, even
for fingers and toes. “If you have cold feet, put a hat on,” suggests Savignano.
80% of the body’s heat is lost through the head, so forget the macho image
and put one on, or at least take it with you. You may be comfy while you
blast down that cross country trail, but when you stop for lunch you will cool
off fast. This is the time to put the hat on. Look for one that can roll down
over the ears and back of neck. Gore-Tex works well because it is both
breathable and water proof. The balaclava is great for protecting neck and
ears. Fleece or wool works well for the head, too.
Carry a fleece or polyester neck warmer in your pack, or wear it like a
turtleneck. It doesn’t take up much space and can roll up to cover both neck
and ears. Downhill skiers know the value of a face mask on really cold days,
as do snowmobilers going out on the trail. Neoprene is a good fabric for the
mask, and you can roll it up off your face if you heat up.
New Fibers Keep You Warmer
Maybe you’ve had the experience of putting on what appear to be warm
gloves or mittens, only to have your fingers freezing within minutes. Gloves
don’t allow heat to circulate between the fingers, but allow you to use your
hands better for such activities as lacing and unlacing boots or starting a fire.
The solution, according to Savignano, is a polyester liner glove underneath
wool or polyester mitts. Add Nylon or Gore-Tex overmitts or shells and you
should stay warm, as these are wind and waterproof.
Cold feet can bring even the most avid skier off the slopes. This aggravation
usually results in the skier finding a better solution next time out. But if
you're out in the woods on a snowmobile, miles from anywhere, cold feet can
be dangerous. “Once you have had frostbite, you are always susceptible
afterwards,” says Woodruff. When asked what was the most common
problem with students on Bowdoin Outing Club expeditions, she said: "Not
having the proper boots. We see a lot of people without the right foot gear.”
For the feet, like the hands, a thin polyester liner works well, topped by wool
or polyester socks. Don’t wear so many socks that you restrict blood flow to
the feet. “If you feel like your boot laces are going to pop, that’s too tight,”
says Savignano. When you select boots for your sport, make sure they are
loose enough to accommodate both liners and socks. Don’t choose cotton
socks! Go synthetic all the way. This system of beginning with synthetics and
dressing in layers works, no matter what your sport is.
Keep in mind the nature of your activity. Ice fishing and snowmobiling can
chill the body quickly. Wind against you on the sled requires a total wind
layer over insulating clothing. If you are standing on the ice for hours those
boots had better be well insulated and thick soled. On the other hand,
activities like cross country skiing and snow shoeing make you sweat. When
you stop, you cool down fast. You need to be able to put on and take off
layers. You also need to be prepared with a complete change of clothing in
case you end up soaked in sweat many miles from home. Follow the advice
of experts and enjoy!
About the author:
Sherry Ballou Hanson has published hundreds of articles in magazines,
newspapers, newsletters, and on line publications Sherry was a Health
Correspondent for drkoop.com in 2001. She also wrote the Mid-Coast chapter
or Fodor’s Travel Publications, Inc.'s 2005 Gold Guide, Maine Coast. Sherry
lives in Brunswick, Maine, and in her spare time, enjoys walking, hiking,
inline skating, biking, kayaking, skiing, archery, writing, reading and star
gazing.
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