Tips for SERIOUS cold weather??

I can't really help... I live in a very hot place.

But maybe one tip would be to make friends with the wild packs of husky dogs, so if they do eat you, maybe they'd feel a little bad about it.

Or maybe not.

Actually, I'm curious as to what people will say about this question. A number of the places I daydream about living in tend to have very cold winters.

Dress in layers. Buy Sorrels. Stop caring what you look like between October and April; no one is too cool to be warm.

You know those cute stretchy gloves that are a buck at the dollar store? They're only good in September and May.

Make sure you get a south facing apartment with covered parking. You're going to starve for sunlight for 2/3 of the year. And get an apartment, not a house. That way someone else has to shovel the snow.

Unless you want to run out to your car in your pajamas, coat, and Sorrels at 7 in the morning to start your car so it can run for half an hour to warm up while you're getting ready for school, get a remote starter installed.

(I live in Winnipeg, in a northeast facing apartment with on-street parking and a car too old to install a remoter starter in it. )

Question: Is it at all a safe thing to get around by public transport or simple walking in a snow-covered city?

Warm boots and thermal socks.

Buy long underwear and wear it. Keep your ears covered. Tuques are important. Wear them.
I have lived in Edmonton. I was born and raised about 100 mi. northwest of Edmonton. I know the cold. It is a fairly moist cold so it will bite. Be prepared, but don't be scared. You'll adjust.

It just takes getting used to. Others up-thread gave you great advice: clothes layering, even a jacket with even a thin polyester hood can do wonders on a bitter-cold windy day for keeping your head warm. Don't be afraid of the cold. Hubby and I walk everywhere, even when it's -30 F. Some light blankets on the couch to curl up under (ah, heaven!). If you're going to be walking a lot, consider a balaclava, especially those with a nose guard and goggles. Of course that for when you're out in high winds, blowing snow and serious cold.

Don't forget your vehicle if you have one. Keep it in tip-top running shape and have a great battery and anti-freeze. If you plan on driving around in the wilderness: (disclaimer: we live in the mountains and we always have with us in fall/winter/spring) shovels, tow strap, high quality jumper cables, tire chains, an emergency bag with cold weather sleeping bags, candles, a wind-up light (winding the handle charges the light's battery), a large plastic coffee can with lid that holds a roll of toilet paper, emergency beacon, and a deck of card, among other gear that escapes me.

If you find yourself stuck in your vehicle in the snow away from people, stay with your vehicle.

Have fun! I lurve cold weather!

A hot water bottle, three rice socks, and another hot water bottle.

Themos to keep your drinks from freezing

grow a beard or moustache ... when your breath condenses and freezes on them those areas of your face will bw a warm and comfy 32 degrees or better

Dont wear sandals

also don't run or get out of breath while outside if you can possibly help it. (also works for most of us couch potatoes in other climates)

Don't get wet feet

Discord said:

Haha, that might be a little tricky for me, being a girl. But I'll give it a shot...

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Don't shave your legs. It really does make a difference.

Tips for SERIOUS cold weather??

Keep your hands in a friends pockets...

Discord, I'm in Edmonton. Can give you some pointers if you like. I'm from Texas, but have lived here for a few years now.

I definitely recommend wool socks (2 pair if you can fit em in your boots). I like Smartwool, because they energize your feet. Like hiking socks. Definitely long underwear. Lots and LOTS of layers. Polartech jackets. And I swear by Yaktrax for slippery sidewalks and parking lots. They're like crampons you can stretch over your boots and remove. They ROCK.

Jenn's right about the Sorel boots. Some of the best made. I have a pair. And YES-- a VERY good pair of gloves. It sucks to have an awesome coat, scarf and boots but have your hands feel like they're on fire from the cold.

And definitely agree to the south and west exposures on apartments if you can find them. Our living room is great for this. So even if it's cold outside, remember Alberta is one of the sunniest provinces, so it DOES help. Also, stock up on extra Vitamin D to help with the lack of winter sun. I'll also recommend buying stock in your favorite hand and body creams. Buy in quantity!! I disagree with the person above who talked about the moisture. The SNOW is wet, the air is not. The mountain air is REALLY drying-- your back, shins and arms and all the rest of you will itch constantly, and your hands will feel like sandpaper. I have to keep lotion in my purse, on my desk, on my coffee table...basically anywhere I am for any length of time during the day or night.

Although the locals bash it, I find the public transit here to be not too bad, depending where you live. We do have the train and buses.

Just keep in mind that in January of 2011, we had over a week of around -37 C, and it did not stop snowing that whole time. The drifts were 6-9 feet tall in places.

If you do have a car you'll be bringing, make sure to keep it OVER half full when the temps get below 0. Fuel lines freeze more easily in super freezing temps.

Good luck! And get in touch when you get here, if you like.

Discord said:

Oh, man, it's great to hear from someone who actually lives in Edmonton w/ city-specific tips!

I won't have a car, so at least I'll miss out on those hassles, but I'm glad to hear the public transportation is decent. I've lived in four different cities now, and every ONE of them everybody complains about the public transportation. So I take that reputation with a grain of salt. I'm glad to hear it's not so bad as everybody says.

So far the plan is to live in residence for at least the first semester, so I don't have far to go for classes and stuff. Even so, U of A is a big campus.

Man, I'm worried about making the switch from Ottawa to Edmonton, I can't imagine what your first winter was like after Texas... was it a rough transition? Did you find yourself kind of adjusting after a while?

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Fortunately, I didn't get thrown right into it cold turkey. I had 2 years in Milwaukee to get me used to it, learn how to drive in it, etc. And I did adapt. I actually enjoy seeing the 4 seasons, since we really don't have them in Texas. We have not too warm, warm, hot and FREAKING HOT. And I have MS, so I can't handle the heat anymore at all. The cold was actually a welcome change for me. And I love being able to go outside and enjoy gardening in the summer.

My first 8 months up here were hell only because I was living with my in-laws out in the wilds of Wabamun (a tiny spot on the map about 45 minutes west of town) in a tiny 2 bedroom house in the middle of the winter. It got to the point my husband had to bring me into town with him every day so I didn't kill my mother-in-law. But I did finish my first novel this way. And I started #2, so it wasn't all for naught!

The area around U of A has SO much to do. Whyte Avenue is basically where all the action is in town, so you have lots of restaurants, clubs, shops, etc very close. And buses running the length of it. Plus, the train goes right through the middle of campus, so you can use that to get to lots of areas you might not normally.

They're in the middle of extending the train route right now all the way up to the Kingsway Mall area, and it already goes down to Southgate Mall (and a little further), so in case you need to do some shopping, there ya go. . There's also a Safeway and a Sobey's right close to campus for grocery shopping. And they just finished a MONSTER 2-story Shopper's Drug Mart on Whyte and 109th Street.

I have a friend or two at U of A, since I yelp here in town (yelp.com). If you're desperate to meet some people, it's a good way to do it, and if you're like me, you enjoy learning about great bookstores, places to go for brekky, etc. I'm a bit older than the student folks, but it's always nice to have more friends.

When will you be getting here, do you know?

Gosh, I thought our 25-30 degree weather here in California was trying at times. It sounds like Edmonton is very very VERY cold.

Good luck with your move!

Susan Littlefield said:

Gosh, I thought our 25-30 degree weather here in California was trying at times. It sounds like Edmonton is very very VERY cold.

Good luck with your move!

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ROTFL! Sigh. Complaining about California winters. Those were the days (says the Coloradoan).

Oh yeah, lotion. Lots of it. And lip balm. And a humidifier.

80% relative humidity at -30C is similar to 10% RH at 0C. Winnipeg has RH in the 90s in the winter and it's so dry it feels like the wind is trying to take your skin off with a cheesegrater.

Cliff Face said:

Question: Is it at all a safe thing to get around by public transport or simple walking in a snow-covered city?

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Oh, heck, yes.

Edmonton gets cold and stays cold, which means the snow is actually not very slippery. Most of the time, it's as easy to drive on as pavement.

Sidewalks covered in snow are a pain to walk on, but not really dangerous unless the temperature has risen enough to make things icy. Also, the snow-ploughs dump the snow at the side of the road, so it kind of forms a small barricade between the sidewalk and the road. It's not enough to save you from a car that's completely out of control, but it might protect you from a skidding car.

To the OP:
I used to live just south of Edmonton, but it sounds like Hip-Hop covered the basics better than I would have. Buy good boots and a good parka, and accessorize with a toque, a scarf (for windy days) and good gloves/mittens.

Also, I have two friends who moved from the west coast to Alberta, and both of them commented on how astonishingly warm-hearted and friendly Albertans are. You're going to a good place, cold weather not withstanding.

Discord said:

It's a bit of a random question, but I wonder if any AW-ers are from very cold regions, and if there are any random tricks to keep me alive.

Any help would be appreciated!

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Dress in layers. Silk long underwear is your friend (L L Beans or Lands End in the U. S.). Sock liners are your friend. Keep your extremities (head, hands, feet) covered and warm. Letting your head, hands, feet, get wet is EVIL.

Keep your ears covered. I don't care if you look like a dork; cold ears hurt.

Silk long underwear, silk sock liners, warm thick socks, warm water tight footwear, t-shirt, shirt, sweater, coat, hat.

Warm drinks are your friend.

Burts Bees lip balm. Moisturizer. I swear that my cheeks got chapped, so moisturizer, unless you're a rural chick, like me (Bag balm is Your Friend).

If the dorms still allow it, get an electric kettle. And get some plants and keep 'em misted because the heat makes everything dry and staticky, but the plants make a difference in a dorm room.

Also? That's a good school, with a surprisingly kick-ass library. Good on you!

I notice nobody's mentioned how to keep your nose from becoming painfully dry.

My nose gets pretty dry even in normal weather. Any tips?

Cliff Face said:

I notice nobody's mentioned how to keep your nose from becoming painfully dry.

My nose gets pretty dry even in normal weather. Any tips?

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Good point, Cliff.

I found this wonderful stuff when I was living in Milwaukee. Gah. The name escapes me. It'll come to me eventually. Something like "Nose Ease". It was a creamy gel in a tube.

It was a menthol sort of stuff, but smelled nicer. I got it at Community Pharmacy in Madison. Wonderful for the inside of the nose cracking. Haven't found it anywhere up here yet.

On edit: HERE we go! "Nose Better" http://www.shopinprivate.com/nosbetgelnos.html
Stuff saved my life when we were in Wisconsin. If you can find some, get it!

I'm partial to "Cuddl-Duds" long undies. Soft and cottony. Silk is thin enough for more layering, but was cooler against my skin, which I didn't like. And I like loose clothing, so it wasn't a big deal wearing them.

For super good hand lotion, I love Crabtree and Evelyn's Gardeners Hand Cream (in the burnt orange packaging). That stuff works WONDERS. I have friends here who swear by a local place called the Rocky Mountain Soap Company. They also have some great products for dryness.

I use a saline spray for my nose. And lip balm on the outside.

Natural fibres are better than synthetic ones. I know some people swear by goretex and polyester, but Medi is right on with the silk. Between silk, cotton, wool, and leather, you'll be much better off in terms of moisture wicking. I was wearing those fuzzy socks from Mark's Work Wearhouse around the house to keep my feet warm (plus, they're slippery and fun to slide across the floor) and they didn't wick moisture away fast enough and I actually ended up with chillblains on my feet. I am not joking; that's what the doctor said. Chillblains. lol Now, I have Padraigs wool and leather slippers. Not as fun to slide in but warm and dry.