How cold is too cold?

[skiNEwhere]

I was reading DMC's post about hunters temps and I was inspired. Assuming there is no wind chill how cold must it be for you to decide to stop skiing, or not even start your ski day?

 

[Glenn]

The wind makes such a huge difference. I can tolerate cold temps as long as there's little to no wind. It's amazing what a little breeze will do though.

 

[Geoff]

I have Hotronics, boot gloves, mittens, balaclava, helmet, hood, and lots o' layers I can fit under last year's shell when I was 50 pounds heavier. I'll sometimes wait until the crack o' 11 when it's subzero but there really is no temperature where I won't at least go out and take a few runs. Killington has two gondolas so I can boot up in the condo, drive in ski boots to next to the K1, and arrive at the top warm for my first run. I can ski Skyeship Stage 2 or drop down to Bear where everything is in the sun at lower elevation.

 

[Warp Daddy]

I too have proper cold weather gear---------- hell we need up here in MARCH

I'm not kidding last yr on my last day the 29th of March it was full bore cold weather gear including full balaclava , a polargard mask ,helmet and goggles several technical layer tops 2 fleece northface pants( very light and a heavier pr) under bibs and a soft AND hard shell -- it was bitchin cold but i was comfy


so for me it's more about windchill than temperature

 

[tcharron]

The wind makes such a huge difference. I can tolerate cold temps as long as there's little to no wind. It's amazing what a little breeze will do though.

+1

The wind is the deciding factor.

 

[thetrailboss]

I am holding off on today....temps at mid and the summits of Sugarbush are below zero, and windchill values right now, according to NWS, are -20 and -30F range

 

[campgottagopee]

All about the wind for me too. I can dress for cold but cold and windy, no thanks. Them days are for hangin round the fire.

 

[kingslug]

Lets see:
Mount Snow 44 below with wind chill last year.
Hunter close to 50 below at the top a few years ago.
Jay Peak 40 below with wind.
No I wasn't happy but it was doable. At Mount Snow one of the boarders got back on the bus with severe frostbite on his face. That little bandana Shawn White likes to wear....aint a good idea in those temps.

 

[hardline]

Lets see:
Mount Snow 44 below with wind chill last year.
Hunter close to 50 below at the top a few years ago.
Jay Peak 40 below with wind.
No I wasn't happy but it was doable. At Mount Snow one of the boarders got back on the bus with severe frostbite on his face. That little bandana Shawn White likes to wear....aint a good idea in those temps.

one of the girls i am friends with did the same thing. i had to do the frostbite test a few times just to check. funny as it sounds after -10 i pretty much wear the same thing.

 

[kingslug]

one of the girls i am friends with did the same thing. i had to do the frostbite test a few times just to check. funny as it sounds after -10 i pretty much wear the same thing.

This guys face was black...freaked out the tour guide when I pointed it out. And of course his mother wanted to sue.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I've never missed a day due to cold temperatures..

 

[WoodCore]

It was a rather pleasant -12F this morning at Mohawk when I started my day on the hill. The lack of wind and the bright sunshine made for a hell of ski day despite the temps only barely reaching out of the single numbers. Never felt cold once today!

 

[hardline]

This guys face was black...freaked out the tour guide when I pointed it out. And of course his mother wanted to sue.

typical. people shouldn't go and do things if they are not prepared. that being said i saw few people around stowe to day with discolored noses but they where all locals.

 

[billski]

The wind makes such a huge difference. I can tolerate cold temps as long as there's little to no wind. It's amazing what a little breeze will do though.

Plus one. We skied -29 Friday.

 

[loafer89]

I skied at Sugarloaf in December of 1989 at -37F and it was cold but totally calm. Recently I skied at Mount Orford in January of 2005 at -25F and at Saddleback last January at -11F

For me it's a combination of cold and wind that we keep me off the slopes for any long length of time.

 

[Johnskiismore]

Cold won't keep me away!

 

[Marc]

Lift served skiing in the cold is easy. I've got enough insulation in my gear closet... touring in extreme cold and wind is hard, making transistions, eating, drinking, and God forbid you get sweaty (I always do). No warm lodge into which to retreat back.

 

[drjeff]

As long as it's not so cold that the lift engine won't turn, I'm out there. I've got layers for my layers to deal with it. The only variable for me atleast is as the temp goes down, my number of runs between warming sessions goes down too.

 

[SKidds]

Extreme cold keeps the faint of heart off the slopes......so the big time cold can be a good thing. That said, I did vote -11 to -20 (dependent upon the wind). Temps get down there, along with consistent, measureable winds, and you are facing some real danger if you don't have the right cold weather gear.

That said, the only time cold has ever kept me off the slopes was when the combination of cold and wind forced Whiteface to shut down the lifts while we were there a few years ago. Otherwise, I'm there.

 

[Euler]

I voted before I saw the disclaimer about ignoring wind chills. Like many others, it's the wind that's really uncomfortable for me. Esp. at Mt. Blow ,er,um, Snow, where the lifts are mostly high and exposed.