Hypothermia

[mr brightside]

I had a bad experience on The Calf during the Sedbergh Hills 2009; you're on that ridge for ages, knackered, incoherent and usually wet.

I overdress for every winter or bad weather race, being hot is better than being cold, i usually wear an LS baselayer, club vest, cag, gloves. If you start to expose parts of your body you'll start to behave like a car radiator and vent heat; the gloves come off first to expose the hands, then the jacket is unzipped but never removed if its raining, if it's not raining the jacket comes off followed by the rolling up of the baselayer sleeves. If it's raining the jacket and baselayer sleeves come up together if needed. The club vest is there to offer more insulation where it's most important. The idea is that i'm never too cold, only too hot, and if i get cold again there's none of this 'making a decision to stop' business because in most cases i'm still wearing most or all of what i set out with, it just has to be adjusted a bit which can be done on the move. Personally i swear by this approach, but most folk won't stand being too hot knowing they can still shed layers.

It's unfortunate and hazardous that decision making gets progressively worse the colder you get. With my approach all the decisions to put clothes on are already made before i start. Good thread BTW Andy.