Coping with the deep cold

Makes those of us in the know laugh out loud while we are out skiing and snowboarding -- and having a marvelous time on perfect snow and empty slopes.

Of course you and I know the whole concept of wind chill is, frankly, pretty bogus when it comes to skiing and riding. If you dress properly for the prevailing temperature and encase yourself in a windproof shell, the wind chill has little effect on your overall comfort. After all, when you’re skiing or riding down the hill, you’re always dealing with wind chill created by your own movement . . . Duh.

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Keeping warm: Careful preparation and lots of layers can keep you warm
no matter how cold the wind chill.

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It’s perfectly possible to have a wonderful time skiing or riding when the actual air temperature is minus 20. Or colder.

Here’s how to do it:

The night before

Skiing or riding warm actually starts the night before you ski. First absolute rule: make sure your boots, gloves and clothing are perfectly dry and warm -- especially your boots.

You can either pull out your liners and leave them in a warm (not hot), dry place with good air circulation, or get yourself some electric boot dryers.

The best I’ve used is the portable “Snap Dry” from Hotronic ( www.hotronic.com ), which goes with me on every ski trip, and the larger stay-at-home units from Dry Guy ( www.dryguy.net ) which will dry both boots and gloves at once.

One note of caution though. If you have heat-molded custom insoles in your boots, the heat from some boot dryers (not the two mentioned) can damage them. I discovered this the hard way, take my word for it.

If you drive to the hill -- even a short drive -- make sure your boots are near the heat in the car. Don’t throw them in the trunk or the back of the wagon or, worse, in the clamshell on top! It may be inconvenient for a passenger to have them underfoot for the drive, but it will pay off on the hill.

I carry a hair drier in my ski pack. In the ski lodge, I give boots a blast of heat just before I put them on. Makes a big difference.

Today’s ski boots are so warm that cold feet normally shouldn’t be a problem for folks with good circulation -- if you start with your boots warm.

Socks make a big difference. Wool or polyester in the thin, ski-specific socks are best. One good lightweight sock of the proper thickness is warmer than having your toes cramped with heavier socks--which can restrict circulation. If you find your feet getting cold, just head for the lodge, change your socks for warm, dry ones and reheat your boots with your hair drier.

Sad to say, the inexpensive chemical warmer packs probably won’t work if your boots fit properly. There just isn’t room. If you’ve got enough room in your ski boots for two pairs of socks, or thick socks, or a boot warmer pack, your boots are too big and you need new ones.

If, despite all precautions, your feet still get cold easily, invest in battery powered boot heaters -- such as the ones from Hotronic or Hot Foot ( www.hotfeet.com  ) and have them installed at a ski shop where they can inlay the heater into your insoles.

A less expensive alternative are neoprene boot covers such as Boot Glove ( www.bootglove.com ) which helps insulate your boots.

Dress for success

Before you ski or ride, eat a hearty breakfast. That's the fuel to keep you warm until snack time. Remember, calories measure heat output. This is the perfect time for bacon, eggs and hashbrowns, or peanut butter spread thick on whole wheat bread. High fat content is good. Avoid sweets, which provide only short-term fuel . . .

Also, drink a couple of extra glasses of water before you ski. Cold dry air dehydrates you, and your body needs to be fully hydrated for thermal efficiency. Coffee and other caffeinated beverages actually help dehydrate you, and alcohol is a real no-no in the cold.

Even the weather-Dumbos have figured out that dressing in layers is the way to go in deep cold, but for comfortable skiing and riding it helps if you have the right layers of clothing: Always start with an ultra-thin layer of lightweight wicking underwear--polypropylene or polyester--tops and bottoms next to your skin. That way, even if you sweat (in a warm ski lodge, for example ), you’ve always got a warm, dry layer.

In deep cold, put another layer of heavier underwear over that. Tailor this layer to the degree of cold you’re likely to encounter. Another lightweight layer provides lots of warmth for little bulk.

Cotton is cool. Nope, make that cold

Here’s an absolute for skiing or riding in really cold weather: Don't Wear Cotton Next To Your Skin! Cotton holds moisture like a sponge, chilling you quickly if you sweat even a little. This is especially true on your feet. Feet always sweat and cotton socks are your quickest route to frostbitten toes.

Warm to the core

To keep your core body warm, add more insulation layers. I still love a wool sweater, but polyester fleece or pile is lighter and warmer and more efficient. The “Windbloc” versions are the warmest of all -- too warm for all but the coldest days These are the layers you can adjust easily, adding or subtracting as necessary.

For your legs, two layers of long johns is sufficient for most weather. In deep cold, try fleece bibs over your lightweight long-johns. Jeans just don't cut it in deep cold. They are heavy, restrictive and inefficient insulation..

What wind chill?

The key for top and bottom warmth is a windproof outer shell. If the wind can’t get at your skin, “wind chill” doesn’t matter! Whether that windproof shell is separate or part of an insulated garment makes no difference at all. The better wind-stopping layers are tightly woven nylon fabrics. The best are coated with Gore-Tex or a similar waterproof/breathable laminate.

Feet cold? Wear a helmet

Once you’ve properly encased your body’s core, it’s much easier to keep your extremities warm. But heads, hands, and feet still require special consideration if you want to play in the snow when it’s really cold

Helmets are absolutely the best cold-weather headgear -- warm and windproof. Combined with a windproof face mask and good goggles, a helmet seals your head and face in warmth.

The trend lately has been toward lighter helmets with more ventilation and less padding, but when warmth is critical nothing beats a full-coverage, hard-shell helmet like the original Scream from Leedom ( www.leedomhelmets.com )

Without a helmet, the best alternative is a warm hat with a parka hood pulled over it.

Personally, I hate face masks, but I always have one of the fleece-lined neoprene ones from Gator (www.gator-sports.com) or Seirus (www.seirus.com) in my parka pocket, and I wear it whenever I have to.

A fleece neck gaiter with your collar zipped up around it will help seal your neck opening.

Cold weather means layers for your hands, too. I use polypro liner gloves inside insulated mittens, and, in really cold weather, a windproof outer shell mitten over. Mittens are warmer than gloves. If the insulation around your fingers is too thick, it can restrict circulation and leave your fingers cold!

Eat, drink and be merry (And warm!)

Keep your body properly fueled and hydrated throughout the day. Drink warm fluids (warm water is probably better than low-fat hot chocolate which has lots of sugar and caffeine). Your body needs carbohydrates for energy, but it also needs fat for long-term staying power. So if you’re feeling the cold, nosh a brownie or cheeseburger and french fries without guilt. I look forward to cold days to justify the extra calorie consumption!

The final ingredient in skiing or riding comfortably in cold weather is attitude. Don’t plan to stay out the whole day. Instead, take three or four runs and come in to eat more and warm up, then head back out. After all, in deep cold, the snow is often prime and you don’t have to share it with anyone—you aren’t losing out if you take a break.

If one part of a mountain gets more sun or is more wind-sheltered, ski there. Take advantage of an enclosed tram or gondola if the area has one. You won’t have to wait in lift lines on really cold days.

If you know you are properly dressed, and know you’re going to have a great time on the slopes, you will! Be prepared, and don't let the cold keep you a prisoner when you should be out enjoying skiing or riding.