Be Prepared When Nude Hiking in Cold Weather

Originally posted in my Nude Hiking and Soaking blog on Jan 17th, 2008

I've gotten a few emails from readers

wanting to get out there and hike nude
in the snow. For most of us the mere
thought of getting naked in near-
freezing weather does not sound like
very much fun, but I can assure you
that the human body is very much
capable of dealing with cold weather
and the experience can actually be very
comfortable, serene, invigorating and
freeing. You just need to take some
commonsense precautions. If that
weren't enough to get you out there, trails and routes that are otherwise too
popular or overrun by textiles and families in the warmer months are often all
yours with nary another soul to bother you (heck, the lack of tracks in the snow
tells you no one is on the trail ahead of you!)

Perhaps I should call it "nude backpacking" as opposed to nude hiking or free-

hiking. During the warmer months on shorter day routes I prefer to hike with the
least amount of covering possible (a hat, hiking shoes and a fanny pack slung
over my shoulder . . . sometimes absolutely nothing at all.) I've been known to
take all my clothes off, stack them neatly and wander off completely naked as the
day I was born. One writer describes that type of exercise as an epiphany for the
now, newly converted nudist. You will never want to hike in any other form . . .
except when the weather requires it.

In winter (or any weather that is likely to turn inclement) you'd be foolish to hike
without the essentials to insure your survival should things go wrong. One reader
commented on the size of my backpack, asking how much it weighed. Well, it
does look big on my back but if you pack judiciously a 'survival' pack could weigh
in about 15-25 lbs which is easily carried in a well-balanced backpack. For me, the
most cold-sensitive portion of my anatomy is my back . . . a cold chill down the
spine can instantly send me into shivers. Since the pack sits slung over my back I
tend to stay warm in that area.

"Clothing" for when you need to warm up

Look at what it takes to keep you warm, dry and comfortable while standing in
the snow next to your car at the trail-head and that is what you need to carry with
you in your backpack. I pack (after I undress, no need to duplicate):

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• Thermal, wicking undergarments (remember, no cotton; it gets wet or

soaked from perspiration and you freeze),
• Two extra pairs of wool socks and an extra pair of wicking undersocks,
• Wool Sweater (tight-weave, thick fiber has the best insulating properties
and insulates even when wet),
• Snow pants (insulated, the type you'd wear skiing or snowboarding),
• Your windproof, water-resistant outer-shell parka,
• A second pair of snow gloves or mittens,
• A small towel to dry yourself off with should you get wet.

I carry these items in a 45-gal 3mil black plastic trash bag (the contractor cleanup
type) stuffed back into the pack to keep them dry. The trash bag can serve
double-duty as something to sit on, on wet ground or snow, an emergency shelter
or as an impromptu poncho by poking three holes in the bottom and pulling it
down over your head and arms. I also carry a second trash bag in the pack. Pack
your clothes near the top where you can get at them easily should the weather get
ugly or you need to warm up. A little trick . . . activate one or two of those foot or
hand warmer packets and fold your inner clothes around them to keep them nice
and warm for when you do need them.

Food

Food is an essential even if you are only going on a four-hour day hike. What
would happen if you got lost or were forced to weather out a sudden snowstorm. I
carry the following supplies in a separate ditty bag in the backpack:

• 9- Top Ramen (easy to prepare comfort food to warm your soul, body and
spirit),
• 3 foil-sealed packages of tuna (for protein), one of the cellopaks of saltine
crackers from the 4-pack boxes, an assortment of individual-serve mayo,
relish and salt and pepper packs shamelessly stolen from BurgerKing,
• 9 hot chocolate singles, baggies of instant coffee, creamer and sugar, a few
plastic spoons and forks,
• 4-5 large bars of chocolate; full of slow burning fats and sugar energy . . .
the hikers friend and an essential when you are burning large amounts of
calories to maintain your body temperature,
• My whisper stove and a few canisters of butane (above 5,000 I would carry
a multi-fuel stove as butane doesn't work very well at altitude),
• My trusty GI-mess kit,
• The fire kit: A good supply of waterproof, strike-anywhere matches (make
your own, coat matches in paraffin and store in a waterproof container.
Add a striker surface (emery board, small piece of sandpaper). Add a 30-
hour candle or two, a magnesium striker and tube of fire-starter paste and
you should be able to light a fire in pretty much any situation.

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I don't expect to have to dig into the food bag on a day hike. It's there on the off-
chance that I'm going to have to survive on my own for a couple of days . . . and
yes, I have. I overextended myself on one hike into the Glacier Wilderness,
running out of daylight to the point where I had to stop and make camp out of my
emergency supplies. It can (and will) happen.

I always practice bear-protocol, even when any sensible bear should be

hibernating in winter. The food bag has a 50 ft length of strong nylon cord inside
that can be used to raise it up out of bear reach. The cord would come in handy
for a lot of other uses, as well.

Paraphernalia in the Outer Pouches

In the outer pouches of my pack I carry the paraphernalia of modern society. The
most important one a First Aid Kit. The first aid kit doesn't have to be elaborate
but should have a few hiker's-essential supplies like moleskin for blisters, band-
aids, ointments, gauze pads, some safety pins, etc. to cover the typical scrapes
and bruises all hikers get. I carry the old style styptic pencil that shaver's use to
use to stop minor scratches from bleeding. A small roll of duct tape in the pack
along with a couple of emergency mylar space blankets cover many other
potential repair and emergency situations.

I carry my cell phone, my camera and my GPS unit when I hike. When I hike with
friends I also like to hike with a set of FRS radios to stay in contact. I also carry
one of those neon headlamps for nighttime use. All of these require batteries. You
should have a set of backup batteries for all items and you should try to keep
these batteries protected from the cold. Cold drains a battery in half the normal
time.

In another pouch I carry my maps and charts, compass and a few other essential
items.

My Bear Deterrent spray and my hunting knife seem to permanently be on the

belt of my backpack. I leave them there . . . never had to use the spray.

On the back rigging I carry a small, collapsing snow shovel.

Water

While it may seem that with snow all around there is no need to carry a lot of
water, dehydration is a serious problem for cold-weather hikers . . . and even
more for nude, cold-weather hikers. Very cold air is also very dry air, as moisture
condenses out with dropping temperature. That dry air sucks moisture from your

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skin and breath very efficiently. Constant hydration is very important. So three
important points:

1. Carry plenty of water and be prepared to obtain more. My backpack has a

three-liter hydration bladder built into it, which is normal enough for the
typical day hike. A hose snakes out of the top of the pack within easy reach
to draw a sip on. I also carry a Sweetwater Filter to filter water from
opportune sources along the trail. Try to avoid eating snow to hydrate
yourself as all you're doing is lowering core body temperature to melt that
snow. The hiker's rule-of-thumb for sufficient hydration is that if you are
urinating clear you are sufficiently hydrated.
2. Your exhalations are the largest source of dehydration in cold weather.
Just look at your breath and see all that moisture condensing to a fog. You
should avoid breathing through your mouth in cold weather . . . your
nostrils are far more efficient at retaining body heat and moisture. Cold
weather often induces a stuffy nose so carry decongestants in your first aid
kit.
3. Your skin transpires as much water out of your body in cold dry air, as it
does trying to stay cool during hot weather. You lose both water and body
heat. An answer I've found is that if your keep your skin moisturized ahead
of time you will feel a whole lot warmer and less chill-bound (a sign that
your skins is transpiring moisture). Take care of your skin and it will take
care of you. Moisturizing your skin also makes it somewhat water-
repellent . . . melted snow flakes and rain will ball and roll off your skin
quickly without wetting large areas. Remember, water conducts heat away
50 times more efficiently than air.
4. When I shower I liberally moisturize myself with simple ole baby oil . . .
mineral oil. You can find fragrance-free baby oil if the aroma seems too
childish . . . doesn't bother me. The treatment makes my skin feel alive and
aware. Prior to a hike I rub in some of the leftover suntan lotion I always
seem to accumulate in squeeze tubes in my car. The lotions have an
efficient moisturized content as well as the UV-protection . . . which
mustn't be forgotten, even in winter.

What this Nude Hiker typically wears on a cold weather hike

You've got your backpack set, you've reached a spot where you feel the desire to
be free of the bulky clothes and hike naturally. Put as much attention to
undressing and packing for need as you did for the rest of your supplies. Despite
how careful I try to be, I have fallen through weakened snow-bridges on several
occasions and appreciate being able to find dry clothing quickly in my backpack
to warm up. Set your pack down where it won't get wet or tip over and carefully
undress and fold your clothes in a logical order . . . the order you'd want to
retrieve them in a hurry. The last item to come off should be your top . . . gives
you a chance to acclimatize yourself to the sudden cold, which is a shock to
everyone. You will quickly warm as your metabolism kicks into higher gear.

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With my clothes packed safely away and the backpack slung over my back, this is
what I'm typically wearing from top on down:

• A knit wool cap (60% of your body heat is lost through the top of your
head; more for balding people like me. That is a fact . . . wear a hat!),
• Sunglasses on a retainer around my neck. Snow blindness is not fun! Get a
good pair of mountain glasses,
• The pack on my back. I typically do not belt mine as the weight is easy to
carry and I enjoy the extra skin exposure,
• My thermos in a water-resistant carrier bag looped over head and shoulder.
I either fill mine with hot chocolate or coffee. Coffee is a no-no, as it's a
diuretic but I love my coffee,
• My digital camera attached to a very light-weight collapsing tripod slips
into the side rigging of my backpack. With exposed metal surfaces, try
coating with the plastic dip used for tools. Helps to prevent cold-contact
discomfort when you have to handle those metal surfaces,
• Gloves. Mine are thermal Thinsulate gloves which convert to mittens easily
yet give the dexterity of a warm glove. Fingers, poorly supplied with blood,
are quickly affected by the cold,
• Two pairs of socks (an inner wicking pair under woolen hiking socks) keep
your feet warm and dry, and resist blisters as the two pairs slide against
each other rather than your feet,
• A good pair of leather hiking boots . . . pre-worked in and treated with
water-repellent. The tongue should be continuous to keep out snow and
moisture. Choose hooks rather than eyelets for the top to make tying easier
with cold hands. The boots should also have the heel catch for use with
snowshoes,
• Over the boots I wear calf-covering gaiters to keep snow off my lower legs
and out of the top of my boots. The REI branded ones I bought have a
reflective insulating inner surface that keep my lower legs and feet toasty
warm,
• Snowshoes (mine are Denali Evo Ascents). Don't skimp. These are what
keep you up above the surface of the snow instead of post-holing to your
crotch with every step. Choose snowshoes designed for your weight and
the type of terrain you typically hike in (flat, alpine) . . . and for the weight
of the snowshoes. Technical use of snowshoes is beyond this article. Learn
to use them ahead of time . . . it's not that hard,
• Poles. Forget expensive trekking poles unless they already have snow
baskets. I use my ski poles.

Hypothermia

Acclimatization to cold weather is a 'learned' response over time. The Inuit of the
arctic have a markedly lower core body temperature to what we consider normal
(95F to our 98.6F) and have tuned their basal metabolism and circulation to be

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as efficient as ours at this lower temperature. They can withstand cold

temperature far more efficiently than us 'southerners' can.

The metabolic response to temperature changes is a complicated one. Simply

stated, we, as warm-blooded beings, can only burn fuel (food) for cell energy
within a narrow range of temperatures . . . the core body temperature. Our body
will go to great biologic and physiological extremes to maintain that core body
temperature. Understanding this metabolic response is important to knowing
your limitations and the dangers hypothermia represent . . . especially to a nude
hiker totally exposed to the elements. Acclimatization increases your metabolic
efficiency and allows you to stay warm for longer periods of time. Remember,
clothing does not warm your body . . . clothing simply reduces the loss of body
heat. Any and all heat you experience (short of warming yourself by a fire or
slipping into a hot spring pool) is generated by your metabolic processes burning
the fuel (the food your eat) into energy. Know the signs of hypothermia and your
limits:

1. Your skin tightens upon exposure to cold; body hairs stand on end to more
effectively trap an insulating layer of air next to the skin,
2. Blood vessels initially dilate under the exposed skin surfaces, warming the
skin and giving the rosy-cheeks syndrome. As more heat is lost, this
process shuts down;
3. Goosebumps forms and tiny, consciously-controllable shivering may
commence;
4. The skin becomes a pasty white . . . chalky in later stages; blood supply to
shell skin areas and extremities is reduced. Shivering becomes more
intense as the body fights to maintain the inner core temperature of the
internal organs and the brain. You are entering Stage 1 Hypothermia;
5. Arterial shunting reduces blood flow to the extremities, leading to
cramping and uncoordinated use of leg and arm muscles. Shivering
become continuous, tiring and intense. You are in Stage 2 Hypothermia
and need to preserve the remaining body warmth before you lose the
ability to act;
6. Violent, uncontrollable shivering ceases as the body preserves even this
expenditure of scarce energy to keep the heart, lungs and brain warm and
functional. You are disoriented to the point of not even being aware of the
cold, tired and wanting to sit down and sleep. You are in Stage 3
Hypothermia and in a medical emergency. Your body is losing it's ability
to produce heat and will slip rapidly into a fatal coma.

Know the progression and signs. Shivering is normal . . . violent shivering that is
impairing and beyond your control is a serious warning sign that you've passed
your limits.

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Acclimatization to Cold Weather

Acclimatization is the increasing of your body's heat-production and retention

efficiency. As you slowly expose yourself to cold weather in longer increasing
periods your body responds by burning foods more efficiently. As we go into
spring and summer and are no longer exposed to these colder patterns, we
acclimatize in the other direction, slowing the efficiency down to maintain that
'normal' 98.6F core body temperature. Vitamin B6 is an excellent supplement to
increase the efficiency of our metabolism and I take it regularly in the colder
months of the year as I'm working my naked body to withstand and enjoy nudity
in the cold. Omega-3 fatty acids are not only good for your cholesterol levels but
induce a high level of cold resistance. Get them through eating cold-water fish
like salmon or taking flax seed oil capsules.

The key is to acclimatize over time. Do not shock your system by heading out on a
long nude snow hike without some period of adjustment to your system.

When exposing you body to cold weather . . . particularly when you must be able
to keep yourself warm without the insulating-crutch of clothing . . . eat easily
digested foods such as carbohydrates and sugars; adding smaller amounts of fat
and protein to balance the digestive load. Digestion consumes up to 30% of all
available energy after a large meal. That's energy not available to keep you warm.
Avoid large and heavy meals full of protein and fats immediately prior to a hiking
expenditure. Carb-load the night before and keep your trail eating to small and
frequent snacks.

• Sugars are the high-octane fuels and produce a quick burst of energy and a
falloff just a quickly.
• Carbs are more complicated sugars (starches and such) that burn slower
and over an extended period. Carbs are the basic sources of energy to fuel
metabolism.
• Fats (such as chocolate) are an excellent source of stored energy that can
be called on as the body needs. However, if you don't use fats, guess where
they go? Don't go overboard on fats as a high-fat diet takes weeks to adapt
to and can lead to abdominal stress; something you don't need on the trail.
However, fat reserves within the cells of our body are very important both
during the acclimatization phase and when the body calls on energy
reserves to bolster core temperatures and maintain glucose levels.
• Proteins are the structural components for the body. However, in need,
proteins are metabolized (burned) for heat energy because they produce a
large amount of heat. However, they are difficult to digest and leave many
undesired byproducts when burned for fuel . . . such as salts which will
lead to increased urination and dehydration.

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Control heat loss at the vulnerable points. The head loses 60% of all body heat
through the scalp (the seat of our intelligence is in the brain and the brain
requires a huge amount of energy to function.) Likewise, wear good boots to keep
your feet warm, and wear gloves. The under-supplied toes and fingers quickly go
numb and useless in cold weather.

My back is decidedly sensitive to a cold-shiver, and I suspect that's the case with
most of us. Cover your back in some manner (coat slung over the shoulders,
backpack, in my case). Our nipples (in both men and woman) suffer painfully
when it really gets cold. Likewise the genitalia, particularly men, will feel the
painfully numbing cold eventually. Recognize what's happening and don't suffer
needlessly. The layering principle applies to nude hikers as well . . . except we
might need to put on that first layer as needed.

It is often said that women, with typically thicker subcutaneous fat layers, are
better able to withstand the effects of cold weather . . . and that makes sense
as adipose fat is a great insulator. You only need look to the ability of marine
mammals with their thick blubber to withstand the numbingly frigid waters of
the Arctic. But what I've noticed is that the same insulating nature of adipose has
a rebound effect . . . those same layers of fat become cold reservoirs and resist
warming up or letting external heat through after a hike. I noted that effect
several years ago after a challenging nude snow hike that I pushed despite the
winds and snow turning ugly. Once back in my car with the heat going full blast,
much of my body quickly warmed up . . . except the areas where adipose fat
underlay my abdomen and 'love-handles' (yeah, I got lazy that year and let my
spare-tire get ahead of me.) Those areas of my body stayed icily-cold for the next
few hours despite clothing, heat and a general rewarming of the rest of me. The
fat was a great insulator but insulation works both ways! The upshot, some body
fat is okay but a lot of adipose can become a liability if you push the limits of your
cold exposure.

A note on frostbite . . . can't get it unless the ambient air or wind-

chill temperature is below freezing. The laws of thermodynamics plainly state
that you can not reduce the temperature of an object below the ambient
environment . . . except under certain, unique circumstances . . . supercooling.
Supercooling happens under high wind, high humidity conditions. Don't hike
nude in such conditions . . . please. Even I'm not that stupid and will put on
clothes when the wind picks up much beyond 5-10 mph. When it is below
freezing your extremities (particularly toes and fingers, and since we are nude,
the nipples and genitalia) are very susceptible to damaging frostbite. Watch for
painful, chalky white skin progressing into a lack of pain as frostbite happens.
Don't let it get this far!

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Last Thoughts

Did I forget anything? I'm sure I have.

While I enjoy endless roaming around the mountains nude in the balmier months,
taking off my clothes in a wide-open and pristine snowfield and hiking free is a
unique and almost spiritual experience. Also, while I consider hiking nude in the
snow a personal challenge, I temper it with the realization that I have to be aware
of how my body is responding. But what else is a nudist good for than being
aware of his or her body interaction with the environment. We nude hikers know
how sublime the experience is . . .