[LMB] AKICOT:L - Needed items for MSP area?

[alayne at twobikes.ottawa.on.ca]

You've got to remember that the prairies have FOUR seasons, so you have to 
dress for spring, summer, and fall, and the shoulder seasons between as 
well. Layering is good.

As far as the real winter goes, you need:
1. a GOOD pair of boots (not fashion ones) with a treaded sole, low heel, 
   and a fleece or thinsulate lining that is rated for cold temperatures. 
   Leather unless you don't wear animal products.

2. A warm wool or sheepskin hat that covers your ears. Preferably not too 
   tight so you actually capture warm air between the hat & you and avoid 
   hat-head. You lose 30% of your heat via the head.

3. A warm wool scarf, or several. Your neck can get really cold, and it 
   can also be used to protect part of the face in nasty winds.

4. Warm gloves or mitts: either double-layer wool or sheepskin-lined 
   leather or thinsulate-lined. As it gets really cold, mitts are better.

5. A warm coat. Wool dress coats don't handle really cold weather: you 
   need a down coat or the artificial equivalent. Preferably it should 
   reach your knees, especially if you wear skirts. Parkas are good, but 
   there are other equally good options.

These are easily obtainable in MSP, so it's not as though she needs to get 
them right away, but I would start looking for coats & boots in late 
summer.

Alayne

On Fri, 23 May 2008, Amy Sikes wrote:
> My sister has taken a job in Plymouth, MN, which is a suburb (I
> think) of Minneapolis-St Paul.  Scott Raun and Kay Carrasco have
> already offered up some great car and other advice via my LJ. 
> Now she has another important query: What items are necessary to
> survive in the Great White North?  The farthest north she's ever
> lived is Middletown, DE (near Wilmington), and she currently
> lives in Williamsburg, VA.  She's not at all cold tolerant. 
> Does she need to invest in a parka?  (I offered to give her my
> Russian trip one!)  Anything else y'all would recommend?
> 
> All I can think of is "layers and layers of clothing".  I think
> back to my time in Siberia and whimper.  I don't want my sister
> to freeze!
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> ~Amy - glad she gets to keep living in the balmy South
> 

-- 
Alayne McGregor
alayne at twobikes.ottawa.on.ca

"Nothing worth doing is fun all the time. But it's still worth doing all the time."
-- Lois McMaster Bujold, "Passage"