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Skiing in dangerous temperatures

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Dobber
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 9,835
Everybody in the Midwest is used to cold weather... But is skiing really worth the risk when the wind chill hits -30 or -40℉? I want to make the most out of the time I get on weekends but sometimes Wisconsin is unforgiving. It is disappointing how many nice days get ruined by cold weather around here. What is your limit? Ski in these temps or stay home?
Feb 12 2015 12:01AM
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rtl32
Posts: 679 - Karma: 1,161
1.) There is a reason we wear special jackets and pants

2.) You are skiing, even of they air is perfectly still you would create your own wind chill from just moving down the mountain through all the air molecules.

3.) Just wear extra layers. It's that simple, maybe a facemask if you want.
Feb 12 2015 12:03AM
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shin-bang
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 6,997
i just wear two of everything but socks. including skis, boots, face mask, helmet, the whole nine yards
Feb 12 2015 12:04AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51744 - Karma: 163,531
Worked at gore one day when there was a -73 windchill. NBD. Got frostbite in the
Feb 12 2015 12:22AM
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saskskier
Posts: 4774 - Karma: 10,005
Back in high school I used to go to my local hill (northern Saskatchewan) just about every day regardless of weather. Those days it hit -35/40c (if they didn't close the hill), I would usually do a few runs, warm up and do some more. Granted, my hill had about 90 ft of vert, had lots of tree shelter and had a rope tow (chair lift would be brutal in those temps) so every run was like 30 seconds.
Feb 12 2015 12:35AM
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M.M
Posts: 1696 - Karma: 4,494
I've skied a whole day in -35 C ish without windchill, get at me lol
Feb 12 2015 1:07AM
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freestyler540
Posts: 13110 - Karma: 18,935
the problem with extreme cold is humidity. Make sure you keep everything dry at all times. You also naturally sweat for no particular reason, even when you are cold. Try not putting on socks in the morning, you will notice quite a bit of shiny sweat on your feet. Same thing happens in the ski boot and gloves.

Layering permits you to remove layers as your body warms up to avoid sweating and overheating. Change your socks and gloves when either limb gets cold. Wear a face cover, but be careful with your breath;its charged with humidity.
Feb 12 2015 10:29AM
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Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
I ski extreme cold all the time, I ain't no bitch. Just wear proper base layers (mainly not cotton), keep moving, play chairlift games, cover up those exposed skin spots when its windy, and get a good pair of mitts not gloves and fuck you'll be shredding in Antarctic -70 no problem.
Feb 12 2015 10:39AM
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S.J.W
Posts: 7609 - Karma: 31,186
Bring spare everything. Including socks and face masks.
Feb 12 2015 10:45AM
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NMMedia
Posts: 982 - Karma: 1,700
It's for sure worth it. Cover up that skin and you're fine
Feb 12 2015 10:58AM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
Skied a couple weeks ago in -30 windchill. Just took a bunch of breaks and what not. Layered up like crazy and rocked hand warmers and was fine. Worst part is hiding your face. I hate neck/face warmers so much so that bothered me. Wouldnt have gone out honestly unless it snowed a lot. Was with some friends who spent like $100 bucks a day for tickets
Feb 12 2015 11:23AM
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Mr.noodle
Posts: 1361 - Karma: 4,655
theabortionatorWorked at gore one day when there was a -73 windchill. NBD. Got frostbite in the


Shit, when was that?
Feb 12 2015 11:32AM
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,165
-40 windchill is not too bad. I've skied shirtless in -30 with -50 to -60 windchill. Northern Minnesota can get brutal. Don't want to think about the northern Canadian plains though. The worst part about brutal cold is that the snow is sticky and so are the rails from the lack of moisture in the air.
Feb 12 2015 11:38AM
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Holzsteezy*
Posts: 584 - Karma: 1,110
john18061806-40 windchill is not too bad. I've skied shirtless in -30 with -50 to -60 windchill. Northern Minnesota can get brutal. Don't want to think about the northern Canadian plains though. The worst part about brutal cold is that the snow is sticky and so are the rails from the lack of moisture in the air.


fucking russian
Feb 12 2015 12:49PM
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Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,011
I have frostbite issues with my big toes so these days I try to avoid going skiing if it gets below -25c (mountain temp). Said fuck it and went out when it was -30c at the trailhead early last year. That was a very unpleasant night when the feet started thawing.
Feb 12 2015 12:50PM
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Randel
Posts: 123 - Karma: 178
Also being from Wisconsin I know that sometimes no amount of layering will help. On days where it hit -20 or lower the snow dries out so much it's hard to move and the cold is usually accompanied with high winds. It's still worth it to be out there when there isn't anybody despite the occasional frostbit fingers, toes, nose, and ears.
Feb 12 2015 5:01PM
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Nacho+
Posts: 3748 - Karma: 7,791
Just dress warm. If the wind isn't bad I won't wear a facemask when its -20 out.
Feb 12 2015 7:31PM
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PoLaRpEaK
Posts: 439 - Karma: 555
DrailI have frostbite issues with my big toes so these days I try to avoid going skiing if it gets below -25c (mountain temp). Said fuck it and went out when it was -30c at the trailhead early last year. That was a very unpleasant night when the feet started thawing.


Went at -33 at the trail head early this season... brrrr, good ol kananaskis.
Feb 12 2015 7:45PM
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steezbox
Posts: 1394 - Karma: 701
I don't know man. At a certain point the discomfort of the cold just becomes overbearing and you can't even try to ignore it while skiing. Not worth it at that point really. Especially when the conditions are shit. Pure ice runs in -30 is no fun at all.
Feb 12 2015 7:48PM
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rozboon
Posts: 1642 - Karma: 868
I spent some time in Fernie, BC where it occasionally got unbelievably cold... I think the hill would close the lifts at about -35c because of the risk of frostbite when riding up the chairs.
We tried skiing around that temperature one morning... went badly. First lift queue I was in my goggles fogged up due to the massive temperature difference between inside them and out, then the fog froze on the lenses so they had no hope... skied the next run with no goggles, was so cold that my eyes started watering, then my eyelashes started freezing together when I blinked. Somewhere around that point I decided to go home and drink rum in the hot tub instead.
Feb 12 2015 7:54PM
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.otto.
Posts: 3494 - Karma: 12,899
I ski Antartica almost every day -161 temps and all, i aint no pussy.
Feb 12 2015 8:03PM
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450out.
Posts: 596 - Karma: 517
Lair some Arc'teryx and you'll be golden. On the really cold days I pair a Cerium LT with a Stikine and I'd need to work to get cold.
Feb 12 2015 8:48PM
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minihef
Posts: 813 - Karma: 781
The most important thing is to constantly check for frostbite. Check your friends faces and get them to check yours and if there are any white patches go in and warm up. If your toes start feeling numb go in and warm up. Getting frostbite sucks and the effects will stay with you for a long time if you're playing in the cold.
Feb 12 2015 9:57PM
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Microcosm
Posts: 4765 - Karma: 153
minihefThe most important thing is to constantly check for frostbite. Check your friends faces and get them to check yours and if there are any white patches go in and warm up. If your toes start feeling numb go in and warm up. Getting frostbite sucks and the effects will stay with you for a long time if you're playing in the cold.


Ooooof, this. Look over and their nose is a crazy unnatural white? Let them know asap!


Personal I'm a big, big fan of a jacket with a hood that can fit over your helmet, with the front top of the zipped part of the jacket covering your face and nose. It really saves ya on those long, frigid, windy lift rides. I can add a bunch of tech layers under my pants and under my jacket easily, but there will always be that exposed skin/ places for extreme wind to get in around your nose/ neck warmer/ goggles. Throwing my hood up and becoming my own cocoon on the lift ride has saved me so many times. Also huddling for warmth/ holding the head down closer to the bottom and away from the wind, etc. Yeah, yeah it doesn't look all badass and thug but I'm too old for that shit anyway.. it's cold!!!!!
Feb 12 2015 11:36PM
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EbonSupplyCo
Posts: 73 - Karma: 421
Put in a lot of days when it's this cold. Biggest thing is how iced up and hard everything gets. You ski on snow as hard as cement all day, and are painfully cold all day. On the rare situation you get a dump of snow then it drops to be that cold, then it might be worth it. Otherwise however, I would say it's not worth. Save yourself the pain, and wait for a nicer day.

That being said, I often don't listen to my own advice. Because I want to ski so bad, but I usually regret it halfway through the day.
Feb 13 2015 12:22PM
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caucasian_chad
Posts: 4078 - Karma: 3,625
When I raced I had to ski in the cold for practice. The only time we cancelled was if the hill shut down. Now that I don't race any more though I won't ski if it's below like -10 unless it's a pow day, then I'll ski in any temperature.
Feb 13 2015 2:34PM
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