How cold is too cold?

[Black Phantom]

If its 30 mph wind gusts and temperature is in the negative then that could do it but if no win then i ski in negative temperature no problem just got to wear lots of good ski clothes

and sum goode whiskey!

 

[ceo]

I've skied in -10 plus windchill at Cannon a few times and been reasonably happy. I'd need glove liners and warmer socks to go much below that, though.

It was like that one day, when I finally got to ski Kinsman Glade. By the time I got to the bottom I was so overheated I had to take off my jacket while waiting for the tram. So the other solution is, stay on the really hard stuff.

 

[St. Bear]

I've skied in -10 plus windchill at Cannon a few times and been reasonably happy. I'd need glove liners and warmer socks to go much below that, though.

It was like that one day, when I finally got to ski Kinsman Glade. By the time I got to the bottom I was so overheated I had to take off my jacket while waiting for the tram. So the other solution is, stay on the really hard stuff.

Agreed. I had a similar time at Cannon a few years ago. The temp was 0, don't know what the windchill was, and I hiked over the Mittersill (those were the days). By the time I got to the bottom, I was roasting.

 

[Smellytele]

Agreed. I had a similar time at Cannon a few years ago. The temp was 0, don't know what the windchill was, and I hiked over the Mittersill (those were the days). By the time I got to the bottom, I was roasting.

You can still hike over if you want

 

[St. Bear]

You can still hike over if you want

I guess you're right.

I actually haven't been there since the expansion. Kind of sad.

 

[vcunning]

I remember a January day at Sugarloaf where they actually handed out free hand-warmers with your lift ticket. It was around 10 below. A little chilly, but there weren't any lines. We could do two runs and then have to go in to warm up.

 

[Abubob]

There is no temperature that permits skiing in your jeans.

From about 1976 to 1985 I skied in jeans in every temp. Was I cold? You bet. I finally had enough money to buy a decent pair of bib overalls and could not believe the difference. Basically night and day. :dunce:

Oh and I took a snowboard lesson with my (new to me) step kids in jeans at Sundown. There was tons of beautiful new soft snow that I proceed to fall on - a lot. Got totally soaked but had a lot of fun. :roll:

I still ski btw. 8)

 

[ScottySkis]

and sum goode whiskey!

Good whiskey makes cold days better. For sure

 

[kingslug]

Only time I ever really stopped and left due to temps was at Jay Peak..-30 or lower, watch stopped, camera froze and broke..place was a sheet of ice..even patrol did not go out..other than that..I'm good to go..but -30 and below is getting serious..I did go to the top of Hunter against an advisory against it..windchills hit close to 50 below..needless to say when I got off the lift I was pretty screwed and just slid down slowly...it was 20 below at the base with little wind..

 

[Abubob]

Good whiskey makes cold days better. For sure

Aside from bad marriages and speeding tickets is there anything that good whiskey doesn't make better? :beer:

 

[St. Bear]

Aside from bad marriages and speeding tickets is there anything that good whiskey doesn't make better? :beer:

"To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems."
-Homer Simpson

 

[BenedictGomez]

Given NOAA is calling for windchills up to -28 on Saturday (and not much better Sunday) in the N.VT mountains, this thread has suddenly become relevant.

Crossing my fingers that they're wrong and/or they're scale that down.

 

[Smellytele]

Given NOAA is calling for windchills up to -28 on Saturday (and not much better Sunday) in the N.VT mountains, this thread has suddenly become relevant.

Crossing my fingers that they're wrong and/or they're scale that down.

Told ya it was looking "chilly" on Sat/Sun.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

Coldest day for me was -39 (no windchill at the summit) at Big Squaw in Greenville, Me. Coldest day w/windchill was -50 - -70 or so. I believe it was about -20 + around 40-50mph gusts, this was also at Big Squaw. I can withstand pretty cold temps -20 or -30 no problem, but once I stop and go in for lunch, it is soooooooo tough to head back out...I have been known to stop and never return to the slopes only to be found slugging brews back. The thought of getting all bundled up again just doesn't sound as appealing as hitting a bar or two.

 

[Skimaine]

Coldest day for me was -39 (no windchill at the summit) at Big Squaw in Greenville, Me. Coldest day w/windchill was -50 - -70 or so. I believe it was about -20 + around 40-50mph gusts, this was also at Big Squaw. I can withstand pretty cold temps -20 or -30 no problem, but once I stop and go in for lunch, it is soooooooo tough to head back out...I have been known to stop and never return to the slopes only to be found slugging brews back. The thought of getting all bundled up again just doesn't sound as appealing as hitting a bar or two.

Thank god for the warming hut at the top.

 

[Geoff]

With boot heaters, balaclava, and mittens, I'm good to -10F. Colder than that and I need to come in every few runs.

 

[dennis]

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.

Ride the Bubble Glenn

 

[dennis]

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?

That's an assumtion (no wind) that is rare, at least where I live,

 

[mlkrgr]

It all depends if there's wind and there's a gondola at the resort. I've skied K in the negative single digits and rode the gondola continuously and was able to stay out for that. But I knew enough not to go off into Bear or areas of Snowdon that the K1 doesn't serve that day. I think trams are more for the experience of getting to ride one for most people rather than the speed of the lift or staying warm as lines can be long at times, especially when talking about the Jay tram. I do find that I do stay warmer taking a high speed detachable than a fixed grip lift as I stay moving to keep me warm. And yes, I've been at Mt Snow where it was in the negative singles at the top but reasonable at the bottom and the strategy that day was to take the Canyon quad but of course now we have the bubble now.

 

[St. Bear]

This thread was very timely as highs at Jay Peak on Sat was in the low single digits with -37 windchill. Bretton Woods today was -9 but the windchill was a much more comfortable -26.

I was cold, but fine. My wife on the other hand was not in high spirits.