Surviving the Cold

People often ask what type of winter gear is necessary to survive the cold. After the sun had set, temperatures steadily dropped form the minus 30s/40s into the minus 80s. Typically, temperatures seem to hover around -70 / -80 F. Cloud cover increases the temperature, and of course if there is a wind the wind-chill temp can be below -100. We should get some ambient temperatures below 100 F sometime during the winter. Temperatures below about -117 are almost impossible because at that point the CO2 starts condensing out of the atmosphere.

When going outside, I wear: wool socks, FDX boots, long underwear, carhart overalls, wool liners, hand warmers, knit wool gloves, bear paw gloves, fleece pullover, big read canadian goose parka, neck gator, hat, face mask, goggles, and the red headlamp. We always use red lights outside so we don't interfere with any scientific instruments (the station is boarded up as well so there is no light pollution). I use the face mask to prevent my goggles from fogging up. I also strap on my camera tripod.

Generally, all that gears keeps one comfortably warm in most cold weather. An exception is with high wind (> 15 kts). When there's wind, the cold finds a way.