In part 1 of this article we introduced the concept of cold weather clothing "layers", three in all. We covered the particular functions and the various fabrics suited to each layer.
Part 1 referred to our torso and legs, but, what about our head, hands, and feet? These are generally subject to the same 3-layer concept, but, require some special attention. The hands and feet, and to a lesser extent, the head, are indicators that warn us that we need to adjust our clothing. They are the first discomfort we feel when we're not quite dressed for the part.
Head
There's a lot of truth in the old adage: "If your feet are cold, put your hat on". I've read and heard various reports that the amount of heat lost from a bare head lies between 25% and 40% ! Even conservative estimates indicate this is in the "Wow, that's a lot!" category. It may seem at first that this is a detriment. Quite the contrary. It gives us a range of control over our body heat just through changing headgear. So, get out your earmuffs, headbands, balaclavas, berets, babushkas, turbans, hoods, and what-have-you. They are your arsenal of fine tuning weapons with which you can maintain a balance of warmth and ventilation for the rest of your body (including cold feet!).
We mustn't forget about ventilation of the ever present perspiration making its journey from skin to the outside air. Be aware that bundling up your head may impede this process and result in condensation in layer 2 of your headgear. I find it useful to think of the head and its garments as a sort of chimney conducting heat and moisture in an upward direction. My various combinations of headgear then become the "damper" that regulates this chimney action. Too little, and you loose a lot of heat… too much and you retain heat but your head ends up wet. (like when the fireplace damper is closed too far and smoke fills the room!)
I tend to dispense with layer 3 when observing since this allows better moisture flow and winds will be low or absent at these times. Layer 2 is supplied by all manner of non-cotton headgear. I must admit to a personal neglect of layer 1 in cold weather observing because I don't like snug fitting headwear. Nevertheless, I DO own a polypropylene balaclava which gets use in really cold and windy conditions. The key to headgear is to have a number of options available to you and vary them to suit conditions at the eyepiece.
Hands
Your hands, and in particular, your fingers will be required to change eyepieces and make fine adjustments to your telescope throughout the observing session. As a result, they are quite vulnerable to the icy wiles of Old Man Winter.
The range of available handwear includes 3 and 5 fingered gloves, slit-fingered gloves, fingerless gloves (aka "urchin gloves"), mitts, combination glovemitts, and the ever useless and hard to find muff. These are available in a mind boggling array of materials from polypropylene to neoprene; Polartec to what-the-heck!
The easy way out of this maze is to apply our 3-layer princple to handwear. The basic warmth requirements are met with a polypropylene inner glove, a layer 2 type overglove that insulates, and an outer mitt of Gore-Tex or some other breathable material. The last layer is a mitt since mitts are always warmer than gloves.
There is, however, another important criteria affecting our choice and that is the need to be able to make fine mechanical adjustments. This can be as frustrating as picking fly droppings out of pepper with boxing gloves on unless we make allowances! This is where the particular style of handwear comes in. Those "fingerless" gloves are a boon in these situations. They really have only the finger tips missing and so allow good tactile sensation as well as keeping most of your hand warm at the same time. These are excellent choices for layer 2 and should be worn over a full fingered layer 1. Layer 3 can be quite a nuisance because it has to come off each time you have to fiddle with things. A good candidate for this outer layer is a Gore-Tex mitt with a Velcro closure applied to a slit across the palm. These are made for the express purpose of freeing your finger tips for work without having to remove the mitt.
My own experiences at the eyepiece have resulted in my choices as follows:
I wear full fingered polypropylene inner gloves. Over these I wear a pair of wool "urchin" gloves. This combo has me comfortable in most cases. However, I occasionally resort to my "cold killer combo". I replace the inner gloves with a pair of fisherman's neoprene slit-fingered gloves. Neoprene is the type of closed cell foam rubber used in wetsuits. The fingertips (and thumb) are slit on the palm side at the first joint allowing me to peel them back exposing my fingertips for fiddling about with filters and such. Bits of velcro keeps the "flaps" out of my way until I'm ready to cover up again. This provides me with the ultimate in warm handwear and dexterity. "But it's not breathable!" you say. You're right... but read on a bit further.
Feet
Feet are unforgiving! Let's face it, the threat of cold feet are responsible for so many of us refusing to go outside in winter. Feet are the first to complain when they get cold. And they do it soooo well, don't they? Well, we can look at this positively too. This attribute makes them the early warning sensor in detecting heat loss and signaling the need to adjust our garb. Do we need to put on our hat?
The above assumes we're properly attired in the foot department. Starting with layer 1, we would wear a pair of polypropylene, or other wicking socks. Over these, one or more insulating, layer 2, types of socks. Our winter boots would suffice for the windproof layer 3 except that they're often not breathable at all, or are grossly inadequate for the task! This fact alone is the cause of nearly all cold feet at the winter observing site. Extreme countermeasures may be called for here.
Recall the neoprene gloves? They are as impenetrable as rubber gloves, because, well.. that's what they are! What they do is prevent any moisture from leaving the surface of my skin at all! The skin on my hands perspires enough to create its beloved "rain forest", and then stops, as long as you're not too active. The insulating layer 2 has absolutely no way of getting damp from the inside, and we're not about to observe in the rain! This is known as a vapour barrier when used next to the skin. It is a technique used by avid campers in extremely cold conditions. They (I) go so far as to spend the night using a vapour barrier sleeping bag liner to eke out a 10 to 15 degree advantage over life without one. The vapour barrier is a kind of Layer 0. It can be used to advantage when you're not very physically active. Get too active and you'll drown in you own perspiration!
Getting back to our feet, it is this secret weapon we will deploy to guarantee that the familiar cozy feeling prevails. After all, our feet aren't up to much when they're not complaining, are they?
All we need is to don a couple of plastic bags as the first layer and cover them with layer 2 socks. Don't laugh, but I find breadwrappers are great for this… the kind without holes in the bottom. The extra length makes all the difference. I first discovered this while on a fall camping trip with the local motorcycle club. It was a cold and rainy return from wherever we'd been and I was intrigued to see the more experienced among us snap up all the bread wrappers left over from our food supplies and wear them inside their socks. One has to be a quick study in a bike club. I found it made a big difference on the ride home. Too shy to try? Nobody's going to see anyway!
I have not yet needed to resort to this level of footwear while observing. However, people are different in their... let's say... cold tolerance limits. My wife, for example, would pack snowmobile boots for a trip to hell and still complain of cold feet. I suppose that's exactly what she'll give me for writing that... hell and cold feet! I include it here for these folks, and for completeness.
My personal solution to cold feet is a bit more conventional. I start with polypro socks, then a layer of wool or synthetic socks. I'll include a second layer of these if I'm to wear my size 12 hunting boots. I take a size 10 shoe, but, the size 12 boot keeps the layer 2 socks thick and fluffy! My preference, though, is to wear a pair of "moon boots" over the polypros and single pair of wool socks. "Moon boots" are a wonderful invention fashioned directly after Inuit mukluks. They are available at specialty outdoors stores such as Mountain Equipment Co-op, REI, Eastern Mountain Sports, etc. They consist of a mid calf length upper of ripstop nylon that has been stuffed with Hollofil or some other synthetic insulation. This is attached to a thick sole of Evazote ( the yellow spongy closed-cell foam that some sleeping pads are made of) that has been finished by covering with heavy Cordura material for durability. The ripstop nylon seems to form enough of a wind barrier and still allows moisture to escape freely. They're the best when the snow has no chance of melting.
"Fuel"
Now that we've learned how to dress ourselves, there's one more area to cover. While we're out observing we need to consume copious amounts of hot drinks. These go a long way to make a cold night a pleasure for all but the most obstinate curmudgeons.
A word about alcohol... DON"T. There's nothing wrong with a glass of wine or a "wee dram" of the aqua vitae. I sure wouldn't refuse one! However, there is real danger in downing a even a few of these. The ability to sense subtle changes in temperature is easily impaired without us even noticing. By the time we're aware that we're cold, the best thing to do is pack up and go home because, in reality, we are probably well down the road to hypothermia, from which some never return. 'nuff said.
The usual hot chocolate, Ovaltine, and herbal teas are fine companions. Be aware that strong tea and coffee result in a net loss in the body's water reserves. Take water along to drink as well. Hot Dr. Pepper is great, as is hot fresh cider, or mulled if you like (skip the rum). Here's one of my favourite cold night recipes. I usually make 2 litres.
Pour 1 pkt. raspberry jello into a bowl.
Add 1 litre hot water. Stir until dissolved.
Add fruit punch drink crystals to taste.
When it is OK to the taste, add some more!
Stir and pour the lot into a thermos.
Go to the observing site.
Pour the lot into you and your friends.
Don't let it go cold in your mug lest it become sloppy jello!! Oh yes! Be careful around the 'scopes. I just hate those sticky Naglers, don't you?
Parting thoughts
There you have it! Remember the 3 layer formula and a few tricks with the extremities and you'll be a winter observer in comfort.
Exercise an extra bit of common sense before deciding to venture out. That is: don't expect great results in -40 degree temperatures! Your 'scope will likely tell you when it's had enough of that nonsense by creaking loudly or just refusing to move! If you should get cold and aren't sure what to do about it, just go for a walk. It is surprising how little we have to do to get warm. I'll bet it takes less than 100 metres to restore your comfort.
Now then! No more excuses. I expect to see you all ogling the skies at observing sessions from December and right through March... We'll exchange hot drinks and munchies, OK?
