Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 92 well worth the extra weight. Keep and your friends refueled and up on their feet, exercising, and generating heat. FROSTBITE e freezing of flesh usually takes place in little body parts far away from the warm-blood- pumping heart, such as the fingers, toes and nose. Like with sunburns, the freezing process starts superficially and works inward, so frostbite can be superficial or deep. TO AVOID: Again, hydration is important. Fluids will help increase blood volume, which means more warm, oxygen-rich blood coursing through the extremities. Our bodies shunt blood to the core when we are cold to (wisely) protect vital organs and prevent hypother- mia, and our fingers and toes are the sacrifice. Make sure there's enough fluid volume to go around and consider hand and toe warmers if you know you have poor circulation, Raynaud's phenomenon, or other risk factors. Dry socks and gloves are a must. If you know you'll be sweating a lot, bring a spare pair. Don't tolerate numbness and always warm up your digits before any real dam- age is done. Repeated frostbite on the same body part can cause vascular damage, meaning less blood flow to the area in the fu- ture resulting in, you guessed it, greater risk of frostbite. Prevent, prevent, prevent. e following are additional general guidelines to keep in mind this winter: PLAN AHEAD: As in any season, check the weather forecast, bring extra layers, pack plenty of snacks, water, and other ap- propriate supplies. Make sure everyone in your party does the same. It's easy to forget sunglasses and sunscreen in the winter, but the snow is fiercely reflective. Snowblind- ness and sunburn are real dangers, especially at altitude. Remember the seven P's: Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. Consider taking a course in Wilderness Medicine. Your friends will appreciate it, and you won't regret it. Stay fit year-round and start slow with any physical activity that you haven't done in months. Enjoy your- self. Be safe. Have fun! IT'S EASY TO FORGET SUNGLASSES AND SUNSCREEN IN THE WINTER, BUT THE SNOW IS FIERCELY REFLECTIVE. SNOWBLINDNESS AND SUNBURN ARE REAL DANGERS. Yellowstone Lake

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