How cold is too cold?

[ski diva]

When the weather report looks bone chilling, arctic explorer cold, do you still go out on the hill?

Today it was below zero when I woke up, but I figured, hey, I've been out in the cold before. I'll just dress for it. So we waited a little while in the hopes that it would warm up a bit (it didn't), put on like everything we owned, and went out to go skiing. Omigod. The wind was incredible. I think it was minus 25 with the wind chill. I took one ride up on the chair, with the wind blowing and the chair swinging, and that was enough. We bailed. If the wind hadn't been so bad, we wouldn't have left. But that wind......just too much.

I must be getting old. I know I've done it before.

What's your limit?

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Depends on the wind. For dead air, I'll guess 5+-? We all know it as soon as the wind chill drops below zero, no matter what the air temp. Can be a huge difference from base to summit at most larger mountains - Sugarloaf is notorious for sometimes 20 degrees of variation from base to summit. Tuesday was a good example: comfortable, almost balmy at lower elevations, I worked up a sweat and vented -- summit chair was BRRRRR - in the clouds, snowing, and windy. Couldn't get off that chair fast enough. Will test this same tolerance tomorrow, as I'm heading out again, and a.m. temps looks bitter. Might take my time heading out the door...

 

[playoutside]

A little below zero, sunshine and little wind, I'll give it a try usually. But if you add a lot of wind or too much gray skies it really is more like torture to me. Skied one day at Sunday River when it was about minus 15 and windy and it was lousy. I headed in after every 2-3 run. So cold I needed to peel off my boots each time I headed in to warm my toes. I think after the third trip into the lodge I had to give it up. There's only so much hot chocolate you can drink and positive self-talk I could listen to. I think I may have skied 8 runs that day.

Skied yesterday in NJ as the temps dropped into the teens and wind increased. Enjoyed it, but was glad to stop. Worst part is that my lips are now chapped and face is screaming from windburn -- I was fully covered and still it got to me!!

 

[Jilly]

What? That's a normal January day at Tremblant. But like you SkiDiva, I'm getting old. I'm glad I'm at work today instead of having to make that decision. Ski or clean the condo?? Work!

 

[Bravosarah]

I really like the feel of the snow on a cold day. The coldest I've ever skied was a couple of years ago night skiing the wind chill was -40!!

I think we skied two runs then skied into the lodge had a coffee an did it again. It was definately one of our most memorable runs.

 

[astridhj]

I've been skiing in -30 C, which is around -20 Fahrenheit. That was just a bit too cold. Normally we don't have it that cold in the slopes here on the west coast of Norway, so it's been a while since I've been skiing in temps that cold.

 

[Gloria]

We get these temps pretty frequently. I am not opposed to skiing when it is this cold per se. I actually love to get outside when it's this cold. It's so crisp and peaceful. Unfortunately however we do need to be somewhat worried about getting stuck on one of our lifts that frequently breaks down when it gets this cold. It's pretty much guaranteed to when it gets this cold. I always have to weigh the consequences pretty seriously before I go ahead and let my little one go out on days like this. Personally I have been super lucky and have only gotten stuck once when it has been really cold and it was long ago when I was much younger. My husband was about 4 chairs behind us on a day like this, and my friend and I were the last to get off, he got stuck with his friend. It was well below zero with windchill, and it was a good couple of hours before they got roped down as they were some of the last since they were closest the top. They were pretty bummed when they got back down to find my friend and I had been taking full advantage of staying warm in the bar with all of it's features and having a great old time. Ooops. Gosh that was a fun afternnon for those of us who had to wait in the bar though.

 

[Robyn]

Oh boy, have we been testing the limits here in Colorado this winter. Saturday was pretty bad at around 0 degrees for the high with around 10-15 mph winds. The poor kids I coach were frozen halfway down 1 run so we were doing a 1 run, in for warm up cycle all day. On Tuesday I skied Vail and it was still quite cold but not nearly as bad since it was sunny at least.

 

[ski chick]

I agree that it all depends on the wind. We've skied in sub-zero with and without wind. Completely different experience. What I DO NOT like is a swaying chair lift. YIKES!:(

 

[volklgirl]

It's never too cold to ski!

At least not after you've experience standing around in a lycra speed suit for an hour or 2 waiting for your turn to race at 20 below with 30 to 40 below wind chills. Wow.

 

[Shellski]

The coldest I have ever skied was about 10 years ago in Aspen, it was -28 deg, air temp - not wind chill. They weren't letting people ride the surface lifts, only the gondola, and checking people for exposed skin. We managed a couple of runs (I was wearing every piece of clothing I could get on) before we would have to go inside and warm up, then back out again. My hands were so cold I could barely hold my poles. And that weekend was 24 hours of Aspen - I have no idea how they did it!!

 

[Helen Ls]

I spent 2 weeks at Banff about 8 years ago and I think it was about -20 the whole time I had to buy a face protector and go inside to warm up every couple of runs with a hot drink.

I agree with everyone though its the wind that makes it sooo cold !

 

[RachelV]

It's never too cold to ski!

At least not after you've experience standing around in a lycra speed suit for an hour or 2 waiting for your turn to race at 20 below with 30 to 40 below wind chills. Wow.

I thought I was doing pretty good when we skiied on a day when the high was about 5F with no wind... the morning started out around 0F. I *cannot imagine* -20F plus wind. No way would you get me outside in that.

 

[pinto]

LOL ... I read the thread title, and thought, "Depends on the wind." Then I read all the replies, and it seems that my posting is redundant. Or we'll just say supportive.

 

[abc]

Not to mention the wind knock you sideways while you're skiing!

When the wind gets to be too much, I give up. Whatever the temperature.

Though in my case, not "skiing" isn't the answer. When it gets too windy and cold, I laugh secretly inside while pulling out my x-c gear. 0 degree and 25 mph wind in the open? Just perfect temperature in the woods harringboning my way up the hill. :D

 

[robynb]

Definitely depends on the wind and how dry it is for me. If it's raining or nasty sleet, I have all kinds of excuses. If it's dry and clear I've skied in 19 below and been comfortable.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Well, I guess I'll let you know how I fare. Looks like it will be about -15 tomorrow a.m. with wind chills of approx -30..... .....but I'm not liking next week's forecast at ALL (warmer, mixed precip), so I'll definitely be out there tomorrow----just maybe not quite first chair...maybe closer to noon.

 

[lil mountain girl]

if i get frostbite in one run . . . it's tooo cold!!!!!!!!!

brrrrrr..........

 

[Quiver Queen]

Did anybody mention the wind????

 

[sibhusky]

I've skied in -25 F with a -60-something windchill. The wind was really only an issue on the chair, though. I'm pretty sure I'd stay home if it was any colder than -25F and I can't say I enjoyed that wind.

A number of my daughter's friends were scheduled to race the Doug that day (it was canceled due to conditions) and told her I WAS NUTS. I felt that crowds were low and just threw on an Eddie Bauer down parka over all my normal ski clothes. Looked like a geek, but that stuff doesn't bother me. I was actually a tad on the too warm side with that jacket on!