IT'S BEEN COLD HERE LATELY BY JOHN BERRY

I don’t know if you have noticed but it has been bitterly cold around here, for the last few days. A polar vortex swept through the twin lakes area bringing winter in, with a vengeance. We had temperatures in single digits, with wind chills below zero. I have been running water, in my guest house, to keep my pipes, from freezing again. While most of us have been cooped up, in our houses, sitting by the fire reading a good book or tying flies there have been a few hardy souls that have actually gone out and fished these conditions. This is what separates the casual angler from the serious fly fisher. If you can bring yourself to do it, you will be rewarded with a bit of solitude on the stream and maybe a shot at a trophy trout.

I know that I have been talking about how to dress, in cold weather, quite a bit lately but this weather has been something else.  It has been dangerous with a threat of hypothermia.  This is a reduced body heat that occurs, when the body dissipates more heat than it absorbs.  This generally is associated with core body temperatures, of ninety five degrees or lower.  It can kill.

Symptoms depend on the temperature. In mild hypothermia, there is shivering and mental confusion. In moderate hypothermia, shivering stops and confusion increases. In severe hypothermia, there may be paradoxical undressing, in which a person removes his or her clothing, as well as an increased risk of the heart stopping.

In weather like this, do not fish alone. Let someone know where you are going and when you will be back. Carefully check weather and water conditions, before you leave the house. Dress for the weather, in layers. Take an emergency change of clothes. An emergency towel and blanket would be good also.

If you begin shivering, walk around and warm up. I will build a fire on the bank in such conditions. If you were not an eagle scout and don’t think you can build a fire, walk back to your car. Get in and run the heat until you are warm again. I have done both of these with clients and have been able to finish the day.

The whole secret is to stay dry. I generally carry an extra pair of gloves, in case one set gets wet. If you fall in, dump the water out of your waders (if you are wearing a snug fitting wader belt, this will be held at a minimum) and head back to the car. Get out of your wet clothing, dry off and put on warm dry clothing. Wrap the blanket around you and either sit in the car with the heater running or warm up by a fire. A cup of coffee or hot cocoa would help. Avoid alcohol. Although it makes you feel warmer it actually restricts your blood vessels and makes the symptoms of hypothermia more severe.

I fell in a few years ago on a guide trip. It was eleven degrees, with a wind chill well below zero. Luckily for me I did not take on much water and I was wearing several layers of wool clothing. Wool maintains about sixty percent of its insulative value when wet.

I was able to warm up a bit but did not have extra clothing with me. I finished the day but I was one cold puppy, when I got home.

Don’t take chances, in this kind of weather. Be prepared!