5th of December, and making a friend of an enemy…

The winter is here, and that with notice. When it comes to high altitude, we have learned that it is important to adept. To acclimatise step by step. But how is it with cold, do we need, and can we adapt to it? Way not making a friend out of an enemy? The winter and snow can be something really good. A perfect building and isolation material for example…

First of all your blood vessels constrict. This meaning the skin sends a alarm to the brain that is is cold. The result will be that the body tightens the blood vessels in your legs, arms, hands and feet. Next thing is that you need to pee. It is a natural reaction of the cold. Soon you will start shivering, the reason is that the body haven’t been able to heat up the body enough, the contraction of muscles is next step for the body to start heating up. If you are wet this steps will go faster, so you better keep dry in the cold air. Ok, so is it possible to prepare for being in cold environment?

There has been a couple of research in this area, in 2014 it was a small study were a couple of young healthy men spent up to three hours sitting in a baths filled with 14(C) degrees water. At the start of the 20 day study all the men did a lot shivering, which is the normal response of the body to react towards cold. There heart rate and metabolism speed up for heating the body. At the same time, their blood vessels narrowed and drew back from the surface of the skin, causing skin temperature to drop. Basically, the men’s vascular systems clenched—pulling blood toward their warmer interiors in an effort to escape the exterior cold.

But by Day 20, much had changed. The men’s shivering had more or less stopped. While their metabolisms and heart rates still sped up in response to the cold-water bath, their blood vessels no longer constricted and their skin temperature didn’t drop the way it had before. The men reported less discomfort during their chilly baths. At the same time, their blood samples contained fewer markers of cold-induced stress and immune-system activity. It appeared their bodies had gotten used to the chill.

So what can we learn, and how can we adept to cold then? Well, the easiest way will be to start showering with cold water. Start with a 15 sek, Shower and increase with 10 sek. every day. And as a gift out of this you also will get; improved immune function, it reduce chronic pains, it has a anti-inflammatory effect, it improves the amount of brown fat. And also reduce levels of stress, increase willpower, a higher level of alertness.

Today we also got a contest. The question is; one of the cabin that Sepals used had a tunnel for use of escape for the refugees? Was it Unna allakas? or was it the Paltas cabin, or kattejaure cabin? Send name and answer to +46 70250 90 28. This week the price will be a bivouac-sack.

And the days book suggestion will be Hypothermia, frostbite and other cold injuries.