Ladies, Don’t Wear Black Underpants On Super Cold Days…
…And Other (Unusual) Tips On How Everyone Can Stay Warm.
Yup, it’s cold outside. Credit: Harriet Wallis
We all have our tricks to stay warm when the temperature plunges. Here are a few you might not have thought of.
Cheapo Hand Warmers
Cheapos worn under your ski gloves might work.
I’ve used the shake-’em-up hand warmer packets and tried every kind of liner. Splurge $1 and buy the stretchy little gloves that you can find everywhere: grocery stores, drug stores, big box stores. The knit fabric is the best for keeping my hands warm. Most are black, but choose a colorful pair. You’ll have a better chance of seeing them should you drop them on the locker room floor.
Hot Buns
If you buy those little gloves, then you won’t need the hand warmer packets in your gloves. Instead, put them between your base layers, especially if your ski pants gap in the back. The packets stay in place between base layers and they keep your lower back warm.
Potato Ears
Before the days of microwave ovens, my mother stuck a nail into each potato before baking. The nail conducted heat into the potato, and it sped up cooking. The same concept applies to earrings on cold days. A post through your ear conducts the cold into your body. Skip the fashion statement. Stay warmer.
[Editor Note: Eyeglass frames can also be cold conductors. Try skiing with prescription goggles or contacts, or go native and take off your specs.]
Two (Or Three) Sock Day
Wear one pair to the mountain, then change your socks before you put on your boots. Feet exude moisture even if you swear your feet don’t sweat. If it’s a really bitter day, change your socks at lunchtime too. It makes a big difference. I dare you to try it.
Some Assembly Required
About that black underwear. On really cold days, it’s a project to get assembled: Tuck this in, pull this up, pull that down over.
My base layers are black, and so are some of my undies. More than once I’ve toddled out of the ladies room wondering why I’m hobbled. Duh. Too many black layers. My underpants are still way down there. Retreat and reassemble. Don’t wear black undies on cold days. Go for your brightly colored ones. They’re easy to see as you put yourself together.
To read more from Harriet click here for her stories on SkiUtah.
Safe Driving: Wrap Tires With Chains
How Many Readers Carry Chains And Actually Know How To Mount Them?
Back in the old days, many of us had knobby snow tires even studded ones mounted on a separate set of rims stashed in the corner of the garage, ready for mounting. Tire designs and compounds changed over the years. Snow tires still exist, but all season tires are the norm. If you have a car/SUV that has four-wheel drive, you are good to go for most winter conditions.
Last year, in Box in the Back, I listed what you should carry for emergencies when you headed into the mountains. What Else Should You Have In Your Car provides suggestions on what to do/not to do if you are forced to stop for a long period, either by an accident or road closure.
What wasn’t covered was chains with which I have a love-hate relationship. They’re clunky, a pain in the rear to install on the side of the road. If one section comes loose, it can beat the crap out of a fender, wrap around an axle, or rip out a suspension component.
While most of us prefer not to install chains, there are parts of the country where the local gendarmes have the right to insist you use them even on a four-wheel drive vehicle equipped with mud and snow tires. No chains, no going any farther.
Some states require chains on snow-covered roads. You have no choice, so you better know how to use them.
Point one. If chains are required, getting told to put them on is not the time to turn around, drive back to the last town you passed, and buy a set. They should have been bought before you left the house and kept handy, i.e. where you can get to them without having to pull everything out of the trunk.
Research chains types to pick the ones that are the best fit for your vehicle and your needs. Click here for a really helpful link that offers instructions on selecting the right chains. –
Point two. A chain “inspection/installation” station is not the place to learn how to put your chains on because it is cold, snowy, and often dark. Don’t rely on some helpful soul to rescue you. Putting chains on slush, cinder, sandy wheels is a dirty job, so be prepared. Practice putting them at home before you leave. Put them on and take them off several times so you know the drill. One enterprising soul I know has the instructions downloaded on his iPad as a reminder. While it is a helpful reminder, a video is not a substitute for actual experience.
Point three. While you don’t need a separate pair of overalls and boots, carry a small rubber mat you can kneel on and a pair of heavy rubber gloves you can slide over a pair of ski glove inserts. Leather work gloves also work. This will keep your fingers from getting cold and numb or cut. Practice with the gloves on.
You make be like me and hate chains, but don’t leave them behind because, one day, you’ll need them or possibly lose a day or so of skiing.
FAQ: Why Do I Have To (Constantly) Re-Enter My Email?
We Get This Question From Time To Time. Here’s What Happens And How To Solve This Problem.
If you are being asked to re-enter your email to confirm your subscription to SeniorsSkiing.com, you might be a bit annoyed. We don’t blame you, but there is an explanation.
You are accessing SeniorsSkiing.com through a device that is different from the one you originally signed up on. Subscribing to SeniorsSkiing.com puts a “cookie” on your device. If you use a different device, no cookie, so you are viewed as a non-subscriber. If you re-enter name and password, you’ll be okay with the new device.
You have disabled cookies or cleared browser history on your device. Even iPads can accept or disable cookies. Turn cookies back on, and you’ll not have to re-enter again, or leave it disabled and realize you have to re-enter each time. Your call.
You are trying to access our Subscriber-Only Content. Instead of building a firewall that requires usernames and passwords, we elected a much simpler way of getting to our exclusive content: Just confirm your name and email. You will have to do that each time you want to get to that information, which, by the way, is under the Community tab at the top.
You have upgraded or changed settings in your operating system or browser.
Those are the usual conditions that prompt the re-entry pop-up. If you are still having trouble, please contact us at info@seniorsskiing.com. Hang in there!
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