Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

The Cold Hard Facts of Freezing to Death (1997)

outsideonline.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

111–120 of 192 posts

Re: The Cold Hard Facts of Freezing to Death (1997)

#111

Post by Hoff »

andyl wrote: post #74

I teach search and rescue people how to travel on skis or snowshoes and live in winter mountains. If you are prepared, you can stay out in sub-zero for days and days very comfortably. A key skill is constant regulation of your body temperature. You never want to become too hot/sweaty or too cold. If too cold - get into shelter, drink something hot, eat carbs, add clothes, move faster. If too hot - remove clothes, or…

If you're out with others when it's cold, be aware of the "umbles":

Stumbles, fumbles, mumbles and grumbles.

These can be relatively early external signs of altered mentation and potentially of the on-set of hypothermia.

Hypothermia can occur even in fairly warm temperatures, too; you don't need freezing temperatures.

When carrying food, remember you're going to be eating a whole lot more when it's cold and you're exercising.

Avoid cotton clothing, as that gets and stays brutally cold when it gets wet. Wool or synthetics work much better.

Re: The Cold Hard Facts of Freezing to Death (1997)

#112

Post by ars »

justin66 wrote: post #89
30thElement wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Assuming the exhaust pipe is clear isn't the best assumption when you're in a ditch in the middle of a blizzard. Even if the pipe is clear, rust from the all the salt on the road or damage from going into the ditch could easily put a hole in your exhaust.

Keeping the exhaust clear would be worthwhile even if it means going out in the snow and doing some work. You should be doing that anyway: your best chance of being found is brushing most of the snow off the top of the vehicle so someone passing by or overhead is sure to see it.

The exhaust will clear itself if it's only snow. It's quite hot and will melt the snow very fast.

Re: The Cold Hard Facts of Freezing to Death (1997)

#113

Post by rdl »

andyl wrote: post #74

I teach search and rescue people how to travel on skis or snowshoes and live in winter mountains. If you are prepared, you can stay out in sub-zero for days and days very comfortably. A key skill is constant regulation of your body temperature. You never want to become too hot/sweaty or too cold. If too cold - get into shelter, drink something hot, eat carbs, add clothes, move faster. If too hot - remove clothes, or…

Also: STAY WITH THE VEHICLE.

In general, if you're driving somewhere remote and something goes wrong, you're almost always better off staying with your vehicle vs. setting out on foot for help. There are obviously exceptions, but as a general thing, it's true.

Re: The Cold Hard Facts of Freezing to Death (1997)

#115

Post by rdl »

protomyth wrote: post #68
mobweb wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> no cell service, or the cell service is only for Verizon phones I remember reading somewhere that emergency calls can use any network.

Often, in a blizzard, the cell towers fail. On a side not, at home, the local phone company tends to be pretty good at keeping the line going even when power fails. Last time, I got stuck 20 hours without power, the phone line worked the whole time. The cell towers did not.

If I lived in a non-urban area, I'd probably keep an Iridium handsets in my car again. $500 or so for a used one, and you can get cheap plans.

Re: The Cold Hard Facts of Freezing to Death (1997)

#116

Post by krymise »

I had a philosophy professor who taught Existentialism, and he told us the story of how he almost froze to death while hiking . How he started to hallucinate that death himself had come to take him away. Eventually, he said he became calm and accepted his fate, and that freezing to death wasn't a bad way to go. Too bad he retired that semester, what an interesting guy.

Re: The Cold Hard Facts of Freezing to Death (1997)

#117

Post by ars »

JulianMorrison wrote: post #109
freehunter wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've actually been saving up for a winch. I'd need to get a new bumper to hold a winch though, or mount a hitch to the front end.

Get a hand operated winch you can sling around a tree at the top of the ditch, rather than being permanently anchored to the car? Bonus, it can live inside the car and it won't get dinged in the crash.

Get one of these:

http://www.harborfreight.com/1200-lb-capacity-cable-puller-3...

http://www.harborfreight.com/4000-lb-capacity-cable-winch-pu...

http://www.harborfreight.com/8000-lb-cable-winch-puller-543....

http://www.harborfreight.com/manual-strap-winch-95541.html

It's only $15 for the cheapest one (they have other types too that mount to the car). Also get a long strap to go with it in case the nearest tree is not close.

You don't want an electric winch anyway - you never know if you'll have power in an emergency.

Re: The Cold Hard Facts of Freezing to Death (1997)

#118

Post by MichaelApproved »

rdl wrote: post #113
andyl wrote: post #74

I teach search and rescue people how to travel on skis or snowshoes and live in winter mountains. If you are prepared, you can stay out in sub-zero for days and days very comfortably. A key skill is constant regulation of your body temperature. You never want to become too hot/sweaty or too cold. If too cold - get into shelter, drink something hot, eat carbs, add clothes, move faster. If too hot - remove clothes, or…

Also: STAY WITH THE VEHICLE. In general, if you're driving somewhere remote and something goes wrong, you're almost always better off staying with your vehicle vs. setting out on foot for help. There are obviously exceptions, but as a general thing, it's true.

That reminds me of the sad story of CNet editor James Kim. He got caught in a snow storm with his family. He left the car and died trying to get help. His family was rescued in good condition. Had he stayed with them, they all would have survived.

http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-6141498.html

Re: The Cold Hard Facts of Freezing to Death (1997)

#119

Post by rdl »

MichaelApproved wrote: post #118
rdl wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also: STAY WITH THE VEHICLE. In general, if you're driving somewhere remote and something goes wrong, you're almost always better off staying with your vehicle vs. setting out on foot for help. There are obviously exceptions, but as a general thing, it's true.

That reminds me of the sad story of CNet editor James Kim. He got caught in a snow storm with his family. He left the car and died trying to get help. His family was rescued in good condition. Had he stayed with them, they all would have survived. http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-6141498.html

The "family gets lost, guy goes off to find help, gets even more lost and dies, and then the rest of the family is rescued" is a pretty standard story.

Re: The Cold Hard Facts of Freezing to Death (1997)

#120

Post by CapitalistCartr »

I used to routinely go out in the bitter cold in Wyoming. Wearing lots of military-issue clothing. Dressed and behaving as the military recommended, I found -40 to be quite tolerable. Coming from Florida, without the military training, I'd have been dead.
Post reply on HN