 Poster: A snowHead
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Going to Tignes at the weekend and looking at the weather forecast its going to be -20degC when we arrive warming up to -15 by Tuesday. Its supposed to be -43 at the top tonight with the wind chill. Any tips for stying warm in extreme cold?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Marvel, don't go up the Grand Motte, for a start. 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Balaclava or snood that can cover your whole face & neck
Lots and lots of layers
Don't even think about taking off your gloves for a photo op
Keep skiing 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Marvel, layers (penty of them!) face mask and toe warmers for your boots, tis what I learned in Canada, you wont be easy to recognise but at least you'll be warm-ish! 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Marvel, i've just been in oslo, where it was between (a positively balmy in comparison) -2C and -18C over 7 days. i used these techniques to keep warm when i went to the local resort (~600m altitude).
facemask (+ spare in a pocket),
keep moving,
wear double-layer gloves (cos sometimes you have to take a glove off) so your hands remain covered
use hand warmers in the double-layer gloves (stick the hand warmer between the layers)
use feet warmers,
ensure you wear a helmet and/or head covering
wear goggles
keep your head down on the chair lifts - it can get windy in some parts of l'espace killy
the layering would depend on how hot/cold you run, but add on at least one extra on top and bottom compared to your "usual" set up.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Primaloft middle layer instead of fleece. I have a Keela Belay jacket - fantastic. But if it's really cold, you may need one with a hood
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-15C isn't that cold..  But -43 including windchill is certainly chilly. These are my tips....
Liner glovers then big mitts with a handwarmer in between the layers.
Facemask is essential.
Consider loosening the boots on lifts etc to get some circulation back in the foot if you normally tighten it right down.
Primaloft is excellent as a mid-layer.
Don't ski quite as hard initially as if you sweat it will chill you to the bone on the lifts.
Never take your gloves off and drop them in the snow, on a table etc. Always take gloves off and stuff them inside jacket. Otherwise any sweat in the gloves just freezes and that is unpleasant.
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Loads of layers. Good head cover. Protect face. Make sure you ski with a buddy - preferably buddies - and keep an eye on one another. Try to keep out of the wind. BTDT. TBH, it can get to the stage that you are trying to convince yourself that it is fun when it is not. At which time it is time to find somewhere warm for a hot drink.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Boot heaters. I've got a frostbitten toe which is now blistering up as a result of three days of -20 degrees. Wish I'd bought boot heaters now rather when I get back to the UK in January 
Also keep an eye on your ski mates for signs of frostnip. We've had a couple of clients with frostnip cheeks or nose.
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rob@rar,  hope you get better soon.
I'm not completely sure what frost'nip' is, but a few years ago in Verbier I managed to get 'numb' in my nose, lips and chin. It felt numb and strange for several weeks. Properly felt like nerve damage.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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ski instructor started checkin my nephews face when we were sking in -30 a few years back. we were a bit puzzeld when he said we had to go down fast to get indoors. he told us later he was checkin for frost bite on the face as my nephew had white spots on his face and this was the starting signs of frostbite! dont know if this was bs or not but have made sure everyone in group carries a balaclava ever since
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| creedgearoid wrote: |
| ... he was checkin for frost bite on the face as my nephew had white spots on his face and this was the starting signs of frostbite! dont know if this was bs or not |
No, not BS. That's what you should be looking for (white, waxy patches of skin). This is Stage 1 frostbite commonly called frostnip.
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| Mr Technique wrote: |
| rob@rar, hope you get better soon. |
It's not a big deal, just a bit sore especially in ski bots. Seems to have warmed up here a bit this evening, so tomorrow should be a bit less brutal.
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Frostbite "not a big deal" claims rock hard alpha male Welshman.
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Poster: A snowHead
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rob@rar, oops, cross post.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Who do you think you are, Gavin bloody Henson?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Lots of cash - you will need hot drinks!!!!!
Something to cover your head/face fully while on the lifts
Ride gondolas
Make sure your boots are not cold before you start - I once left mine in boot room and they got taken off the rack so I had cool boots, my feet never really warmed up
Don't get on a lift if you are even starting to feel cold, get inside ASAP and get warm
fleeces and thin layers dont work so well in wind chill, even with gortex you soon cool down
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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This thread really isn't selling sking to me...
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I believe at around about -40 exposed flesh will freeze in around a minute so I'd stay lower down if possible! It's certainly getting to the stage where frost nip can set in fast and quickly develop into frost bite and then there's hypothermia to consider which, especially with kids, can develop very quickly indeed.
The thing about wind chill as opposed to a very low temperature in settled conditions is it is far harder to wrap up against it, you need to layer up for sure but you'll need more layers and make sure zips are closed tight and extremities are well covered. The body can loose heat very fast in those sorts of conditions and the results of that can be very nasty indeed if not arrested by getting indoors and into the warmth.
Bottom line is be very careful indeed!
rob@rar, sorry to hear about the frost bite, get well soon.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I was in Banff when it was -40deg. The liftees were doing frostbite checks.
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Marvel, Yes, its seems to be a little bit cold for the weekend,, I´m scandinavian,, so this temperatures are not exeptionel for me,,, now I live in france, there it not used to be so cold. But anyway, don´t get u to the top,, specelly not if there is very windy,, I dont used to ski Tignes before end of february, Early in season I want to have chance to ski in more windprotected area,, (lower altitude), Think about to help to look for frostbites in face (white parts) and take brakes, go inside, take clothes off,, Have a nice weekend and take care about U,,,
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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So other than being cold and numb, how do you know you have got frost bite in your feet?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Don't worry, I've skied in Norway -25C and 15 m/s, it's OK for adults, kids are smaller and cools much faster/easier. But something to put in front of your face is a must.
In case it gets cold get down where the wind is not so brutal, that will make a huge difference.
TheDane
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| creedgearoid wrote: |
| ... he was checkin for frost bite on the face as my nephew had white spots on his face and this was the starting signs of frostbite! dont know if this was bs or not |
No, not BS. That's what you should be looking for (white, waxy patches of skin). This is Stage 1 frostbite commonly called frostnip. |
My wife must have frostbite of the @rse
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
| rob@rar wrote: |
No, not BS. That's what you should be looking for (white, waxy patches of skin). This is Stage 1 frostbite commonly called frostnip. |
My wife must have frostbite of the @rse |
Frosty the Snowman, I take it your wife doesn't read the forum then? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Hipflask + Scoth of course!
More seriously, get your feet warm in your boots before you go outside/start skiing, or they'll never warm up. Helps if you can have you boots pre-warming over night on a drier/etc too. DO NOT take your gloves off outside, cover your face with a buff or facemask or something. If you can carry spare layers in a bag that would be good, you can take someone to a bar to put them on.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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FAQ
That's the first time I've been described as an Alpha Male. I'm most grateful 
Bit late isn't it? You give every sign of having already bought it! 
