Gonna be around 5 to 6 deg in the morning hours when I will be cutting. I love cutting in cold weather makes me feel like a survivalist. I will have on my Artic Muck Boots Cabelas Alaskin Guide Model Artic Insulated Underwear. Wool Socks. Carhartt Heavy Flannel Shirt. Been a muddy winter so limited cutting time
Good thing your screen name isn't Brassmonkey. I have to bring a stack around, so I understand. Glad I don't have to be out as long, and am close to the house. don't forget a thermos of coffee or tea!
Sounds like you'll be warm before you even handle the saw! Have you ever tried Alpaca socks? Comfy....
If they were fur lined, I'd be sure to have some. It would be like slipping into a bear skin rug with the skin to the outside. I'd be out cutting in all sorts of cold weather!
I am a hunter and as all you hunters or even wood cutters know nothing like being out in the elements and being properly dressed. You feel like you could conquer the world. The high tech winter apparel available these days that allows a person to be warm, but not be all bulked up with heavy clothes that make your also sweat, having good clothing to work outside is great. When I was a kid not all of that was available. I have spent all day out hunting in the freezing frigid cold in my hunting clothes , being warm and not really affected by the cold much then the funny thing is I come back home and change out of my hunting clothes in my warm house only to now say to my wife , I am cold , I cant get warm. Those artic insulated underwear is like a second insulating skin I think and their ability to keep a person warm but not to sweat is amazing.
As for me and my house, we'll wait for warmer weather before we cut more wood. That's one big point about the 3 year plan is that if you are ahead, you don't need to go out to cut if you'll be uncomfortable doing it. For those that can do it, great. I used to but as I've aged, I no longer do those foolish things. lol But I well remember one winter when working at a portable sawmill. No protection from the weather and we had a really cold winter. Fortunately, we kept a good fire going all day burning slabs and it really felt nice during breaks and dinner time. Also at dinner time, we always toasted our sandwiches in the fire. Eating warm bread helped a lot.
I usually cut in the winter to limit pests bothering me and to have good solid ground to drive my truck back into the woods. I am not on the 3 year plan but working on it. Might reach the 2 year plan this year. I am hoping.
I'll be thinking of you Huntindog1.....I plan to be out there too.....I was out cutting the last 2 winters in below zero temps and I know what you mean about bundling up and taking on the world.
This is the co-op my MIL got my socks from. They're pricey, but worth it. Dreamland Alpacas LLC: About us What follows are the conditions I put my socks thru..... Steel toed boots, Alpaca socks, dead of winter, frozen ground, sawing up fire wood-----toes NEVER hinted at getting cold, feet never sweated in the socks. These socks provide a "springy" feel under foot. "Cushionee" without going flat. Amazing. Last year, I WANTED to go out to cut every chance I could regardless of condition and temp, mostly did by myself, because no one else had the best socks ever knitted!
Its really a matter of wind when it gets that cold. With no wind, 0 degrees F can be a fun day in the park if you are dressed for it. If working with wood it becomes a matter of what kind of gloves do you need while maintaining dexterity. If the wind is howling it can get miserable and dangerous pretty quick.
I love cutting in the cold as well. I used to have problems keeping my feet warm but not now - I bought these last fall and I should have done it years ago........ Anyone else use the Bunny Boot?
These are military surplus boots and it uses air space as an insulator, that's an air valve that you unscrew when you fly so the air pressure equals out. Warm and toasty but they weight about 7 lbs each!
I do not spend much time in extreme weather hunting anymore, but when I was a kid I remember getting to our hunting area and then stuffing my boots with newspaper to keep my feet warm for a few hours. It was one of those things that my ultra-warm boots were just fine for the walk to school but when you had to be out in it for hours on end it was just not enough. Coats and pants could be layered and you would do fine but there was not much available back then in the way of thin insulating layers for feet.
