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Posted by Bill S on February 1, 2008 at 12:59:53 pm EST
In reply to Northern Alaska winter trip posted by Oferguson on January 27, 2008 at 5:01:51 pm EST

I sometimes use fingerless gloves and a mitten that the end flips up. This is to be able to manipulate camera gear in winter conditions mostly. However, for Coldfoot in February, I would rely on a thin silk or synthetic liner instead. Even though I have warm hands compared to most people, I have found that in sub-zero conditions, and especially handling metal (lens barrels or adjusting a ski binding, for example), the heat drains very rapidly. Closest I got to frostbite was on a backcountry ski tour at -40 (F or C, since both are the same at that point) and a wind of 20 knots (we measured both with a Kestrel 4000). I needed to make an adjustment to my ski binding (tele). In the 2 or 3 minutes I had the outer gloves off, my fingers became noticeably cold and numb. They were warm again in 5 minutes after putting the gloves back on, but it was scarey to have my fingers start losing feeling. I have seen too many people with frostbite, and it ain't pretty. The liner glove thing has worked for me in the Alaska Range and in Antarctica.

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