Winter scene at Talleyrand Park in Bellefonte, photo by Gina Marie Thompson |
|
Dear Explorers,
Happy New Year! Our team at ClearWater Conservancy looks so forward to exploring and learning about the natural wonders of our region as we embark on our fifth season of Centred Outdoors with all of you. Stay tuned for more details about scheduled adventures, destinations, and fun for 2021!
Last month we gave you tips for layering (read it here!) for winter. As promised, this month we're sharing how to keep your head, hands, and toes protected by choosing the right hat, gloves, and socks for you and your activity.
Also included in this month's issue: a DIY frozen suncatcher activity that's fun for all ages, two nearby destinations to explore, plus a health tip about reducing stress from Mount Nittany. We hope enjoy January's Adventure Guide!
Take care, and adventure on!
Dan Trew, Adventure Coordinator
ClearWater Conservancy
|
|
Accessorizing for Winter Weather
|
|
Why do our hands and feet get so cold? The main method your body tries to conserve energy in the cold is through a process called vasoconstriction, or shrinking of the smaller blood-carrying structures in your body. This process keeps most of your warm blood close to your core and around your brain, but is what makes warming up your fingers and toes on cold days a little harder. Special clothing can help mitigate this effect, so read on for cool tips to keep your head, fingers and toes warm.
Hats, Earwarmers, etc.: There’s a common myth that we lose most of our heat through our head, which is loosely based on science but mostly due to increasing the temperature your brain “feels” from the extra insulation. In fact, you can make yourself sweat just by putting on a hat, no matter what temperature the rest of your body feels. This "fools" your body into thinking it needs to open up all of its blood vessels to cool down your brain. It doesn’t make you any warmer (and in fact can make you colder), but can make you think you are warm.
So while a thickly insulated hat will keep more heat next to your head and delay the onset of your body’s automatic reaction to the cold, it could be problematic during intense exercise if you don't want to overly sweat. In most cases, a lightweight hat or other covering garment (neck gaiter, face mask, or earmuffs) will trap enough heat to keep you from damaging the skin on your face and ears. An upgrade to a wind-proof or full waterproof item is good for windy conditions or higher speed activities like biking and skiing.
Gloves and Mittens: We need our fingers to interact with the world around us as we are adventuring about, yet dexterity is often traded for better insulation and protection from more extreme conditions. The most obvious trade is between gloves and mittens, or glove-mitten 'hybrids.' By separating your fingers you are more able to tie your shoes or order pizza on your phone, but your fingers will never be as warm as when they are grouped together.
With gloves and mittens there comes many variations on water/wind proofing, under and over styles, articulation, touch-screen compatibility, and even how much finger is covered by the glove. Here is a quick run-down covering some of the more common terms and what they mean for you:
-
Wind proof - usually not seam-sealed but will still keep snow and other forms of frozen water at bay, good for moderate activity as your hands won’t get clammy but will not stop rain or slush.
-
Water-proof - usually seam-sealed, but sometimes one bonded layer and will stop all moisture, often gets clammy especially when combined with thick insulation creating the illusion the glove leaks. Good for low-level activity or rainy/slushy conditions, and making snowballs.
-
Under glove (or mitten) - the glove is worn under the cuff of a jacket, good for low-speed moderate to high activity, snow and wind can often go past the cuff and up the sleeve of the jacket.
-
Over glove (or mitten) - the glove is worn over the cuff of a jacket, protects you from anything trying to work its way up your sleeve but also prevents your sleeve from venting, good for activities where things can go up your sleeve and small children, not very useful for anything else.
-
No articulation - classic “famous mouse”-shaped gloves that do not have any sewn-in bend in the fingers or special structure around the hands, good for stretchy fabrics like fleece or knit gloves, less comfortable to bend and reduces dexterity.
-
Partially articulated - often patterned to have a slight curve similar to a resting hand pose, excellent compromise for best fit and active comfort, mostly used in liner gloves or other thinner styles.
-
Fully articulated - hard-sewn hand shape often made of leather or other durable material, often used in skiing and mountaineering gloves were hands spend most of their time holding and gripping objects, not as comfortable for relaxing and more difficult to fit.
Socks: Toes are notoriously hard to keep toasty and are some of the first areas to have reduced blood flow in the cold. In order to keep your feet warm,keep them them dry and unconstricted, then add insulation to match the climate and personal preference. The same layering principles apply to feet as the rest of the body (read it here!), but the biggest mistake you can make is trying to add too many socks onto your foot. Unless socks are specifically oversized or loose fitting they shouldn’t be stacked more than two thick. The extra compression will further reduce the blood flow to your toes, causing the extra insulation to be less effective.
Footwear: The average hiking boot is already rated to freezing temperatures using the same tests that most companies use to rate their insulation levels. Combined with mildly aerobic activity, hiking boots are usually warm enough for most day hikes. However, it's best to factor in your personal preference and the duration and type of activity when choosing the right winter shoe or boot for your needs.
|
|
New nature-inspired activity: Frozen Suncatcher
Feeling the urge to have fun and create something unique that is hands-on with nature?
Click on the image below to learn how to make a Frozen Suncatcher!
|
|
For unlimited creative inspiration this holiday season, choose from 30 nature-inspired, sustainable activities for all ages from Centred Outdoors! |
|
Two nearby destinations to explore and enjoy |
|
Colyer Lake
Take a trip out to the scenic Colyer Lake to see how the sights and sounds are different from those in the summer. There is a walking path that circles the lake on mostly even ground, making it a great location for taking in winter scenery without climbing or descending hills. A hiking pole or walking stick may be handy for navigating snow. If you go: Pay close attention to the riparian areas, or streamside forests between the lake and the land it surrounds. How are these plants and trees working to strengthen the soil around the lake and preventing erosion? Learn more, including driving directions to this destination.
|
|
Photo by Jmgrune - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66769552 |
|
Talleyrand Park
Talleyrand Park, with plenty nearby parking and cafes serving hot beverages, is a fun and scenic park to visit in the winter. The park now features a new pedestrian walkway along the railroad bridge that was recently completed. The bridge makes it possible to walk into the newer section of the park (next to the Match Factory) without needing to climb any stairs or leave the park to access sidewalks. Talleyrand Park will amuse young kids, history buffs, and anyone who enjoys the sights and sounds of a rushing creek. If you go: See if you can spot the streambank restoration work alongside the stream when standing on the suspension bridge and looking in the direction of the Match Factory. Learn more about this destination.
|
|
Photo by Gina Marie Thompson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
