What do you consider 'cold'? (North Pole, Naknek: house, rent, vacation)

[Baltic_Celt]

Originally Posted by Rance

I've jumped into the Arctic Ocean in October. Had to look for an ice free place to get at the water.

See, it just goes to show ya' that there are not enough recreational activities in AK. Look what the locals need to resort to...

[Rance]

It's a polarbear club thing! I drag people out there to jump in every year...then I can witness them into the club. You get a certificate and an awesome embroidery. I jump 5 or 6 times a year...well not jump...run is more like it.

[Plains10]

What I consider cold:
100F- stay inside
90F- very hot, usually stay inside
80F- very warm, have the AC on
70F- nice, but still a little warm in full sun
60F- my ideal temperature
50F- nice crisp air
40F- a little cool
30F- cold, jacket weather
20F- cold if the wind is blowing
10F- wintertime
0F- Snow becomes crunchy, dress in layers.
-10F- Not too bad if the wind is calm
-20F- Frigid, cover all extremities
-30F- Stay inside
<-30F Think about going on vacation further south

[Baltic_Celt]

Originally Posted by EugeneBKLYN

I don't think your outlook on heat would be the same when the night-time temperature drops down to 84 with high humidity, all while the power is out in your entire neighborhood on a night in august.

I've been through this, you see. This is why Alaska appeals to me.

The thing about cold is, you can always put more clothes on.

But with heat, you could stand there butt-naked when its 100 degrees and it will still be hot

..not to mention the bad sunburn.

Eugene, you went without a/c for ONE 84-degree night in Aug & you still recall it? Yes, perhaps you do belong in AK.

To each her own. I lived south for 7-yrs, hardly ever using a/c, as I couldn't afford it. Screaming high Atlanta humidity & NC nights hotter than you described are often the norm. Was I hot? Sure, as hot as you'd be. But, my body can tolerate heat, not cold. You're the opposite. I don't feel comfortable or like wearing 5 layers to stay warm. I've done it for many years, but prefer not to. What it comes down to is what each individual tolerates.

Hope you make it to AK. I hope to make it back to San Diego someday soon... VV

[Baltic_Celt]

Originally Posted by Rance

It's a polarbear club thing! I drag people out there to jump in every year...then I can witness them into the club. You get a certificate and an awesome embroidery. I jump 5 or 6 times a year...well not jump...run is more like it.

LOL Here we have the L St. Brownies. L St. has 2 bathhouses on the beach, 1 for women, the other men. They're periodically on the nationwide news as it gets closer to New Year's Day. They are a group of men of all ages who go for a quick swim/dip in the ocean every morning of everyday. They make news around New Year's, as many others join in just to do it as a challenge to tackle on Jan 1 only.

I've gotta' hand it to ya', you men are a hearty lot... VV

[Baltic_Celt]

Originally Posted by yellowsnow

I'd heard about the pee freezing thing and I tried to talk someone into trying it. But no one wanted to get their junk out because it was too cold.

Hmm, I guess this is why in Boston, the subway flashers seem to disappear in the winter...

[BudinAk]

To me, cold is when it's just plain unenjoyable to be outdoors doing things. For me, that's any temp below about 35. And "Too Cold" is a temp that is low enough that you can't do simple chores outside without coming in the house every 10 or 15 minutes to warm up. For me, that is around 15 degrees, or colder. My nose just gets to running, and won't quit, in those temps. Can't imagine how they deal with the colder temps up north.
You don't need a thermometer to know when it is cold...all you need do is look at the snow: if it's really cold the snow "sparkles", like diamonds, in the sunlight. (ice crystals)

Bud

[Plains10]

Originally Posted by BudinAk

To me, cold is when it's just plain unenjoyable to be outdoors doing things. For me, that's any temp below about 35. And "Too Cold" is a temp that is low enough that you can't do simple chores outside without coming in the house every 10 or 15 minutes to warm up. For me, that is around 15 degrees, or colder. My nose just gets to running, and won't quit, in those temps. Can't imagine how they deal with the colder temps up north.
You don't need a thermometer to know when it is cold...all you need do is look at the snow: if it's really cold the snow "sparkles", like diamonds, in the sunlight. (ice crystals)

Bud

Yes, I live in an urban area and the low temperatures in the winter usually do not get colder than 0F. However, outside the city in rural areas the temperature can be up to 10F lower when their is snow on the ground. The runny nose thing I can definitely relate to. However, you just have to be prepared for the conditions and dress in layers. My ideal weather would be a low of 45F and a high of 65F every day of the year

[mal_flisk]

I have seen kids walking to school in Fairbanks in shorts in 30 degree weather in midwinter. It's 40-60 degrees above the average at that time of year. Your body becomes acclimatized to certain temps and you definitely can feel the difference. Personally, I have been working in -20f temps for several weeks and found that I was sweating if I didn't remove some layers when the temps went up to the +20f's. It was more comfortable working in a sweatshirt and plain jeans. Problem is letting your body temp lower itself due to exposure. Core temps can drop rapidly with the wicking of sweat into the outer layers.

[ulsterscot]

It is amazing how you become acclimated. When I moved to Alaska from Virginia as a child, I remember being fairly chilly when we arrived at our new home. To my suprise, the next door neighbor kids were all running around in swim trunks spraying each other with a hose. The next summer, I was right there with them.