Help me . . . it's so frigggggggin Cold!

[toon66]

Originally Posted by LeafUF

I actually think there is something to this. Maybe the humidity just makes it feel worse or something?

I believe so. The cold here is to the bone. Friends from NC commented on it one Gasparilla when it was high 50s. They felt that it was much colder than that.

[gatordavisl]

Hey thanks so much for all the responses! I've been at work all day and not able to read. Gotta head back out but will check in again later on. Thanks again and to Moe - GLOATER! Yep - I miss Florida. Gotta go see if the car will start.

[WyoGator]

Was -17 with -35 wind chill last week out here in Wyoming...just another day in paradise

[gtr2x]

Always recall my first time driving on ice in Colorado, almost got the family taken out by a garbage truck. Second time I made the mistake of turning on the windshield wipers, big mistake. Didn't matter, couldn't see much in white out conditions anyway. Good memories! Cold weather is good for skiing, not driving. And wind just makes it much worse.

[gatormoe1]

Originally Posted by LeafUF

I actually think there is something to this. Maybe the humidity just makes it feel worse or something?

It's true, I know a ton of northerners that come down here and freeze and complain its cold when its around 40. It's a wet humid cold.

[gatordavisl]

Originally Posted by jeffphillips21

I'm from Canada so an expert in that area. Always keep your extremities warm, especially your head (they say you lose a high % of heat through your head), your hands and feet. Under your thermal socks wear a tight fitting sock underneath...and layer: under shirt, long sleeve shirt, pullover, whatever you can put on underneath your jacket. Remember to warm up your car, put the heat on, go back in your house and wait until it warms up before you go back in your car...and if it's snowing you need a scraper or brush to take care of the snow/ice on the windows/ windshield. Sounds fun, doesn't it.

The coldest I have ever been in is -50F without windchill and -86K with windchill. No, that's not a misprint. Now you know why I went to UF.

Good luck tomorrow. Think of it as an adventure!

Thanks Jeff and thanks to malscott. Great and interesting advice. -50?! Holy snitzy bitz.

[gatordavisl]

Originally Posted by gatorknights

Coldest I ever had was when it was 9 degrees in Gainesville. Colder than any 25 below I ever experienced in Minny.

True that the wet cold can be more difficult and the MN cold, as I understand it is much more of a dry cold. We were in Marietta for the holidays and 30s with rain felt pretty darn cold there.

[gatordavisl]

Originally Posted by wygator

Your feet are key. Make sure you have a really good pair of pac boots or Sorels.

When we moved to Wyoming from Florida, I didn't even know what Sorels were.

What everyone else said about layers. Your body will adjust and before you know it, you won't even being wearing a jacket until it's down to 40.

Just bought my Sorels last weekend. They make a huge diff and I'm not sliding all over the place anymore. BTW - I've heard some places in WY are really dry. Stay hydrated out there! (as if you need me to tell ya)

[gatordavisl]

Originally Posted by ufrulz2

The engine groaned for about a second or two but then finally turned over. In my car's own private way of rebellion, however, EVERY SINGLE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS ON. I think it was its way of saying, "You brought me from Florida to this sh!t?!"

Funny rulz. My car said the same thing to me tonight! It's NOT happy.

[chicagogator94]

It was -4 in Chicago when I went to work. Let's just say my chestnuts was frozen to my Yule log it was so damn cold!

[IowaGator]

Originally Posted by Sylez_G_Koolaid

I was out at the club last weekend and they had the AC turned way down. It was way too cold, bruh.

Even I know they want you to have the ladies keep you warm!!! LOL

[AzCatFan]

I absolutely hate the cold. Three Seattle winters were torture enough for me, and temps rarely dropped below 40. Had a cold snap in Phoenix last week with highs in the 40's/50's and lows below freezing. But now it's back to normal and 80 degrees.

And yes, it gets real hot here in summer, but there is always a/c and the swimming pool. Besides, Flagstaff and Show Low are both two hours away, at 7000+ feet elevation, and 30 degrees cooler. And San Diego is only 6 hours away.

[ufrulz2]

Originally Posted by gatorknights

Duluth MN is possibly the coldest place on planet earth. When the wind comes whipping off Lake Superior up the hill, my god.

Come on, Knights, you know it's worse in Warroad or Ely or Hibbing or Virginia or International Falls or Tower (where it once hit -60). It's nasty when the wind blows off the lake, for sure, but I think it's worse in those little towns way, way up north.

[G8trGr8t]

80 and 65 in Naples today. Had to put on a sweater at sons soccer practice after the sun went down....

[gnvgator]

Never seen heat break a wrist.

[exiledgator]

Originally Posted by chicagogator94

It was -4 in Chicago when I went to work. Let's just say my chestnuts was frozen to my Yule log it was so damn cold!

More like a Yule twig. I know; it was 1.5 here today.

[wygator]

Originally Posted by gatordavisl

Just bought my Sorels last weekend. They make a huge diff and I'm not sliding all over the place anymore. BTW - I've heard some places in WY are really dry. Stay hydrated out there! (as if you need me to tell ya)

That's what I tell people when they ask me how I handle the cold weather.

"Oh, it's not that bad...it's a DRY cold!!!"

[gatordavisl]

Originally Posted by G8trGr8t

80 and 65 in Naples today. Had to put on a sweater at sons soccer practice after the sun went down....

Lived in three areas in Fla: Naples/Ft. Myers/Cape Coral (my folks moved alot), Brandon/Apollo Beach, Hogtown.

-13 (-21 windchill) when I walk to work tomorrow.

[phatGator]

Here's how the Army is dealing with cold. Last time skiing in CO I used the long johns, fleece, and Goretex shell overtop. Worked great. Use the layers as appropriate for conditions.

http://nsrdec.natick.army.mil/APBI/C...PBI_Castro.pdf

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...he-cold-02941/

Generation III ECWCS system incorporates 7 layers of clothing:

--light-weight Powerdry moisture wicking shirt and briefs

--mid-weight Polartec Powerdry moisture wicking shirt and briefs

--Polartec Thermal Pro fleece jacket

--nylon/ spandex wind jacket

--soft shell jacket and trousers using Nextec fabric

--Gore-Tex wet weather jacket and trousers

--Primaloft insulated loft parka and trousers for extreme cold weather conditions.


Wool socks and a fleece cap.

[exiledgator]

davisl: Down. And when it's really cold: down with a shell over it.

Down under a shell is like wearing a furnace. That down traps your body heat very effectively and the shell keeps it from seeping out of the down coat, and keeps the wind from cutting into the down and sweeping that heat away.

Two more keys I haven't seen mentioned:

Scarf. Seal off the collar. Heat rises and you don't want any escaping out between collar and neck.

Tuck. Be sure you tuck top and bottom layers together. This keeps heat in as well. Even better is a union suit.

I've been ice fishing all day in ~0* wearing from inside out:

- red union suit w/ drop (a$$ drops down for pooping)
- fleece pants/fleece jacket
- heavy overalls
- down coat
- sturdy shell
- add warm shoes / warm hat / warm gloves / flask of whiskey