Outings in frigid weather require dressing smart

The majority of Maine sportsmen are well aware of how to stay warm while enjoying outdoor activities during normal winter temperatures. During the last two weeks, however, our region has been turned into a giant deep freeze, with a wind machine accessory to provide further misery in the form of record-breaking chill factors.

Smart sports turned to indoor pastimes such as fly tying, reloading shells, rod repair, and reading to pass the time while the mercury plunged below the clapboards and stayed there day after day. A few hearty souls (read that to mean stir crazy outdoorsmen whose urges overcame common sense) did venture out ice fishing, chasing rabbits, or varmint gunning.

Despite being somewhat addled by cabin fever, these sportsmen who ventured forth in the severe cold weather actually enjoyed themselves and kept warm during the outings. If someone really backed me into a corner with direct questions, I might have to admit being a member on one or perhaps two of these frigid ventures, and that we depended on far more than warm clothes to maintain comfort. Severe cold quickly affects feet and hands, sapping feeling and flexibility from fingers and toes, while quickly causing frostbite to any exposed skin. Ears and noses are very susceptible to damage and can quickly be affected when temperatures reach 25 below and colder.

Think layers

Let there be no doubt that the most effective method of retaining and conserving body heat is through layering clothes. Usually three distinct overlays, occasionally four, composed of long underwear, pants and shirt, and outerwear comprise the basic system. On very cold days a one-piece body suit, perhaps of fleece, can be added between the inner two levels. On moderately cold but wet and windy days, an outer layer comprised of a one-piece waterproof snowmobile suit, or a two-piece Gore-Tex rain suit, will hold in warmth yet repel rain, sleet, snow, and bitter winds.

Outdoor clothing comprised of spun silk, fleece, polypropylene, and wool blends have been used effectively for years, but modern synthetic materials with brand names such as Thermax, Polartec, and Thinsulate are moving to the forefront in preserving heat, wicking away perspiration, and resisting cold. Over the years I have had occasion to wear most of the older and newer cold-weather clothing, and for my money, wool, goose down, and Gore-Tex in some combination is superior to any other layering composition.

Sea duck hunting from an exposed ledge in January, laying on snow-covered frozen ground among goose decoys in December, huddled in a snow bank on a February night waiting for coyote, or ice fishing all day in below zero temperatures requires some special clothing. Wool-blend long johns under goose down, insulated underwear under wool pants and shirt, and a goose down jacket with Gore-Tex rain pants get the job done for me. Whatever material you settle on, buy larger than normal sizes for the outer layers so twisting, turning and extensive movement won’t cause the ankles, wrist, waist, and neck clothing overlays to pull open and gap, allowing warm air out and skin to be exposed.

Skin to toe

Heads, toes, and fingers require special attention. A thick woven wool ski hat that pulls down over the ears offers excellent heat retention and skin protection. A few waterfowling caps with fur-lined earflaps that actually cover each cheek and tie or Velcro under the chin also offer great insulation for winter outings. But when winds and low temperatures combine to cause skin damage and frostbite within minutes of exposure, a full facemask is the only real protection.

My mother-in-law knitted me a double-layer wool-blend head sock that covers my head, face, and neck fully to the top of my shoulders and has only two eyeholes as openings. Once donned with a jacket pulled over the lower neckline and zipped tightly, this facemask withstands any weather and even preserves heat when wet. To top it off, she knitted a green/brown/tan camo pattern into my special facemask, and when the weather isn’t frigid, I can roll up the lower section and wear it as a hat.

Wool, neoprene, and synthetic material facemasks, neck gaiters, and balaclavas offering various face and head covering options are available at sporting goods stores and through catalogs if no one in your family knits. Look for special features such as drawstrings, camo patterns, scent lock, and heat exchange devices over the nose and mouth to reduce water vapor, warm incoming air, and heat the facial area.

Extreme weather boots must be waterproof and insulated, and even then it’s smart to use stocking layers to retain warmth. Make sure footwear is large enough to accommodate a light inner sock to wick away moisture and a heavier outer stocking to retain heat. I use thin polypropylene socks as an inner layer and knit wool socks as an outer layer. I have also had great results using Thinsulate-lined Gore-Tex stretch oversocks, and for the very worst conditions when I’m not able to be mobile, like in a winter goose blind or varmint stand, I turn to battery-operated, heated stockings.

There are dozens of dependable styles and makes of winter boots, but it’s hard to beat two-part footwear. A high, waterproof outer boot and a removable felt inner liner will provide comfort and warmth. Often called Pacs or Sorel’s, these dual-layer boots occasionally come with special pockets or pouches to hold chemical heat packets to assure warm, dry feet in deep freeze conditions like standing on ice or in snow all day.

No matter what gloves you select, sooner or later you’re going to have to expose your hands to bait a hook, load a shell, or unhook a fish. The trick is to rewarm the fingers quickly without having to fight to get gloves back on, even if hands are wet. One option is to select thick multi-layer gloves or mittens that have slits or fold-back tops that allow use of the fingers without removing the entire glove.

A second choice would be to wear a thin flexible waterproof inner glove and a heavy, protective outer mitten that slips on and off easily and restores heat quickly. One of my proven combos is a space glove, cloth interwoven with reflective, heat-saving metal fibers, and a Thinsulate-lined heavy wool mitten as the outer layer.

Portable heat

In many cases, no matter how well dressed an outdoorsman is from head to toe, clothing is just not enough. This is where a compact, power source of heat can extend an outing and make it not only tolerable, but comfortable. For years I carried a liquid-fueled Jon-E hand warmer that proved a great all-day heat source. The downfall was that it had to be filled with lighter fluid before each use and if its air supply was shut off for too long, like being left in a closed pocket, it had to be relit, often a chore in the wind. On appropriate outings I still use my sturdy metal Jon-E, and no closed heat source offers such a warm steady output.

Solid fuel hand warmers were all the rage for awhile, because the enclosed fuel sticks would burn and provide heat under any conditions. These units were compact, about the size of a deck of cards, dependable, and simple to use, but never provided as much heat as I desired.

Chemical warmers are the current boon to cold-weather sportsmen. One type is a one- use disposable plastic bag filled with chemical compounds that release prolonged heat when mixed, or when removed from an outer plastic packet and exposed to air. Most take 15 to 30 minutes to achieve maximum warmth, often over 125 degrees, and various brands and sizes last from four to 20 hours.

Some small packets are shaped to fit under the toes, held in place with adhesive backing inside the boot, while others fit into pouches attached to elastic bands that go around the wrist, warming blood passing to the fingers. Larger packs go across the small of the back to keep the kidney region comfy, and some really big warmers come with a fleece pouch and are used all night to maintain a cozy temperature in a sleeping bag.

A second type of hand warmer is comprised of liquid in a soft, pliable, plastic pouch, activated by an enclosed metal disc. These fluid hand warmers are wonderful because by boiling them in hot water for 10 minutes, or microwaving them after each use, they can be reused over and over. Liquid pouch warmers produce heat up to 130 degrees within five seconds. I use a brand called ProHeat.

Most outdoorsmen activate their warmers and keep them in a coat or pants pocket for the duration of the outing. I used to do that until I purchased an insulated fleece muff that fastens around my waist with a quick clip belt. Now I place two fluid warmers inside at the onset of a trip and insert my bare hands, or wearing just my space gloves, into the muff and keep toasty warm fingers in the coldest conditions. I keep a couple of replacement packets in my jacket or knapsack, but usually friends need them while my original pair keep on heating.

My best stay-warm advice is to remain at home enjoying a good book, video game, or hobby. My second suggestion would be to use an ice fishing shanty or at least take along a collapsible portable shelter and a small gas heater. Since I don’t seem able to follow my own advice, my final suggestion is to at least keep warm and comfortable while enjoying a favorite cold-weather activity.

Outings don’t always go as planned and temperatures 25 degrees below zero and colder can be deadly. Don’t let Old Man Winter keep you from snowshoeing, skiing, fishing, hunting, or snowmobiling. Tell someone or leave a note where you will be and when you plan to return. Dress in layers and take extra clothes and pack plenty of portable heat. Be prepared or don’t go.

Outdoor feature writer Bill Graves can be reached via e-mail at bgravesoutdoors@ainop.com