Brrrrr.....A Surveyor's guide to Winter Fashion and Travel

Now to those who are freezing.......

Over the years as a Land Surveyor I have worked in some terrible weather, in fact I was out many times in the winters of 1977 and 1978 and found many tricks of the profession that really help temper the terrible temperatures:

1. Wear heavy Cotton or wool gloves with playtex gloves underneath them. Either can get wet and your hands will not get cold. But never wear the platex gloves alone as they act as heat sinks and really get cold quickly. Always wear long gloves that extend up your wrists and cover your wrist area. If your wrists or neck get cold...then you are always going to be cold. Never expose them because of the number of blood vessels close to the skin.

2. Wear two pair of socks, with a small garbage bag between them. The garbage bag stops any moisture from reaching your feet and your feet will remain warm even if your boots leak.

3. If you wear leather boots, always apply a leather treatment called mink oil. It keeps your boots supple in the Cold temperatures and is waterproof. I could wear leather boots for 3 or for years before they needed replacing.

4. No matter the modern materials, layers of wool and cotton and silk are the best protection against cold. I wear Carhart welders work jeans with the double layer of fabric on the front of the legs from the shin to the crotch. Underneath those I wear two pair of long underwear, one being silk to prevent the chapping.

5. Ski masks are effective, but must be used with other head and face protection. Cotton masks work best because they do not irritate the face. Wear an additional hat with fur lining and the pull down ear flaps. That in combination works the best to protect your face and ears and keeps your head heat from escaping. But if you are going to wear pull down flaps and work near traffic or need to hear, find the kind that have the ear hole with a covering flap. You can raise the flap, remain warm and still hear.

6. On your upper torso, wear the same multiple layers as you wear on the bottom, with soft cotton or silk next to your body. Then wear a cotton turtleneck so that you can raise the turtleneck and protect your neck and lower face area and overlap the ski mask if you use one. If your neck gets cold you are doomed to be cold.

7. Coveralls are effective, but sometimes cumbersome and usually provide little protection around the neck and face areas. If you use a longer top coat, get an Arcitic Army Surplus Coat with the long wolverine lined snorkel hood and draw string at the waist. They work great but are not good in traffic areas because of the limited visibility.

8. MIttens are warmer than gloves but hard to use. If you like mittens get snowmobile mittens with the single "trigger" finger. You can even write with them and in combination with the playtex gloves your hands will remain warm.

9. If you prefer rubber boots rather than leather (I use Red Wing leather boots if I wear leather) then go to any horse supply store and order "Muck" boots. They are wear alone boots that have the "waffle stomper" tread on the bottom and you don't slip them over anything but your feet. They are insulated, warm and very good snow and mud boots. NEVER wear any boot that doesn't have the very aggressive "waffle stomper" tread, or you will be inviting some frequent flyer miles with very hard landings.

10. Always wear sunglasses in the winter as they protect your eyes from cold and wind and are absolutely necessary to protect from glare of the snow and ice.

11. NEVER WALK WITH THE STANDARD HEEL FIRST STEP in the winter on icy conditions or snow. Pick up your feet and place them flat. When you take a fall, you have walked and placed your heel first and it has no tread on the trailing edge. Never walk on scooped walks they are almost always slick, walk on the snow or grass beside them and the traction is always better there.

12. Forget vanity (my favorite sin) and always turn up your collars and button the top button. The more you do to keep your body heat contained, the warmer even the coldest days will be. You get cold because your garb allows your body heat to escape and cold air to replace it. If you are properly dressed you can remain outside all day in very very cold weather. I was outside for 5-7 hour periods in -15°F temperatures in 77 & 78 and did not suffer. Also, if you are going to be outside, STAY outside. Don't get in and out of a warm car or building, your body is not going to keep up the heat and you will probably begin to sweat and nothing protects you from being wet against yourself. Always keep plenty of water in an thermos for drinking. The thermos prevents the water from freezing and load it up with lukewarm water. The water will not freeze and you will remain hydrated. If you become dehydrated, you will be cold.

13. ANYTIME you travel, have a complete set of winter gear in the trunk or back of your vehicle. Keep a package of Jerky or any other non perishable food with the clothes. Keep a good flashlight with plenty of batteries in your vehicle and some blankets in a vacuum or garbage bag.

14. No matter your vehicle, if you cannot see what is up ahead.........STOP. 4-wheel drive vehicles are like your hands, you can do so much with them, you overdo it and get in trouble. Remember 4-wheel drive vehicles have 4 wheel brakes just like very vehicle, so stopping is the issue. Change your tires in the Winter time to agressive treads and take them off in the Summer.

15. NEVER take off in a vehicle that does not have EVERY window cleaned. You will be traveling the same highways as others who do not clean every window and cannot see you. Never be the cause of an accident and your excuse is, I didn't clean my side windows and didn't see them. Have trouble scraping windows? Take the edge of your scraper and cut lines up and down and across your windows, the little squares will pop off and the window is easier to clean. Or use luke warm water and a bucket and just splash it on.

I hope these hints help some of you endure the tough weather.