I had the pleasure of going out in the field yesterday (Sunday) to try and help a fellow surveyor who is behind on his workload. How do you guys stay warm when the wind chill is -20°F? Insulated bib overalls did a good job of keeping my legs and body warm, and I had a Sherpa lined Carhartt coat. My hands, feet, and face were the worst parts.
Also, the batteries didn't seem to like the cold either. They started out at 100% and quickly dropped to about 10%. I have a feeling it was a false reading due to the cold or the cold was inhibiting the battery so much that it was only able to register about 10%.
I've never been too cold to work until yesterday. That was brutal. I think the actual temperature was around 4-5°F but there were at least 25mph winds basically the whole time.
a foam lined wooden box around back and sides of the DC with a couple of those hand warmer heat packs. battery for the GNSS mounted in a foam lined box. Total Station-spare batteries inside your coat and rotate frequently.
Hands: wool GLO-MITTs on my hands also more hand warmers, head: gore-tex lined wool balaclava with a silk bandanna underneath Feet: Sorel pacs with the coldest rating they make and wool socks. In my younger days, I've worked all day in -20 deg F with a wind chill of -50.
The hand warmers might be a good idea and the balaclava is definitely needed.
Keeping Warm - Feet First
Your feet are the most critical to feel comfortable. In weather almost this cold I have a pair of Rocky 1200 thinsulate line work boots and wool socks. Possibly today I might add a sock layer but probably not. I also have a pair of rubber galoshes with 1/2" thick felt liners. There is also room for an extra pair of socks, again not usually needed. I have never used toe warmers, but I have them. Yesterday I went out with wool socks and leather ankle high work boots, since I had no plans to tromp around in the snow. I did not double up socks but more often than not do so in the leather shoes.
Before getting to hands I make sure my neck is warm, minimum is a turtle neck shirt among the layers. Possibly a turtle neck sweater if all day is planned, but always in a shirt pocket is a dickey to add a layer around the neck. Used three times during hunting but only once while surveying this year.
Hands are also layered, first layer are skin tight leather cloves so that my fingers can manipulate the instrument and data collector. Next layer are knit fingerless with rubber bumps for traction. Alternate second layer are knit fingerless gloves with the attached mitten pullover, required finger warmers go in these. Only used finger warmers once during hunting, January flintlock on a snowy day. Carry finger warmers but have not yet used surveying this year. Always wear a different pair of heavy insulated gloves for recon work than for actual survey work. Dry being the major requirement.
As I said dry is important and it is very easy to get sufficient moisture in shoes from sweating to notice it the next day. That is why there is always an alternate pair of shoes, boots or galoshes in my Jeep as well as one normal pair of footwear.
How do I carry all that stuff? in a fleece hunting vest, two outside pockets four inside pockets. Also room for folded maps, field book, tape and survey ribbon. When you are wearing gloves you do not want to have to reach into your pants pockets.
As far a equipment goes, keep your batteries warm. Spare battery does not get left in the instrument box, either left in the Jeep or inside vest pocket. If it is cold enough to take a warming break in the vehicle the instrument battery goes with us.
Talked to another surveyor and we are hoping for a 20° day this week to get back outside and locate our recon work from last week. Other obligations not weather kept us from going back last week.
Paul in PA
Keeping Warm - Feet First
I definitely agree on the neck and feet. I had insulated snow boots, but regular socks. That was a mistake. I always wear a zip up fleece vest that zips up to the chin to keep my neck covered. I was lucky that my instrument man had an extra face cover, because I would not have lasted even as long as I did without it.
The Most Impotant Layer Is Under Your Foot
As I said I have 1/2" felt boot liners and the most important part is the 1/2" under the soles of my feet.
Add fleece insoles to those insulated boots as step one then a single pair of warm socks should keep you comfy.
I very seldom get down to using a balaclava and I do not think it even made it into my hunting pack this year. I have a lightweight camo head cover, that breaks the wind and has been sufficient this year. I also have a lightweight felt hardhat liner that covers the back of my head and ears. That usually goes under an insulated baseball or knit cap as needed. Worst days this year was lightweight face cover, helmet liner and knit cap layers. Were I skiing the extra in your face wind would have required the balaclava.
Paul in PA
EXPEDITION WEIGHT POLYPROPYLENE UNDERWEAR. NUFF SAID
> .....How do you guys stay warm when the wind chill is -20°F?
I moved to the Pacific Northwest....B-)
When I lived in Nebraska; I built a fire and stayed in the house...:snarky:
I don't go out until the temp reaches my age. 65 right now. B-)
It's too cold
I have a limit set. Under 18 degrees is too cold to stay safe. Paul (in PA) said it: You have to work hard at keeping warm to get work done. I find that the cold not only slows us down but causes us to cut too many corners. It's office work and down time.
I don't know how to dress for those kinds of temps. But what really drives us nuts is the kind of weather we are having today. High of 70, with a front passing thru this afternoon. Temps tonight will be below freezing. +40 degree temp swing in less that 24 hours.
> ....+40 degree temp swing in less that 24 hours.
There are days when the high and low in Omaha NE are higher and lower than the RECORD high and low in Seattle WA....o.O
:good:
Don't underestimate the benefit of letting the hair and beard grow out more this time of year. I think it helps a lot.
Licensed Land Surveyor
Finger Lakes Region, Upstate New York
i got a bunch of hand warmers and carry six when the temps under50. only carry 2 when it's under 60-50.
peacock handwarmers seem to be the best.
Cabelas heated gloves and heated vest.
Anybody hiring in Key West?
Thinsulate, Goretex, Windstopper.
Keep warm, dry, and the wind from cutting through.
Never used warmers although I like Paul's idea of keeping them in the mitten part of the pop-top gloves. I may try that.
Have only found too cold here in Ohio a couple times.
Although there is a point when all that warming gear kills productivity.
I started surveying by accident while on a glaciology expedition, something about being big enough the carry my gear plus a T-16 across the ice field. Anyway, one of the guys that taught me to survey had once spent 2 years in Antarctica as a surveyor in 1948. He had some pictures of a pile of furs standing behind a transit that he claimed was him. I still can't figure out how he moved with all of that on let alone turn the screws.
At the moment it is 13 but feels like -2 due to roughly 15 mph winds. Today's solution is to not do any field work. There is too much that we are behind on already that happens inside. Just as well do that on a cold day as to put it off until we have a beautiful day and should be outside but get stuck inside.