By Robin Mayo

​As we jumped out of our warm cars and quickly got dressed for a day hike in the Alaska Range in December, my friend observed that she’s always trying for the perfect outfit.  We agreed that it is an elusive quest, and there is rarely a perfect solution. At the parking area, sluggish from the drive and facing a brisk wind, we bundled up.  But just a few minutes down the trail, which was blown in and involved occasional “post-holing” we were stopping to take off layers and stuff them in our packs.  At our destination, where we stopped to take pictures and have a snack, the layers went back on.  I was a little chilly when we started walking back, but again warmed quickly as soon as we got moving.
To make the problem even more challenging, everyone’s body reacts to cold a little differently.  Some people suffer from cold toes, while others fiercely dislike wearing hoods or large hats. Dressing for the cold is not a single formula but a complicated personal creative process.  But please don’t give up!  Especially with all the wondrous modern insulations and fabrics, it is worth figuring it out so you can get outside and enjoy the winter beauty.
The Basics:  For any sustained time outdoors in winter, you will need to add insulation to your whole body.  The biggest parka in the world will not help you if your legs are clad only in jeans, or enable you to go without decent boots, mittens and headwear.  The basics include “base layers” for the whole body, especially warm socks and long underwear.  You should also have insulated and windproof layers for your whole body, including  pants, coats, hats, mittens, and boots. 
Insulation = Air:  Truth is, it isn’t the garment itself which keeps you warm, but the air it traps.  Look for items which are puffy and loose enough to trap some air.  If an insulated garment is too tight, the insulation won’t be able to do its job.  My current winter jacket is a men’s large, which makes me wonder what large men wear, but it has room for several layers underneath, and the sleeves are long enough to pull over my hands.  When in doubt, choose the larger size, keeping in mind that if a garment is way too big it will be drafty and not as warm. A mushing friend uses the memorable rule of thumb that “your snowpants should be so puffy that you need a back-up beeper for your butt.”
Layers are the secret ingredient: Even if your jacket and snowpants are excellent, it is important to wear several layers underneath.  This traps more air, eliminates drafts, and gives you options.  On a drizzly blueberry picking foray in Thompson Pass last fall, I suddenly realized my young puppy was dangerously cold.  I took off one of the layers I was wearing under my raincoat to wrap her up, and soon after made her a raincoat of her own.
 Ideally your “next to skin” layer should not be cotton.  It traps moisture and can make you cold.  Instead look for synthetics, silk, or wool.  Technical base layers can be expensive, but many pajamas and loungewear are made of synthetic materials.  Last time I was at New to You there was an amazing array of fuzzy pajama pants and lightweight fleece jackets and pullovers which would work perfectly.
Windbreakers are magic: For WISE programs, we have a bag of raincoats and rainpants, which are often deployed in chilly situations even if there is no rain.  Especially if clothing is at all damp, the slightest breeze sucks the warmth out of you.  As well as windproof layers for your body and legs, think about windproof mittens and make sure your jacket hood is big enough to fit over your hat.
Accessorize for the perfect combo:  Collect a variety of hats, mittens, socks, and neckwear so you can try different combinations and learn what works for you.  I like to wear a lightweight stretchy neck tube (Buff is a popular brand) under a thicker fleece neck gaitor.  These layers can be pulled up or down in various combinations to protect my chin, cheeks and nose. For strong winds or riding the snowgo, I add a lightweight windproof balaclava.  I top it off with one of my many fuzzy hats, and pull up my hood if needed.  That old adage about losing 30% of your body heat through your head is true, plus ears, noses and cheeks are easy prey to frostbite. 
For my hands I also use a layering strategy.  A pair of thin gloves enable me to operate zippers and snaps, and can slip inside a larger pair of mittens.  I wear my overmitts dog-musher style, on a cord around my neck so they can be easily slipped off but won’t be left behind.
Ignite your Inner Furnace: Your body generates heat from movement, but when we start to feel cold we often “shut down,” and stop moving.  A brisk walk, jogging in place, some jumping jacks, or a silly dance are often all you need to crank up the furnace.  I’m going to take a potentially unpopular stance here and discourage use of those neat little “hot packs” as a substitute for dressing right and moving your body.  Don’t get me wrong, they have some great uses, especially in emergencies and for people with compromised circulation.  But especially for kids, using them as a substitute for learning to dress warmly and use the power of our own bodies is a disservice in the long run.
It is also important to feed your furnace with high-energy foods, including quick-burning fats and carbs.  This is another self-care skill we can teach kids, paying attention to fueling their bodies.  Eating may make you colder at first as your body kicks into digestion mode, but especially in the long run it is super important.
Know the signs of trouble: Cold injuries and conditions are serious and escalate quickly.  Frostbite and hypothermia are the most common, and can be hard to diagnose in ourselves, but easily spotted by companions.  A patch of white skin on the nose, cheeks, or ears is often the first sign of frostbite, and should be covered and gently warmed immediately. The first sign of hypothermia is “the -umbles.”  The victim may mumble when they talk, stumble when they walk, and fumble when they try to use their hands.  Unfortunately, hypothermia also often includes apathy and even flat-out denial, so you may need to be assertive to help your friend add layers and get moving to warm themselves.  More advanced hypothermia and frostbite are serious medical emergencies which require skilled response.

​Photo Caption:  My Mom celebrates her 83rd  birthday with a January hike in the Alaska Range.  It was about    -10F with a cold breeze.  She is wearing light gloves to operate the camera, and keeping heavy overmitts ready. 

By Robin Mayo
​It has been a while since we had a good cold snap, and although I do not enjoy dealing with frozen fingers, frozen trucks, frozen pipes, and all the other tribulations, there is a certain fierce joy in this kind of weather.  The alpenglow is gorgeous, the creak of the snow under your feet enticing, and there is a deep satisfaction in seeing the plume of woodsmoke rise from your chimney.  And hey, the best part of going out in the cold to do chores is coming back in, defrosting your glasses, and settling in with tea and a good book. And a 160-degree sauna at 40 below, earning membership in the 200-degree club?  Priceless.
This cold snap is treating me pretty well.  The scores so far:  Of the five Toyostoves I am responsible for, four are working.  Of the three water/sewer systems, one is frozen, one is thawed, and one is good but may be out of water soon if the water truck can’t roll.  Of the four vehicles I am responsible for, one is fine, one is startable (although I suspect each start takes years off its life,) and two are mercifully parked for the winter. Of the two woodpiles I am responsible for, both are fully stocked with well-seasoned spruce, cut to the right length.  Of my two offspring, both are in tropical locations.
But I’m reminded that it isn’t easy for everyone.  We took some extra propane tanks to a neighbor in a wheelchair who is going through a 20-pound tank almost every day keeping his water room warm. He figures he may have to go to Valdez for refills.  Driving to work today, I noticed freshly cut branches where someone had been cutting firewood from the road right of way.  Every one of us is just a split pipe, a broken fan belt, a gelled fuel line, or a chimney fire away from disaster.
Yet we lean into this weather instead of fleeing.  I grew up in Fairbanks during the 70’s and 80’s, when very long cold snaps were more common, so it is tempting to dismiss this current one and tell some stories about the good old days.  Were we just tougher back then, or are our memories short?  Midwinter cold snaps bring back the smell of starter fluid squirted into a carburetor, the distinctive sound a vehicle makes when it barely turns over but it is not going to start.  Not after being plugged in for 12 hours, not if you blast it with the propane weed burner, and especially not if the flame gets too close to the wiring.
I turned a mountain of moose into sausage and watched some football this weekend, ate too much bacon and cupcakes.  My Mom has been wishing for some extra warm mittens, so I cut up an old sweater, layered it with polar fleece and quallofil, and stitched near the fire.  In other words, a perfect winter weekend.
On Friday, town was full of dog mushers, hardy souls who know how to dress for winter.  It is impossible to recognize anyone in their winter garb, so I waved to every round figure waddling about town in the smog from all the idling vehicles.  And I waved to the teenagers in their hoodies, warmed by the energy and fire of youth.  Some things don’t change.

Copper River Record January 16, 2020
By Robin Mayo
It has been a while since we had a good cold snap, and although I do not enjoy dealing with frozen fingers, frozen trucks, frozen pipes, and all the other tribulations, there is a certain fierce joy in this kind of weather.  The alpenglow is gorgeous, the creak of the snow under your feet enticing, and there is a deep satisfaction in seeing the plume of woodsmoke rise from your chimney.  And hey, the best part of going out in the cold to do chores is coming back in, defrosting your glasses, and settling in with tea and a good book. And a 160-degree sauna at 40 below, earning membership in the 200-degree club?  Priceless.
This cold snap is treating me pretty well.  The scores so far:  Of the five Toyostoves I am responsible for, four are working.  Of the three water/sewer systems, one is frozen, one is thawed, and one is good but may be out of water soon if the water truck can’t roll.  Of the four vehicles I am responsible for, one is fine, one is startable (although I suspect each start takes years off its life,) and two are mercifully parked for the winter. Of the two woodpiles I am responsible for, both are fully stocked with well-seasoned spruce, cut to the right length.  Of my two offspring, both are in tropical locations.
But I’m reminded that it isn’t easy for everyone.  We took some extra propane tanks to a neighbor in a wheelchair who is going through a 20-pound tank almost every day keeping his water room warm. He figures he may have to go to Valdez for refills.  Driving to work today, I noticed freshly cut branches where someone had been cutting firewood from the road right of way.  Every one of us is just a split pipe, a broken fan belt, a gelled fuel line, or a chimney fire away from disaster.
Yet we lean into this weather instead of fleeing.  I grew up in Fairbanks during the 70’s and 80’s, when very long cold snaps were more common, so it is tempting to dismiss this current one and tell some stories about the good old days.  Were we just tougher back then, or are our memories short?  Midwinter cold snaps bring back the smell of starter fluid squirted into a carburetor, the distinctive sound a vehicle makes when it barely turns over but it is not going to start.  Not after being plugged in for 12 hours, not if you blast it with the propane weed burner, and especially not if the flame gets too close to the wiring.
I turned a mountain of moose into sausage and watched some football this weekend, ate too much bacon and cupcakes.  My Mom has been wishing for some extra warm mittens, so I cut up an old sweater, layered it with polar fleece and quallofil, and stitched near the fire.  In other words, a perfect winter weekend.
On Friday, town was full of dog mushers, hardy souls who know how to dress for winter.  It is impossible to recognize anyone in their winter garb, so I waved to every round figure waddling about town in the smog from all the idling vehicles.  And I waved to the teenagers in their hoodies, warmed by the energy and fire of youth.  Some things don’t change.

Copper River Record  2014
By Janelle Eklund
Have you ever driven in these kind of conditions: The temperature about 0°F. Billions of small white dry looking flakes of snow filter down from the sky. Driving along in the day light the visibility isn't too bad but a 'dust cloud' of snow obscures the view to almost zero visibility as you obviously approach another vehicle in front of you. The only clue there is a vehicle in front of you is the cloud of snow. Best to stay far enough away and still have some visibility. Even then, as traffic whizzes by going the opposite direction the visibility is instantly brought to zero.  That's when you slow almost to a stop but then worry about another vehicle that might be behind you and not slowing down as much, giving the potential of slamming into you. Even though, as you leave the safety of your home and the light flaked snowfall doesn't look like much, it can be dangerous. Passing another vehicle in this kind of weather can make for a disaster.  Don't do it. There have been a couple of these incidents in the area over the years and the results were devastating and deadly. So it's good to think ahead before venturing out in a dusty snow kind of day. This kind of condition can creep up while you are already out and want to make it home, so be smart and careful.
 
Winter storms can bring Blizzards or Chinooks. Storms are created when two different air masses clash and fight for their own life. For example, when a cold dry mass from the north travels south and hits a warm moist air mass from the south traveling north the fight begins in what is called a front. If the cold air is stronger and pushes away the warm air, then there will be a cold front. If the warm air is stronger and manages to lift over the dense cold air mass, then it will be the winner, creating a warm front. If neither of them are moving fast and not in the mood for a fight then it's a stationary front.
 
We have had both Blizzards and Chinooks in the Copper Basin. Although I haven't seen too many Blizzards. Blizzards are long heavy snowstorms with very high winds. A Chinook is when the warm air mass wins out replacing the cold polar air mass. Seems like every winter we get at least one Chinook come through and the change in temperature is very dramatic. I have seen it go from minus thirty or forty degrees to plus thirty or forty degrees in a matter of hours. One needs to think about safety in both of these conditions.  Blizzards can reduce visibility and create a deadly wind chill factor. Chinooks have been known as a 'snow eater' because its warm and dry air melts the snow very fast. The ground is most likely frozen under the snow and as the snow melts it makes a great ice skating rink - not one that you would walk on without snow cleats on your boots. Last year I thought I was being very careful during this situation when I gingerly walked to the mail box - minus snow cleats. Before I knew it I was laying flat on my back and as my head hit the frozen driveway I heard a crack. I laid there for a minute wondering if I still had all my faculties. I was truly amazed that I got up and walked - or crawled - away unscathed and a day or two later still felt no concussion type symptoms. Maybe it knocked some sense into me - or not - hah! I swear the skull is made of rock - what a great protector! At least after that I wore the snow cleats until they wore out and the ice rink went away. Yes, it's a hassle putting them on but better than knocking yourself silly or breaking a bone.
 
These Chinooks can also make for unstable snow in Thompson Pass or any mountain pass. High mountains, steep slopes, warm conditions, and unstable snow is the recipe for an avalanche. This was what happened last year at Keystone Canyon on the way to Valdez. This spectacular massive event cut off the flow of the Lowe River and buried the road, making national news. DOT will close the pass if there are avalanches.
 
Take note and be prepared for any winter weather conditions. Stock your car with a warm blanket or sleeping bag, shovel, snacks, water, flares, tow rope, first aid kit, and make sure you have a winter hat and coat, mittens, snow boots, etc. If you are traveling a long distance it's more comfortable to slip on a pair of street shoes while you are riding in the car but make sure you have your winter boots nearby where you can get at them in case of an accident - or better yet - wear them. This goes for other winter gear too.
 
Before traveling listen to the weather forecast. Winter Weather Advisories means there may be high accumulations of snow, freezing rain, or sleet. These can all be potentially dangerous. Take heed when you hear a Winter Storm Warning. This means there are very hazardous conditions and it's best not to travel. The snow, freezing rain or sleet is very heavy and the potential for disaster is great. These warnings are usually announced 12-24 hours before the event is expected.
 
Take note of the weather as you venture out this winter. Be safe and enjoy its beauty.
 
From my light to yours-
 
Reference: www.weatherwizkids.com