Winter climbing

Post by **pigsteak** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 2:30 am

well, sort of my friend. aks someone with frostbite if temps are a state of mind. I am betting they will tell you otherwise

Post by **512OW** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 2:34 am

People with frostbite also don't feel the cold anymore....so maybe its a good thing.

Post by **Meadows** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 3:52 am

Handwarmers don't work? Man, you're screwed so stay inside until spring.

I read that adding 1 tsp of cayenne pepper to boiling water and drinking will warm your extremeties. I plan to start taking a thermos along.

Post by **mcrib** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 5:35 am

I've started to really enjoy this weather. The real problem as I see it is the wind. If you can get a nice day in the sun it is perfect but lets face fact we live in the Ohio River Valley (ie cloudy most of the winter). What I have found that works well is to stay out of the wind, plan on being cold, bring a thermos (I take either tea or coffee) and dress warm. I think with that formula I can get out when it is cloudy and in the mid to high 30s. That is the plan at least. If you are willing to climb in the summer you should at least be willing to try the winter. The holds hurt they are so good. Oh and strong ale is recomended upon return.

Post by **Huggybone** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 11:39 am

In addition to hot drinks, following the sunthis also helps= climb routes that you (and your partner)can do quickly. Spending a ling time belaying will freeze you.

Post by **SikMonkey** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 1:54 pm

I have found my hands don't react nearly as badly to the cold here recently. Maybe I am just getting to old to care about it or maybe I have finally achieved my goal of killing all the nerves in the skin on my hands.

Mj

Post by **TradMike** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 2:32 pm

Keep the core temp up and the hands will follow. If you want to be warm on a winter day use a fleece body suit as a base layer then a wind stopper/insulating shell. If you want to be toasty put a looser layer of long underwear over the fleece long underwear. The second method is too hot for me on most days. The cayenne pepper thing works great to get the metabolism going. For weight lifting I used to mix cayenne, ginseng and a few others in a 151 solution. One dropper full of that stuff and you are fired up for sure.

Post by JB » Mon Dec 05, 2005 5:17 pm

windmill your arms around about 20 seconds or so at a pretty good rate... you'll feel your fingers start to tingle... that's good.

wear mittens between burns to keep them warm. getting warm is important, but not as important as staying warm. once your engine is started, keep it running.... eat up (eat fat), stay hydrated, keep the heat in. a wind shirt does wonders... so does a hat.

Post by **squeezindlemmon** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 5:31 pm

Keep your shoes inside your jacket. When you are ready to put them on, they'll be nice and warm.

Post by **Ascentionist** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 8:00 pm

JB wrote:windmill your arms around about 20 seconds or so at a pretty good rate... you'll feel your fingers start to tingle... that's good.

But wouldn't you fall off the route?

Seriously, get outside as much as possible. THe more you are outside the more your body will adapt. I went out a couple of weeks ago on a cold day and ended up not climbing anything. It just felt too cold. Went out today just hiking because it was supposed to be colder than that other day and kept kicking myself for not bringing climbing gear. I would have been completely comfortable today as opposed to a few days ago.

The difference? I've been out in the cold a lot more since that first day. My body has started to adapt. If you stay inside and wrapped up all the time then you'll feel a lot colder when you are outside. I've been going out and running and I rode my bike to town the other day when the windchill was less than 10 degrees. After awhile you're body just doesn't react the same to cold.