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The Citizen, 2003-12-10, Page 9CRA/G N/CHOLSOAf THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2003. PAGE 9. Cold Remedies By Craig Nicholson (©2003 by Craig Nicholson. All Thanks to deep freeze tempera­ tures or aggressive wind chill, some winter days are colder for riding than others. That’s why I have developed a special “cold kit’’ to combat that extra chill. Often, its contents have combined with the Goretex™ membrane of my Reima™ snow­ mobile suit to make the difference between comfort and misery. My cold kit starts with an extra upper layer comprised of Gore Windstopper™ fabric. This thin material prevents wind chill by stopping penetration. I also carry a pair of very thin Windstopper gloves which 1 normally use to protect my hands when taking photographs, but which also make superb liners when needed. Since I wear glasses while riding, for extreme temperatures I use a product called Fog Off before setting out on a very cold day. Together with an electric face shield and taking precautions like leaving my glasses outside so they stay cold when I go into a warm place (my kit contains a spare pair to use indoors), I maintain the ability to see. This kit also includes a pair of handlebar muffs which, when attached, do wonders to contain and maintain handle bar warmer heat, while also acting as wind barriers. I wear Goretex gloves, but replace them with a pair of heavy duty snowmobile mitts if temperatures are predicted to really plunge. In addition to the Windstopper balaclava I always wear, I carry the special face/neck protector that came with my Bombardier Modular helmet. I will add it on cold days and I also carry a flat pack of Xtreme® Duck Tape which I use to seal any annoying cracks, or even to apply to any exposed flesh (the tape comes off painlessly in the shower). On cold days, I leave my helmet on any time I’m outside, because an exposed or insufficiently protected head is a major source of heat loss. That’s one reason I chose the Bombardier helmet — the front flips up so I can talk without removing it. If 1 do take my helmet off outside on a cold day, I replace my usual ball cap with a warm touque, then place the helmet on the warm engine to defrost. My helmet has an electric visor, and I carry the plug in cord in Pickles & Relishes 519-345-2248 Jim Bauer email: bktire@bellnet.ca rights reser ved.) my kit for use in extreme temperatures. While I’m at it, here’s a cold weather lip for those who use the face mask that comes with this advanced helmet: very cold temperatures mean that breath condensation can quickly saturate the disposable absorbent liner, causing breathing tube icing and blockage; this can be averted by placing an I 1/2" length of a new tampon in the bottom of the mask to soak up the excess moisture. My body heating system is working overtime when the mercury drops, so I give it a boost by eating a hearty breakfast that includes a large bowl of oatmeal. I also stop more frequently for hot chocolate or soup. Another technique for staying warmer is to allow my body to concentrate on core temperature maintenance by artificially raising extremity heat. So my kit also includes a generous supply of chemical hot packs, the ones that start heating upon exposure to air. Some brands have adhesive built in so they stick where they are placed; otherwise, I use duct tape to secure a heat pack on the underside of each sock and inside my glove on the back of my hand. The gentle warmth from these packs provides hours of comfort and helps prevent body chill too. Before leaving, I always rub face, hands and feet with a cold barrier cream formulated for outdoor work, but I also have small tubes of Vaseline and lip balm handy to provide extra protection for sensitive facial skin as needed. Finally, once you’re ready to ride first thing on a cold morning, get going — standing around outside waiting for someone is sure to bring on a chill that’s hard to shake off. Until the next time, remember that snowmobiling is an off-road activity, so you ride OFSC trails at your own risk. For the Tour Planner and Trail Condition Reports check out www.ofsc.on.ca and look under trails. Craig Nicholson is a regular contributor to Snow Goer, Canada's Snowmobiling Magazine. The Intrepid Snowmobiler also appears on radio and on Snowmobiler Television. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author. Fax: 519-345-2790 Mike Kells Verstoep wins travelling lone hand The Friday night euchre party at the Cranbrook hall was hosted by Jhn and Kathy Bridge and Neil Hall and Edna McLellan. There were eight tables at play. The following were the winners: travelling lone hand, Adrian Verstoep; share-the-wealth, Marion Harrison, Ross Stephenson; ladies’ high, Helen Dobson; ladies’ low, Linda Minielly; men’s high, Neil Hatt; men’s low. Bill Craig; ladies’ lone hands. Viola Adams; men’s lone hands, Jim Minielly; lucky tallies, Linda Stevens, Jean Ireland, Isabelle Bremner, Lloyd Weber, Dorothy Dilworth, Jim Bridge, Isabelle Craig, Allan Edgar, June Jacklin, Keith Turnbull and Eleanor Stevenson. 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