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Story by Tim Jones
Photograph by Stephen O. Muskie

If you spend as much time outdoors as I do, however, you quickly find out that there's a lot more to cold than just temperature. Wind, of course plays a big part in how cold it feels, but so does humidity. Damp cold just plain feels colder than dry cold because the moisture aids heat transfer -- just as wet clothes rob you of warmth.

And, not surprisingly, "cold" has a lot to do with the person feeling it. Some people tolerate the cold better than others, and some people, like me, seem to respond to cold differently on different days.

If you want to enjoy the winter in New England, you'd better know something about coping with the cold. Otherwise, you're going to be trapped indoors, dreaming of warmer climates.

Coping well with the cold starts with good common sense. The first rule: always prepare for colder weather than you expect. If you're headed for a mountain to ski, snowshoe, or climb, remember that the temperature there doesn't have anything to do with the temperature at your home. I live only three miles in a straight line from the mountain where I do most of my winter recreating, yet no matter what the temperature is at home, I always expect it to be colder there than here. I'm rarely disappointed and I'm always prepared.

Coping with the cold means starting with everything warm and dry. If you spend any time at all among newcomers to the winter outdoors, you'll inevitably run into people who have left their hat, gloves, and boots in the car overnight. Is it any wonder their hands and feet get cold?

My boots for alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and general winter walking spend the night before an expedition, and the night they come home from one, on an electric dryer, so they start each day warm and dry. I carry them in the front seat with the heater blowing on them.

When I'm downhill skiing, I carry a hair dryer in my boot bag. If the boots get cold on the trip from the parking lot to the lodge, I warm them up before I put them on. The hair dryer also comes in handy for midday warm-ups in extreme cold.

Dressing in layers is the best strategy for coping with the cold. I won't wear any cotton next to my skin while outdoors in the winter. Cotton and even silk absorb moisture too readily, and if you work up any kind of sweat, you're going to get chilled.

A few years ago, wool was the only alternative -- and it's still a good one. But polyesters, like L.L. Bean's Sport Series 3, Patagonia's Capilene, and DuPont's Thermax, are the best material I've found for underwear, followed by polypropylene or soft wool. In really cold weather I'll wear two layers of underwear -- superlightweight runners underwear topped by a midweight or heavyweight, and top that with as many layers of wool sweaters, fleece pants and jackets, and vests as it takes to keep warm, and top everything with a windproof shell -- pants and jacket.

Right here's as good a place as any for a note on "The Wind-Chill Factor." Every winter you can hear the weather wonks on radio and TV warning you to "beware of the dangerous Wind-Chill Factor as soon as the temperature drops below 50 degrees and the wind begins to move the flag outside the window of their hermetically sealed offices.

Don't listen to them!

If you dress properly and put on a windproof outer shell, the Wind-Chill Factor ceases to be a problem.

A lot of kids, especially snowboarders, like to dress in baggy jeans, huge flannel shirts, and oversized sweaters. Cool? It certainly is when the wind blows right through it. Get yourself a good parka with a tightly woven nylon shell or, better yet, a waterproof/breathable layer such as Gore-tex.

A windproof, thick wool or fleece hat is essential for warmth. Headbands and baseball style caps may look very fashionable, but they won't keep you warm. The old saying, "If your feet are cold, put on your hat," is absolutely true.

For your hands, try a thin liner glove inside insulated ski mittens. And when it gets really cold, stick your regular mittens inside a windproof nylon or leather over-mitten.

Keeping your face warm can be a challenge. Start with a good moisturizing sunscreen. The oil base will help protect your skin. Then add a neck warmer you can pull up, a hat you can pull down, and a pair of good goggles to cover the space between. Goggles that won't fog up are expensive, but they last if you take care of them, and they are worth every cent you spend when the wind and snow are flying. I've recently discovered the neoprene, fleece, and turtle-fur face masks that fasten over your chin, check and nose. They cost less than $20, and will help keep you cozy even on a chairlift or snowmobile ride with the wind hammering your face. The neoprene seems to work the best in deep cold.

Don't forget that you also need fuel to keep you warm. Being outside on a cold day is a perfect excuse to indulge a little. Yes, you need a little protein and lots of carbohydrates. But you also need some fat in your diet for long-term warmth. I always carry a Snickers bar or two in my parka for emergencies and a thermos of real hot chocolate. Outdoors in the cold is no time to be counting calories, so turn off that nagging little voice inside your head and enjoy yourself.

In order to burn that fuel efficiently, you must keep your body hydrated. In cold weather you lose a lot of fluid just inhaling dry cold air and exhaling warm moist air. Drinking lots of the right liquids is important. Caffeine is not really good for you in cold weather. And alcohol is an absolute no-no. It sends a flush of warmth to the skin, but robs you of the core heat you need to stay warm. I drink lots of hot decaf tea with a shot of honey. My boys prefer cool (not cold) juice and seltzer. Either way, it's the fluid that's most important.

The real trick with staying warm in cold weather is partly preparation -- and partly psychological. If you're dressed properly and go out with the intention of staying warm and having a good time, chances are you will. Wouldn't you rather be out enjoying the winter than be held prisoner by the cold?