Hikers and Hypothermia a challenging question.

**Wise Old Owl** · 05-14-2014, 12:48 AM

OK as I dig into an very interesting thread on another blog and a full blown argument on "what she did wrong?" A female hiker blew it and could not get a fire lit by a bic in a snow storm. She got super cold on the PCT thru inexperience. The real issue amongst the more experienced hikers, is she did not eat or drink warm fluids vs doing nothing.

So here is rub if you are hypothermic and on a tarp in snow - should you be snacking on a granola bars or eating and drinking cold water?

Here is the source material make sure that you read on to the next page.

http://postholer.com/journal/viewJou...&entry_id=8688

Its an open ended question - keep in mind altitude and temp - the gear she used has been eliminated as a factor - this is about experience, there are no wrong answers.

**Rick** · 05-14-2014, 07:03 AM

Bad link.

If you are hypothermic why would you be drinking cold water to further lower your core temp?

**tjwilhelm** · 05-14-2014, 09:49 AM

Heat moves from high temperature zones to low temperature zones. Anything ingested should be at a higher temperature than 98.6*. Also, the most efficient heat transfer occurs when hot fluid is directly mixed with a colder fluid. Warm water or low-cal beverage may be OK; but, if you eat hi-cal foods, will you be diverting your existing energy toward digestion? Or, is the process of digestion exothermic? Hmm-m-m...

I can't get the link to work, either.

**Sunset Sam** · 05-14-2014, 10:39 AM

I can't find the article, but I think Rick is right. In her situation, protecting body core warmth was the most important concern. I remember making the mistake on a climb of getting chilled on a windy ridge above tree line when I stopped for a breather. Grabbed my canteen and took a long chug of water. Classic signs of beginning hypothermia started pretty quickly. I could see snow coming. Ended the climb for that day.

On TJ's point, we feed our horses extra hay and grain just before a big storm hits. The digestion process helps keep them warm. In my case on the ridge, I slammed some GORP and dropped down to the tree line.

**Wildthang** · 05-14-2014, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Wise Old Owl

OK as I dig into an very interesting thread on another blog and a full blown argument on "what she did wrong?" A female hiker blew it and could not get a fire lit by a bic in a snow storm. She got super cold on the PCT thru inexperience. The real issue amongst the more experienced hikers, is she did not eat or drink warm fluids vs doing nothing.

So here is rub if you are hypothermic and on a tarp in snow - should you be snacking on a granola bars or eating and drinking cold water?

Here is the source material make sure that you read on to the next page.

http://postholer.com/journal/viewJou...&entry_id=8688

Its an open ended question - keep in mind altitude and temp - the gear she used has been eliminated as a factor - this is about experience, there are no wrong answers.

Well from what little I know about the exact event, it sounds as though she should have built a shelter with the tarp or at least some kind of a wind block. Then maybe she could have lit a fire with the Bic lighter. After getting a fire started drinking cold water wouldn't have been so bad. I can't imagine not being able to start a fire with a Bic lighter!
When a Bic lighter is cold, ,most of the time you have to warm them up to get them to light. I just hold mine in the palm of my hand for a couple of minutes and it works much better! I also always carry a Bic in my jean pockets do it is already warm!

**1stimestar** · 05-14-2014, 01:24 PM

Digesting warms you up. That's why hunters out on the arctic ice here will always eat something they can swallow without much chewing. Makes the stomach work harder to digest and warms them up.

**Rick** · 05-14-2014, 05:38 PM

It takes energy to warm you. One of the reasons you shiver is to produce energy in an effort to warm yourself. If you consume food you are simply adding fuel to let your body consume the sugars in the food instead of trying to convert the fat in your body. The sugars are easier and quicker as a source of fuel. The heart and the liver produce the most heat in the body so the sugar you add is really fueling them.

**Brooks Range** · 06-24-2014, 09:07 AM

Hmm, it won't let me post the link. Here's the part of the link that goes after the word "journal." /viewJournal.php?entry_id=8688

I find it admirable that she honestly told her story.

While having a SPOT can be useful as a last resort, it's wise to conduct yourself as if there is no possibility of rescue.

Those were definitely classic hypothermia conditions. When hypothermia is a threat I think it's important to take action BEFORE you lose your ability to help yourself.

It would have been better to set up camp sooner or hike faster (while looking for camp site) to keep her core temp up.

One of my weaknesses is losing dexterity when my hands get too cold. However, setting up my shelters requires minimal dexterity. It was really important to get her tarp up to help keep condensation off her insulation while in her bag.

In her situation, I would not have been wearing my long underwear while hiking IF I needed them for warmth at night. Instead I'd rely on hiking to keep me warm or I'd have a separate set to keep dry for sleeping. I save a set of dry warm socks exclusively to sleep in.

Heating up a water bottle for warmth and/or for drinking would be awesome. A spare, dry lighter in an inner pocket is a great idea. But if she couldn't get it lit she should have enough insulation to keep her warm enough anyway. I would have set up my tarp, rolled out my pad, shook out my bag, put on my balaclava and warm dry socks and dry long underwear and crawled in my bag. I would not put on any of my dry clothes until under my tarp.

I would eat for fuel to keep me warm and drink enough water to prevent dehydration, even if the water were cold.