Who does the "freeze--thaw" thing?

Post by **rhunt** » Mon Oct 06, 2003 4:52 pm

For me I just have to get those first few warm ups in. My hands will get really F*&^ing cold and after they warm up I keep them warm by using gloves and my pockets, I usually don't have a problem after they warm back up. When it is real real cold(40 and below) I avoid real crimpy routes and usually just boulder.

Post by **air canada** » Mon Oct 06, 2003 5:01 pm

Once those first couple climbs are done, my hands warm up again. Then keep gloves on between climbs, like rhunt said.
Although my definition of real cold and others may differ. And you definately don't want to get your core chilled-that circulation out to you extremities will dissappear if you do.
I'm also a big fan of keeping my shoes warm-I'll stick them inside my jacket, or if you feel like packing it in, a little propane heater works wonders.

Post by **SikMonkey** » Mon Oct 06, 2003 5:20 pm

I may try the propane heater this winter to heat my hands up just before I jump on the route.

Mj

Post by **air canada** » Mon Oct 06, 2003 5:29 pm

You can also get little pocket size butane heaters. They put out more heat than the little baggies. Although I wouldn't want to put the butane one in my chalk bag!

Post by **Meadows** » Mon Oct 06, 2003 6:05 pm

Pocket-sized butane heaters? Where do I find those? It sounds a little dangerous. You can get finger-sized Hothands that you can slip in your shoes. For some reason, I have you pictured doing a gymnastic trick of covering your shoes with your jacket while you are wearing both.

Post by **air canada** » Mon Oct 06, 2003 6:17 pm

Am I rocking back and forth muttering to myself while I'm doing this?

You can get them at outdoor sporting goods stores, maybe at some places that sell gear for construction workers too.

Post by **canadaclimbergirl** » Mon Oct 06, 2003 6:21 pm

okay........you guys in Kentucky....have it warm.

When we boulder in the winter...we shovel out the base of the climbs and then use a propane torch to melt the ice off of the hand holds. the best bouldering is on the coast, and it can get to -40 with windchill. Though...most winter bouldering days, the Temperature hovers around -10 to -15 celcius

Also, those little 'hot hands' work great. One in the chalk bag is good. I also put some in my belay mitts for long pitches on Ice.

Us climbers are HARDCORE!!!!!!! woooooohoooooooooo!!!!!!!!

Post by **Christian** » Mon Oct 06, 2003 6:28 pm

You think you got it bad. Up here in Greenland we have to drill and steam spray down 80 ft. and bould er real fast before we die of hypothermia.

Post by **canadaclimbergirl** » Mon Oct 06, 2003 6:30 pm

yeah...but seriously......we REALLY DO use a torch to melt of the rock when we are desparate to climb in the winter. Plus....the friction.......is unreal. Hell...the friction in the summer is good cause the damn granite is so sharp.

Post by **rhunt** » Mon Oct 06, 2003 6:49 pm

I'm with you CCG, we have it pretty good here in the winter. Everyone is complaining about the cold because this was the first cold weekend, we are just not use to it yet. After sweating my ass off all summer, I'm not complaining, these are the conditions we wished for all summer!