Life Hacks For Frigid Conditions
Grace Rothmeyer
We all know those people who can’t stop complaining about the cold. As a self-identified member of this community, I recognize the horror of ice cube-like conditions. Yet, the quiet beauty an alpine snow blanket brings to areas normally flocking with people is something the cold will not deter us from! I recently went snow camping in Paradise Valley at Mt. Rainier and relied heavily on my go-to life hacks to keep me cozy in freezing conditions. First, let's talk about the perfect thermal layering formula!
Yes we are in fact dabbing
We all know those people who can’t stop complaining about the cold. As a self-identified member of this community, I recognize the horror of ice cube-like conditions. Yet, the quiet beauty an alpine snow blanket brings to areas normally flocking with people is something the cold will not deter us from! I recently went snow camping in Paradise Valley at Mt. Rainier and relied heavily on my go-to life hacks to keep me cozy in freezing conditions. First, let's talk about the perfect thermal layering formula!
Unfortunately, not all of us were born with the perfect winter coats like my dog Dakota
Layering is everything!
1. First comes the base layer (long underwear) that will help pull precipitation from your skin. The best base layers for hiking are synthetic materials (polypropylene, spandex, nylon, rayon), silk, or merino wool. Base layers should never be made of cotton; it absorbs moisture like a sponge. Synthetic base layers are my favorite because they are the most affordable and last forever. Make sure your base layer fits snugly on your skin! If you are feeling fancy add sock liners, hat liners, and glove liners to super seal your base layers. When you are moving you might peel back your other layers and just hike in your long underwear.
2. The next layer is the insulation. This layer retains warmth by trapping heat in air spaces inside the fabric. Insulation includes puffy jackets (down or synthetic), wool hats, socks, and any fleece overlays. I prefer wearing down in this layer because it is compressible, lightweight, and breathable. The downfall of down (ha) is that it loses all its power when it gets wet. This is why the shell layer is vital!
3. The shell layer protects you from wind and rain. It’s often coated with waterproof substances like polyurethane which make you water resistant but also provide minimal ventilation. Without ventilation moisture has no way to evaporate so it condenses on the inside of the shell layer making you cold and wet. That is why hiking in this layer is not recommended if the weather isn’t dire.
What you can find me hiking in!
Once you are properly layered here are my top life hacks:
Penguin huddle: On the frozen landscape of Antarctica, emperor penguins huddle in a circular formation to shield against cold, windy, and harsh conditions. The penguins are the experts here. Social thermoregulation is one of the best ways to conserve body heat while forgetting about the cold due to the intense bonding bound to ensue.
Butter hot chocolate: I am a passionate hot chocolate drinker. This classic winter day treat is immediately transformed into a powerful thermal vortex when you melt a tablespoon of butter into the mixture. The biological process of your metabolism fueled by consuming fat calories is an easy way to keep your internal furnace rumbling. Pack this delicious drink in a thermos or make it in the backcountry. The calories, fat, and heat from the beverage are game changing (OPTIONAL: add spoonfuls of nutella, a pinch of cayenne seasoning, or extra chocolate powdered milk).
Your Nalgene is your new hot water bottle: Fill your Nalgene with boiling water and place it near your core. This is especially handy if you are snow camping and want to stay warm in your sleeping bag! Often people gravitate toward warming their feet first but focusing on heating your core will have quicker and further reaching effects. From that core position, the Nalgene will heat the blood that regulates temperature throughout your body, reaching all of your chilly extremities and warming your entire body up faster. Just remember to seal the Nalgene lid tightly to prevent scalding hot water in your sleeping bag!
Vent your tent: If it is cold outside it feels counterintuitive to vent your tent but I am here to tell you this is a subtly groundbreaking life hack. Airflow in your tent is imperative because as you breathe you release water vapor; when the water droplets hit the freezing cold tent shell they accumulate condensation which will freeze. Tent ventilation prevents you from waking up in an ice-crusted tent that will melt and drip down on you making you even more frigid.
Store your gear like a pack rat: Reducing space in your tent by packing it full of gear is a great way to add extra insulation and coziness to your space. This strategy is particularly true in your sleeping bag. The more ambient space you have in your sleeping bag, the less likely it is to insulate you properly. Stuff your clothes in the bottom of your sleeping bag for a cozy slumber and a pre-warmed outfit to look forward to in the morning.
