|
For an aside, trekking in the cold climates is balancing between overheating and freezing to death.
If your destination is less than 1 hours away, you'll pretty much manage it in any gear despite what they say about "freezing to death in fifteen minutes" bullshit. It may be extremely uncomfortable but you'll survive. I've managed that much in a suit jacket at -20 C waiting outside a club. Granted, being drunk protects you from frostbite on the extremities somewhat. If it's raining sleet and a bit windy, it hurts like a motherfucker for any exposed body part, but you'll survive.
1 hours distance, you get tired and sweaty but you never have to stop. Moving constantly keeps your core warm, so the worst you'll suffer is red earlobes and pink cheeks.
1-4 hours distance. You probably need to take at least one break, which means you'll get cold standing there in wet sweaty clothing. Don't stop for too long and you'll be fine. If you do, you'll be miserable until you get moving again. Wind and sleet needs extra protection from here on, and no exposed body parts. For people who aren't used to cold climates, this would feel like crawling on your last legs close to death, but you aren't even half way there really. Two weeks acclimatizing, and you'd go "what's the big deal, just go."
4-8 hours distance. This is a day trip - you need to mind your clothing. Reduce when moving to prevent overheating, add more clothing when stopping for a break. If you can't adjust clothing and must start the trek with full insulating gear, take it easy and you'll be fine. This is the point where inexperienced people get exhausted and stop, can't continue and then freeze to death.
8+ hours. You must mind your clothing. To keep up pace, you have to wear light clothing to prevent overheating, and when you stop you have to put on extra layers or else you'll just freeze in place because your tired body will want to sleep and drop down in temperature. This is proper winter trekking. The rule applies: if you sweat, you're dead: get your stuff wet, you'll get hypothermia the moment you stop for rest.
Reference - military training: 100+ km on ski over 48 hours. Shorter trips on various other exercises.
|
