Originally Published: December 12th, 2022
Updated: July 16th, 2023
This article is all about cold weather tips.
Here are some things that you may want to consider if you plan to visit a cold place and have never experienced snow in person before.
This is for all of the people who have never seen snow or been in the temperatures to experience snow before.
Snow, especially around the holidays can be a magical thing. You may find yourself daydreaming in the beauty of all of the fresh white as you take in the beauty.
Snow is something that people in cold places may take for granted as they encounter it many days out of the year. It can be more of an inconvenience especially when it comes to driving in it.
Despite this, snowy places still attract tourists who are tired of their own hot climates and are looking for a cooler place to be.
For everyone who has found themselves in this situation, here are a few things that you should consider when you decide to travel to a cold place.
Sure-Fire Cold Weather Tips To Keep You Warm In Any Weather
Do your Research on the Area
I would say that this is always good advice before traveling anywhere, but you may be curious about what things you should be researching.
What do the locals do around this time of year?
I would research if there are usually any changes that occur in the place that you are visiting when you plan to visit. If frigid weather is a fundamental part of living in the area, you are sure to find some great cold weather tips.
Facebook groups are a great resource to find information about these topics that you may not find elsewhere. You could also look for:
- hobby groups
- traveling groups
- activity groups
Look for these groups in the area that you plan to visit and you will be sure to find someone who can guide you in the right direction.
What will the weather be like when you get there?
In my opinion, cold is cold, so my plan of action would be similar if the temperature was 50 degrees Fahrenheit or 2 degrees Fahrenheit, admittedly I have never been somewhere that was 2 degrees Fahrenheit.
But, I imagine that my plan of action would be very similar.
The temperature matters, especially if it is snowing because you want to take precautions to prepare for the winter precipitation.
Snow is one thing, but ice is a whole other situation.
If it snows heavily and the snow doesn’t have a chance to melt completely before it freezes again, the traveling conditions may potentially become more dangerous.
Hopefully, the weather will be consistent while you are there, but it is important to take weather warnings into consideration when you are planning a trip.
Also, different temperatures may require different levels of layering. It is always good to be prepared and not overpack when it comes to the bulky clothes that you typically wear in the winter.
These cold weather tips will ensure that you dress appropriately and stay at the optimum comfort level.
Will there be snow?
This question relates to the previous one, but it is good practice to check to see if there will even be snow in the first place.
A lack of snow could change your activities, photo opportunities, and more.
It is also important to check for snow because snow may impact your plans of traveling from place to place.
You should also check how much snow there will be if there is snow. Heavy snow might encourage you to take a taxi rather than take that 2-minute walk.
Following these cold weather tips will keep you extra prepared for whatever the climate may throw at you.
Elevation
If you were to consider any of these cold weather tips, I would really pay attention to this one.
You could be hospitalized if you do not take this seriously.
Cold weather can make it difficult to breathe. This article by Luke Daugherty mentions the ways that cold air makes it more difficult to breathe.
Some reasons that he lists are that cold air is dry and that there is an increase in mucus.
If you are visiting somewhere that is cold but also has a higher elevation than the place where you currently live, then you are in for a treat! (that is more difficulty breathing)
You must keep this in mind while you prepare and consider your plans for moving around the area.
Some ways that you can lessen the risk of respiratory difficulty are:
- Walk slowly
- Wear a face covering to preserve heat and moisture
- Stay hydrated
- Face away from the wind
Higher elevations result in thinner or less dense air.
People who are not used to this may have more difficulty breathing as they increase in elevation.
If you are planning to visit a mountainous area, you may want to reconsider if you have difficulty breathing already. It would not be fun to have to cancel the activity or worse seek medical attention because you can’t get enough air in.
Gear is Everything
The goal of existing comfortably in the cold is wearing enough layers to keep you warm.
Now if you could imagine a sliding scale with the cold on one side, hot on the other, and warm in the dead center, you want to aim for being warm in the center of the scale. It is very easy to overpack but know that you can run hot very quickly.
It is counter-intuitive to be sweating in freezing weather, but it happens.
Ask me how I know.
The last thing that you want to be is cold and wet, so I encourage you to look for clothes that can regulate temperature and moisture.
This article by Jessie Beck and Fred Perrotta has a wealth of information regarding packing tips and clothes that are better fit for cold weather.
Another gear-related thing that you should anticipate as a cold-weather newbie is the uneven heat distribution throughout your body.
I am not sure if this is something that you will ever get used to, but I find it incredibly annoying.
You want to make sure that your body temperature is relatively consistent while you are out in the cold. In order to avoid this, you may consider things like wool socks, or gloves to ensure that your extremities are not icicles.
Stay Dry
The last thing that want to plan for is staying dry.
Not all types of snow are the same and some are “more wet” than others.
I am still trying to figure that one out.
What I do know is that snow does melt, and if you do not have water-resistant gloves or shoes, you may be in danger of having a soggy day.
A soggy day mixed with cold weather is a prime opportunity for you to become sick. Who wants to spend their vacation being sick? Not me!
Now, the only thing that is worse than being wet is being wet and cold all day. This also includes sweating.
If you dress overly warm and wear clothes that do not regulate moisture well, your inner layers will be quite moist.
Make sure that you have water-resistant gear so that you can remain dry throughout your journey.
If you follow these cold weather tips, you will be warm and dry in the deepest snow.
Final Thoughts
These are the cold weather tips that you should follow when you plan to visit a colder climate.
In planning a trip it can be easy to miss the small details, so this can act as a friendly reminder that will help you thrive in the cold weather.
If you have found this blog post to be valuable, please feel free to share it with others whom you think it can help!
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