How to Prepare Physically for Extreme Cold Weather

Extremely cold weather can kill faster than drowning, and excursions in extreme cold should only be undertaken by professionals with organizational support. No amount of preparation can prepare you for survival without equipment. However, proper training and preparation will help you use that equipment to its best advantage.

Instructions

1. Forget about immunizing yourself against cold. It's true that people who live in Boston have a different definition of "cold" than people from Miami, but that doesn't mean the human body can be conditioned to survive in extremely cold conditions.

2. Build cardiovascular endurance. Exerting yourself in cold weather still leads to sweating. Sweat can mean wet gear, which leaches off body temperature. Exertion also burns precious calories, which your body uses to maintain your body temperature.

3. Train in the specific activities your cold-weather excursion will require. If trekking, take walks. If climbing mountains, work with your axes and ropes. Anything you can do to make your tasks go more smoothly and with less effort will increase your chances of survival.

4. Learn stress management techniques. You can apply these to reduce panic if you end up in a tight spot. Less panic means better chances of surviving if things go poorly.

5. Increase your caloric intake starting a couple of weeks before your excursion and continue until you've safely returned. The body uses calories to keep your body heat up, so storing extra calories will help get you ready.

References

• "Into Thin Air"; John Krakauer; 1999
• Wilderness Survival