Willi's Enjoy the Winter Weather

Winter Enjoyment

 Winter, for the most part, is very pleasant when you are set for it. The cold crisp air in your face is refreshing when the rest of your body is warm. However, there are times when even the biggest winter lover thinks twice before heading out doors. Extreme conditions can vary with temperature and moisture in the air, but with a little preparation it can be tolerable, and even enjoyable.

Making extreme winter conditions enjoyable is not as daunting of a task as it may appear. Taking the time to dress properly, get your body ready for the conditions, and take care of your equipment is all you need to do to get the most out of a blustery winter day.

With a little forethought, dressing for the cold is no more difficult than trying to find matching socks. It is important to determine what kind of extreme conditions you are facing. For example, dampness in the air can make it feel colder than the thermometer reads. For this kind of wet cold, wearing a layer that lies close to the skin will aid in moisture transfer. Several light layers are best because they allow moisture to be drawn away from the skin and held in outer layers. Coming indoors regularly will help you to warm back up and give you a chance to dry off. Take off as many layers as possible and lay them out to allow moisture to evaporate. You may want to change into an extra pair of dry socks and mittens before heading out again. Dry cold is still cold but easier to dress for. High loft layers like down and 200-weight fleece will help perspiration evaporate easily while still trapping the warm air you need to maintain your body temperature. In both conditions, keeping your body core warm is the best way to stay toasty. A vest will provide a protective layer over the vital organs leaving more warm blood for your fingers and toes. Keep warm air around your body by closing off "junction points." Tighten powder skirts and waist cords to avoid airflow out of the bottom of your jacket. A neck gator will stop warm air from escaping through the neck of your jacket. Make sure your gloves and jacket sleeves are tucked into one another and your thermal underwear and socks cover one another. Take extra care to make sure there is no exposed skin when you reach or bend-your wrists and low back are the most susceptible. Your cold weather gear should also include a hat, goggles, and a facemask. A helmet with a shellaclava, mittens, and a one-piece suit will be your warmest options. On these really cold days consider chemical heat packs-they are a lifesaver.

Preparing your body to hit the slopes on a cold day is critical because when we are very cold we tighten up making ourselves more prone to injury-our tissues are less supple and we tense our muscles, making our bodies less flexible and more susceptible to injury. Starting the day with a warm meal and a good stretch-out will improve your body's ability to handle the cold conditions. Throughout the day come in regularly to warm up. Several small warm meals will keep you warm inside without diverting blood for digestion, instead keeping it flowing throughout the body. Drink plenty of warm fluids. Apple cider and herbal tea are great options as it is best to avoid caffeine and alcohol. Fluids also help to combat dehydration, which can be a major problem in the cold, especially in the dry, high altitude climate of the west. It is especially important to keep an eye on children and the elderly in extreme conditions. Seniors can only handle temperatures within a narrow range-their physiology looses the flexibility to keep them warm or to cool them off when temperatures exceed their comfort zone. Children don't have the body awareness to cope with extreme conditions and often don't realize that they're cold until there is a serious problem. Frostbite among kids is quite common for this reason. You will find that kids and seniors will tire easily when dealing with extreme conditions because the energy expenditure to deal with it taxes their metabolic reserves. A warm shower, healthy food, and good rest will help anyone to recuperate after a day in the cold.

In extreme conditions insuring your equipment is well cared for is of the utmost importance. An equipment failure on the slopes in bad weather can be more of a challenge than it is worth. Skis and snowboards will perform their best if they are properly waxed for the day's conditions. Different waxes are designed to handle cold, wet conditions or cold dry conditions helping you to glide effectively providing better control throughout the day. A binding safety check will help to insure that your bindings will release properly and will avoid unwarranted falls while keeping you as safe as possible on the hill. Snowboard bindings should be thoroughly checked for loose screws and to make sure that all mechanisms are performing properly. Store boots in a warm dry place overnight. If the liners are damp, remove them so that they get adequate airflow to fully dry before heading to the hill. Even if the liners are taken out, store your boots with the buckles buckled and laces tied so they don't stretch out. Boot plastic has memory, and leaving the cuffs unbuckled will cause them to warp making the boot more difficult to buckle and less comfortable. Make sure that boots are fully warmed before you put them on. Many lodges are equipped with electric boot and glove warmers-these are perfect for making boots and gloves warm and dry. If you start the day with cold boots your feet will remain cold for the entire day-your body heat simply cannot compensate enough to warm both your feet and the entire boot.

When the weather shifts and your concerns turn to keeping cool don't forget about your equipment. Summer has extreme conditions too and these extremes can do serious damage to your boots, skis and boards. Make sure to put them away clean and dry. Store them in a dry place with an even temperature. High heat can cause boot plastic to warp and become brittle, liners to break down and dry rot. Skis and snowboards can delaminate in damp and hot conditions because the glues in the will break down and moisture will get in between the layers causing them to swell. An end-of- season tune will leave a light layer of wax on the edges protecting them from rust and is easily buffed off when it's time to hit the slopes again.

Extreme conditions can wreak havoc on both you and your equipment so, it's important to dress properly and take some extra time getting you and your equipment ready to enjoy the day.