What
Use the layering method when packing for an expedition to ensure you can survive unexpected cold conditions.
Why
Hypothermia can be life-threatening and it doesn’t have to be super cold to start cooling your body below 95 degrees f. Even in the summer, summits can be much colder than you think, especially when it’s windy.
The temperature drops 3.5 to 5 degrees f per thousand feet of elevation gain. Our hobby means you’ll most likely be climbing up in elevation and it will probably be cooler than the trailhead. The weather can change unexpectedly; arriving on a windy summit while covered in sweat will cause you to chill fast. Additionally, you could be stuck on the mountain longer than expected if you or someone else gets hurt, you become lost, or other unforeseen events cause a delay.
What I And Others Do
Brief the weather before you leave. This is actually “Tip #4” in my series, and is applicable here. Knowing the 24 hour forecast can help inform what you should bring.
Use the “layering” method. This approach uses thin layers of clothing (rather than one thick one), allowing you to adapt to changing weather conditions, levels of activity, and different geographical environments. Base layers should wick sweat off your skin, typically made from poliesters, wool, or merino wool. Add insulating layers like wool or synthetic fleece, and then a shell to stop the wind if necessary. Exclude cotton from your kit since it’s a poor insulator when it gets wet.
My standard loadout always includes bringing a fleece and a rain shell. You would be amazed how effective putting on a light fleece and shell can help in cold windy weather. Obviously, staying dry is a critical factor to avoid becoming chilled, but the shell also doubles as a wind breaker. Add a light fleece under the shell and you have a very effective start at layering. I also have a light beanie for my bald head that has come in handy in the middle of the summer on a high windy summit. In the winter, I’ll carry just a bit more, which sometimes includes a puffy jacket, gloves and a warmer beanie.
Don’t forget to hydrate. When it’s cold, you’re more likely to forget. Proper hydration also helps you stay warm. I cover more about hydration in Safety Tip #1.
Hot days. Since we are talking about clothing I’d be remiss in ignoring hot weather. I’m used to dressing for warm or hot days. Pulling from my experience and desert survival class in the Army, I’ve found that covering as much of your skin as possible from direct sun is the best approach. I use a light hoodie to keep the sun off my arms, and when needed, off my neck (which makes a huge difference not to mention lowers probability of skin cancer). Long, light weight pants do the same thing for your lower body and as a bonus, reduces gouges on your legs from the local chaparral and helps keep things that bite and cling (like tics) at bay. If you start to become overheated, wet some cloth and breathe through it - it’s amazingly effective.
If you get into conditions that you aren’t prepared for, be OK with aborting the trip and try another day. Being OK with aborting the trip before you leave the house will go a long way to reducing your overall risk. It’s a mindset all pilots have when starting an approach in bad weather. They begin the landing approach expecting to execute their backup plan because they won’t see the runway.
Experiment with what works best for you and take some time to learn about layering if you haven’t already, there are no fashion police, and have some fun.
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Visit HamNinja.com/safetytips to see all the tips as they are published. More safety tips to come.
The Ham Ninja’s SOTA Safety Tips
SOTA Safety Tips is a weekly series of quick tips to remember to improve safety of the hobby. This was inspired by the SoCal SOTA group’s meetings on this topic and will be sourced from my own and others' experience. Don’t forget, you also need to support your group and others with this knowledge. I’ll keep these as short as possible. You probably also noticed I’m a pilot, steeped in the culture of safety, AKA try not to kill yourself. Send feedback to safetytips@HamNinja.com.
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