Winter Training

[steelheadr]

And miss the skiing? Why would you do it to yourself !!!

It's only a 2 week trip...and I've already been skiing a few times this season. I'll also be hitting the slopes nearly every weekend in January. Every other January, I teach a backcountry class in the Oregon Cascades with 8-10 college students. We spend the better part of 3 weeks learning skills and living on what we carry on our backs and in sleds. In 2011, I plan to add some time teaching fire building skills. I think having an RC-3 will be the trick...

Jay

 

[sadiejane]

snowshoeing when theres nuf snow is one of my fav winter sports. beings i ride my bicycle in the city almost everyday no matter the weather i get lots of winter "training". as mentioned in another thread i also like to use the snowy bone chilling time to practice some skills. like heading out back to the firepit with only my emergency firemaking kit and whats available out there. lots easier then trying to figure it out when theres no heated house where hot coffee with a healthly dollop of baileys awaits. like to camp in winter too and snowshoes will take ya in pretty deep pretty quick if theres adequate snow. if not a good days hike in is also a welcome wkend retreat. of course there are also studded tires available for bicycles-like 380 carbide studs per tire- so the snow and ice dont stop me from riding. ice/snow riding on trails is a blast unless its really sticky and packs up on yr tires so heavily they will no longer spin round. being the very first one on the trail is amazing. its so insanely quiet the wildlife rarely hear ya till yr right on top of em. may be hard to believe but you can actually approach wildlife quieter in snow on a bicycle than on foot...now if i could just learn to shot the bow off the bike. not into handling a gun while riding...horrible visions in my head of what could happen if i crashed with loaded gun and my finger on the trigger...but i have this sweet little "hungarian horsebow" traditional like a long bow but much shorter...bikes aint horses so ya really just have to come to a complete stop pull the bow off yr back, tho you can lean into a tree without putting yr feet down. ok ok i can hardly wait till next wkend. a full week of hiking camping and bow hunting.

 

[stokka]

It's only a 2 week trip...and I've already been skiing a few times this season. I'll also be hitting the slopes nearly every weekend in January. Every other January, I teach a backcountry class in the Oregon Cascades with 8-10 college students. We spend the better part of 3 weeks learning skills and living on what we carry on our backs and in sleds. In 2011, I plan to add some time teaching fire building skills. I think having an RC-3 will be the trick...

Jay

Cool, always wanted to go backcountry like cat-skiing or heli. Could never afford it monetary or time-wise..

How is the snow so far in Oregon? We have some up here on the coastal mountains in BC (I am sure there is more of it in the interior), but it is not too good. Went 3 times so far, my son has broken his arm last time so we have taken a little pause... Hope you have better luck

 

[killstew]

snowshoeing when theres nuf snow is one of my fav winter sports. beings i ride my bicycle in the city almost everyday no matter the weather i get lots of winter "training". as mentioned in another thread i also like to use the snowy bone chilling time to practice some skills. like heading out back to the firepit with only my emergency firemaking kit and whats available out there. lots easier then trying to figure it out when theres no heated house where hot coffee with a healthly dollop of baileys awaits. like to camp in winter too and snowshoes will take ya in pretty deep pretty quick if theres adequate snow. if not a good days hike in is also a welcome wkend retreat. of course there are also studded tires available for bicycles-like 380 carbide studs per tire- so the snow and ice dont stop me from riding. ice/snow riding on trails is a blast unless its really sticky and packs up on yr tires so heavily they will no longer spin round. being the very first one on the trail is amazing. its so insanely quiet the wildlife rarely hear ya till yr right on top of em. may be hard to believe but you can actually approach wildlife quieter in snow on a bicycle than on foot...now if i could just learn to shot the bow off the bike. not into handling a gun while riding...horrible visions in my head of what could happen if i crashed with loaded gun and my finger on the trigger...but i have this sweet little "hungarian horsebow" traditional like a long bow but much shorter...bikes aint horses so ya really just have to come to a complete stop pull the bow off yr back, tho you can lean into a tree without putting yr feet down. ok ok i can hardly wait till next wkend. a full week of hiking camping and bow hunting.

Ice bike riding sounds pretty crazy. I would have never thought of doing that.

 

[ZombiesEatFree]

Nothing like some downhill biking on a good hardpack snow!!! It offer so many other challenges that summer downhill lacks!! Dealing with the elements pose a huge change for anyone looking into a bit "xtra" fun biking!!!

 

[sadiejane]

actually ice-biking or winter cycling is nothing new. these guys http://www.icebike.org/ have been around for a long time. one basic "survival" skill you will learn riding bicycles in winter is what works clothing wise and what does not. esp in the woods, a good case of hypothermia even a few miles from your vehicle could be very dangerous.

 

[MrCoffee]

actually ice-biking or winter cycling is nothing new. these guys http://www.icebike.org/ have been around for a long time. one basic "survival" skill you will learn riding bicycles in winter is what works clothing wise and what does not. esp in the woods, a good case of hypothermia even a few miles from your vehicle could be very dangerous.

One thing people always seem to forget about Hypothermia is that it is not just that you are cold, and can't stop shivering, but you also become very disoriented very quickly. One of the clear signs that someone is in the dangerous stages of hypothermia is they will babble nonesense when trying to talk or communicated. Combine this with IceBiking, and you can be in serious trouble fast.

 

[Dizwolf]

One thing people always seem to forget about Hypothermia is that it is not just that you are cold, and can't stop shivering, but you also become very disoriented very quickly. One of the clear signs that someone is in the dangerous stages of hypothermia is they will babble nonesense when trying to talk or communicated.

You could see a campfire 25 yards away, know you're going to die if you don't get to it...and really not find the motivation to get to it. What extreme wet and cold can do to your mind is simply amazing.