On a Warmth Quest

Late fall of 2010 while contemplating weather extremes that could be encountered on a cross country handcycle trip I was I considering I posted in the notes section of my Facebook account an invitation. This invitation was for others to share with me their experience on staying warm in extreme cold conditions.  Apparently nobody in my condition looked at or had experience per my invitation to share their reviews.  I eventually purchased without feedback some technical clothing and boots to attempt staying warm.

As a quadriparesis, incapable of cranking out sufficient body heat to stay warm in the extreme cold conditions I continue to be on a quest for ways to stay warm.  When I go to Colorado each January for snow skiing I have hit quite a range of temperature that has been as low as -21° and as mild as 35°.

I ended up with a pair of polar boots that are rated to -148°.  I usually wear two pair of SmartWool socks inside of those boots, the pair against my feet being the ski socks and the second pair being thick mountaineering socks.

The layering on my legs starts with REI heavy weight long underwear.  Next over the long underwear goes fleece-like REI running pants that do an excellent job of shedding moisture and under normal conditions retaining heat.  Finally I complete the layering with Columbia ski pants that not only are waterproof but designed to also retain body heat.

The upper body layering starts with the same REI heavy weight long underwear shirt.  This last winter in an attempt to provide more coverage to my lumbar region I purchased a very warm bicycle jersey that is cut with a long tail that bicyclists require for bent-over coverage.  I then completed my coverage with a Columbia 3 in 1 jacket system that has a liner that can be worn alone over other base layers or with the wind proof/waterproof shell.  I always wear both layers in subfreezing temperatures.  That is especially true when I plan to be outside for many hours in cold conditions.

My hands get covered with a pair of REI mountaineering mitts that start with a pair of liner gloves.

In short I find out I still come in at the end of the day with cold lumbar region and cold legs from just above the knees all the way down to my feet.  Upper body generally stays warm.  My hands generally stay warm until it gets down into below zero temperatures. I have also come to the conclusion that having all body systems functioning as the Creator designed us to function is much more economical.

My observation is that if there are any cold spots the rest of my body below those cold spots will also get cold.  Because of the nature of spinal cord injury physiology challenging heat flow to the paralyzed limbs it seems to make sense that I need a supplemental heat source of some kind to be placed on the skin or at least around the first layer of clothing and socks.

I would prefer a supplemental heat source to be extremely thin and reusable unlike the Hot-feet and Hot-Hands packets that activate with a chemical reaction as soon as the bag is opened.  It would be great if there was something effective that could be recharged by USB or AC adapter to battery for a controlled energy release over the course of a 5-6 hour time period.

I'm thinking with the temperature rating of all my gear it should be reasonable to think I should be able to stay sufficiently warm even in the -21° temperature I have experienced in the past.  Where the challenge comes in so far is that the heat source (me) is faulty thus my search for a safe supplemental external heat source without investing in a cumbersome and insanely priced spacesuit.

I'm hoping someone with an amazing idea and/or experience in keeping those of us with broken body heaters warm will actually read this and start throwing options at me that will work.  Not only do I want to ski warm but I want to stay outside all winter while doing my regular exercise routine here in Tennessee. 

Bring it on!

I'm looking at the Hotronic FootWarmer Power Plus e4 to take care of maintaining foot warmth. Read a review of a mountain climber that has summit-ed Everest 6 times. His feet have stayed warm in those brutal conditions using the Hotronic FootWarmer Power Plus e4. Lack of feeling challenges me in making sure I don't burn myself. Price is frisky ($230-$240)! Have you used these with success?

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The following is my original FaceBook post as I started my "warmth" quest.

I am soliciting suggestions from anyone that is personally familiar with extreme outerwear that you may have researched or even personally use when entering brutal conditions of the outdoors. Those conditions would include extremely low temperatures in snow or slightly warmer conditions that permit rain. For the purposes of this message I am confining my research to the pants and jacket outerwear that would keep me warm and dry in these cold, wet, and snowy conditions.

In preparation for my tandem trike ride across America I'm anticipating weather variables that could include temperatures into the 20s or teens when crossing some of the mountain passes in April. Having followed the weather during April and May in the areas where I will be cycling it is reasonable to expect snow at times. In the lower elevations I could also expect quite chilly conditions and rain. I am attempting to do my research regarding outerwear that would not only be waterproof but offer an insulation value that would be rated extreme. Considering my quadriparesis condition it is necessary to dress up warmer than an able-bodied condition would find necessary; the reason being my paralyzed lower extremities don't generate heat to the extent of functioning muscles that can fire on demand.

The design features I will be looking for in a pair of pants would include:

• material cut and stitched on the back side in such a way as to permit ample room while seated without causing the pants to pull low at the back side and bunch up at the front side
• waterproof and breathable material such as Gore-Tex or comparable
• sufficient leg room to accommodate for arctic type boots
• Snow baffles that can be cinched around the ankle area of the boots to prevent the access of flying snow and cold air
• vertical zipper access at the bottom of the legs that would zip very nearly to the knee
• stretchy waistband
• extreme insulation value

Design features I would be looking for in a jacket would include:

• sufficient length to cover the waste
• waterproof and breathable material such as Gore-Tex or comparable
• Velcro closures at the cuffs
• under arm zipper vents
• well insulated

Thanks for any suggestions or reviews you may have to share!

Boyd Friday Sunset Tradition

A Friday sunset family tradition that has roots as far back as I can remember is that of gathering around  as mom played the piano or daddy playing his harmonica while we sang hymns and choruses to welcome in the Sabbath. There was always a worship time of stories with mission content or of a spiritual nature. We would sometimes read from one of many books that fed into our spiritual formation and forward march with the Prince of Peace. Worship always ended with prayer that was filled with thanksgiving, praise, and many requests for Heaven's strength and courage to be applied to friends and family in specific ways. 

Tonight as Momma sat down and played hymns on the piano at sundown I couldn't sing for the lump in my throat and tears in my eyes because the man that co-founded the family tradition was not here but is silently (Ecclesiastes 9:5, ... the dead know nothing...) resting, waiting for resurrection morning (1 Corinthians 15:51-54... in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed...). 

After Mom got up from the piano I requested my collection of devotionals be retrieved so I could carry on the tradition for just the two of us. We cried as we tried to start so we spent a few minutes reviewing what was going through our heads.Talking helped clear our heads long enough for me to invite the Lord's presence for our worship time. I read about gratitude. We talked about a dear friend who is at a circumstantial fork in the road and how we so desperately want to see her get the help she needs. Mom then prayed a most beautiful prayer for our friend then for each of our family, church family and neighbors! 

If you experience extra horsepower in your life it may be fueled in part from those prayers. So the Boyd tradition lives on! HAPPY SABBATH! 

Motivated by Memories

We are all given a view of a much 

grander “mountain.”Because life is not always 

lived from a mountain top we must be 

Motivated by Memories 

through the ordinary everyday portion (“valleys”) 

of our lives to the next mountain top.

The following is an essay I wrote October 15, 1991,

about a mountain top memory which motivates me today.

The “grander mountain” I wish for you to view can be

seen from God’s two book’s, The Holy Bible and nature.  

(see Psalm 121:1)

_________________________________________ 

Absorbed in the intensity of the labor and the amount of energy it took to move one tired foot in front of the other, I trudged wearily along the forest path.  Earlier in the day, having studied my map, I was motivated by the fact that we were headed for a high-elevation alpine meadow.  Now, with the awareness of the responsibilities my wife Cindy and I had taken upon ourselves this summer, to maintain several miles of winter-littered trails, I hardly noticed the occasional alpine trees which were replacing the lofty evergreens associated with lower elevations.

            Then as I began to notice fewer alpines and larger patches of grass, favorable encounters with previous meadows came flashing through my mind.  The higher we climbed, the less I noticed my tired muscles.  Even the pack horse seemed to pick up her pace as she inhaled the fresh air.  Cindy and I began to catch glimpses of the wide open spaces in the meadow beyond the evergreen alpines.  Then, like a sunrise on a spring morning, the meadow opened up just before cresting the gentle curve of the ridge.

            With new spring in our steps, I noticed that every spire of springing grass blended into one large carpet of green waves.  The delicately tinted flowers of purple, red, yellow, and white, nodding in their perfection in the breeze, were adding perfume to the alpine-scented air.  The warmth of the sun radiated down on us in the thin mountain air.  As we moved along, small birds, startled by our intruding presence, fluttered away seeking refuge farther down the thin path we were treading.  Perched on a large granite rock, a marmot, as if announcing our arrival to his meadow, pierced the silence with a high shrill whistle.  Fresh bear tracks on the trail gave evidence of their recent presence.

            Wondering what more there was to see; we could hardly walk fast enough to satisfy our curiosity.  As we hiked along a rising ridge, our pack horse, “Blaze” stopped suddenly in her tracks.  Her ears erect and nostrils flared; we looked with her down into a lower portion of the meadow to see a small herd of grazing deer.  Aware of our presence, a buck stood tall and still as he stared in our direction.  When satisfied that it was safe, our horse responded to our coaxing and continued moving forward with us along the meadow path.

            Midway through, we encountered a narrow stream that was fed by a clean, cold, gurgling spring, which beckoned us to take a sip.  Thirsty, we lay belly down on the grassy bank.  With head and shoulders above the water, elbows in the air, and hands' palms down beside our shoulders, we extended our necks to slurp the refreshing water through our puckered lips.  Once our thirst was quenched, we arose to continue our tireless hike.

            While moving along, our attention was drawn skyward as a raven crowed overhead.  Instantly we noticed the deep blue sky was so clear it made the snow-capped mountains in the distance appear much closer than they were in actuality.  Many forested valleys filled the vast expanse between each mountain peak.  My gaze was riveted across the valleys to other mountain tops.  Consumed by the silence, I could almost hear the still small voice of God.

            Then, as if to remind us this wasn’t quite heaven, a buzzing deer-fly broke the silence as he circled around our heads, looking for enough exposed skin to land on in hopes of exchanging his stinging venom for our blood.  Not willing to make the exchange on his terms, I flailed and swatted with my hand, until I was successful, ending his career, with a splat, on my left shoulder.

            Our path was now exiting one edge of the meadow.  Just like life itself, we must journey on, motivated to the next mountain top by our memories.