The wind blew the snow sideways.  I could hardly see up the hill to where the chairlift unloaded.

This was going to be one cold, blustery day.

“How are your fingers?  Maybe we should go in and take a break?  The kids are probably getting cold.”

My friends from Texas brought their kids to Colorado to ski for Thanksgiving break.  Unfortunately for them, Saturday brought one of the coldest and windiest days of the season.

We took our skis off and trudged over to the lodge.

“My toes are cold!  I want to take off my boots!” cried the little girl in the pink jacket.

“Let’s just undo your buckles to help them warm up.  I bet if we have some hot cocoa, you’ll feel better.” I said.

Taking my mittens off, I grabbed her little fingers in mine.  Her hands were ice cold.  A moment later, when she took off her jacket, I understood why.

She wore nothing but a thin long sleeve t-shirt underneath.  Her mother had a sheepish look on her face.

“We don’t have that many warm weather things.  I thought it was going to be sunny and she’d be ok with her ski jacket.  But I got her really good mittens to keep her hands warm.”

I’ve seen this more times than I care to count.  As a ski instructor, I see lots of people who are visiting from warmer climates like Texas, Louisiana and even Florida.  Knowing how to dress for cold winter weather is not something they are acquainted with.

“The key is to layer.  You can buy the best socks and mittens, but the fingers and toes still get cold.  Using layers is what helps you stay warm.”

Many years ago, when I lived in the Sierra, I struggled with getting cold fingers while skiing.  I kept buying expensive gloves with no success.  Then I met a woman who worked as a nurse that explained the importance of keeping the core warm.

“Your body will work really hard to keep your heart warm.  If it has to, it will pull blood from your extremities.  Your fingers and toes get ice cold.  Buy yourself a good down vest.  You’ll feel the difference in your fingers and toes.”

I took her advice and have never looked back.  These days, technology has made something even better — the puffy jacket.  Patagonia makes a great version of this — the Nanopuff or Micropuff jacket.  These jackets provide tons of warmth with very little bulk or weight.  With synthetic insulation, they will keep working even when wet (down doesn’t).  They are expensive, but durable, lasting for years.   Not only do they work great as a layer under your ski jacket, but also as a standalone jacket during fall and spring.

For the same reason, a great pair of long underwear and wool socks are also invaluable for the bottom part of your body.  With layers, you can ski on the coldest day and still have fun.

Last, but not least, you’ll need a hat.  Not for the ski hill, but to cover up your helmet hair and stay warm for the walk back to the parking lot.

Happy skiing!

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