Super ridiculous question for anyone who lives in cold states

Yes, I realize this is a stupid question, but I've been thinking about it lately since Los Angeles is experiencing "cold" weather. By cold I mean about 50ish, yet residents have been dressing and talking like we're in Antarctica or something. So, I started wondering what it would be like to actually live in the cold where temperatures are in the single digits most of winter, or even in the negatives.

What sort of activities are you guys doing when it's super cold outside, I guess it even possible to enjoy yourself outside?

Do you eventually get used to the cold ass weather?

Does it just seem miserable all the time?

I know that everybody says to just layer up with clothing, but I feel like that can only take you so far and at some point it's just going to be cold and uncomfortable as hell.

 

It’s not a stupid question — and funny enough, I’m moving from Boston to Los Angeles in 6 months and can’t wait to have my S2000 and Tacoma out of this god.damned.cold.

snow-shoeing, shooting guns, walking in the snow, bundling up and walking in the bitter cold, snowboarding…and all the regular indoor stuff….lots to do.

I’ve lived in MA my whole life and have loved and do love the winter / the snow, but I’m ready to be done with it. I can’t work on my cars (comfortably), the salted roads are terrible for them, and you can’t really drive RWD (S2000) when it’s icy. Aside from that, not being able to hike any day of the year, or walk in a park, or walk to your favorite restaurant is a drag when you’re limited by 10F weather.

Long story short, it’s fun as a kid, you get used to it, but at 30 I’m ready for SoCal weather. Cheers.

 

Down to -20F life goes on pretty much as normal with just jeans and a jacket for normal life. Being outside longer requires more gear but not necessarily bulky layers depending on what you're doing. When it warms up to close to +30F you start to break out the shorts and t shirts again. I will take cold weather over 90F any day of the week.

 

I feel like this perspective is pretty rare, either people aren't honest are they really love the cold because nobody ever admits this. But this is exactly my feelings, like it's too cold outside to even do most daily activities. And I'm very aware that we are super spoiled here in SoCal, but I would also like to see some 20° weather here just for the hell of it.

 

As a Texan that wanders around from time to time, zero degree isn't bad so long as the wind isn't cutting. It starts biting your face after a bit, but otherwise not bad. The key is to keep air movement away from your exposed bits and buy the same clothes them northerners wear, like fleece-lined jeans and a proper jacket.

 

You get use to the temperature after a while. 50 in LA in spring means heavy jacket for some, 50 in Fairbanks in spring means shorts, tshirt and flip flops for some.
When I lived in Fairbanks, winter meant snowmobiles, skis, inner tubes & knee boards behind a HMMWV. Ice fishing was interesting also.
What I find miserable is cold and raining.

 

It's all relative.

I have family in Montana and we'd go up for 2 weeks over Christmas every other year. A lot of the times we go it's single digit or colder. When we get there from San Diego it's miserable. We're not accustomed to the cold. We ski, I hunt waterfowl/elk, shoot guns, etc. By the end of 2 weeks you're acclimated and it's not a big deal. Last time we were there on the day we were leaving it was single digit and I was packing the truck in jeans and a long sleeve shirt and that felt fine.

The downside is coming back. On the drive back once it hits 40+F we're all sweating and start running the A/C in the car. 60F and it feels like a heatwave. It takes about a week when you get back to get comfortable with the significantly warmer temps.

 

any pics of your s2k? I have a 02.

 

20 F and still is some of my favorite weather to be outside for. Especially if there is snow on the ground, it makes for a really incredible sense of stillness in the woods. 45 F with a 15 mph wind is miserable. In PA, we have really wet winters. We might get a foot of snow in a couple days but it will melt in a couple more, then all the slush will turn to ice. I do layer up, but I also have several pairs of fleece lined fire hose pants that are worth every penny and don't require layers, and a fleece lines parka, and fleece lined mittens. I like fleece lined things. Also, the importance of mittens over gloves for staying warm cannot be overstated.

I found myself in Alaska a couple years ago in January for work. It was 5 degrees, I did not pack a ton of layers and had to buy ice cleats, but there was no way I was not hiking in Alaska. I hiked "the Butte," and quickly learned the fundamentals of hiking on 40+ degree ice covered inclines. What an incredible place and worth every moment of bitter cold.

 

There is lots to do... indoors and out. You get used to the cold, grow a pair, and enjoy it.

sorry not meant for me but why not...

 

I always loved tent camping and hunting during the winter months here in N.C. There were times we would wake up up to 10-12 degrees, which is cold. Just have to dress for the weather. It snows here, but in a few days, it's gone. Worst part of cold weather is the wind, it can make life miserable outdoors. I promised myself 40 years ago, that I would never live somewhere with snow on the ground for 6 months out of the year. When I watch the weather and it's -40 in Bismarck ND and along the Canadian border states, I think fuck that shit.

 

Saw this online. probably does depend on several variables - humidity, sun vs shade, wind, and of course what you are used to.

 

Layer up with cotton, climb Mt Washington when it’s -60 without the windchill and you’re gonna die.

Nothing miserable about it if you’re not a knucklehead. I find my tolerance building over winter - ex. the first fall chill is kinda shocking but then in March, I can let my dog out in the morning when it’s zero with just a tshirt and shorts and it’s “chilly”.

Shoveling gets tedious sometimes but I wouldn’t want to live in a place without 4 seasons. Too monotonous and there’s nothing to look forward to. Too many people, too many bugs, and too much traffic.

Sun dogs are spectacular.

 

The best part of cold weather is NO DAMN BUGS. I love the outside when its cold, refreshing air, it feels calmer. The key is to dress for the conditions and activity. Layers are your friend, cotton is the death material, it holds moisture, doesn't breath well and provides bone chilling pain when wet. I'd much rather warm up from an activity in the winter than overheat in the summer and be out of clothing to strip. Did I mention bugs.....?

 

It's a meme, but 100 % accurate

 

Ha. Bismarck is pretty much exactly where I wa referring to. A coworker of mine was from there, and living in SoCal for a few months. He just moved back to Bismarck and I can't for the life of me figure out why. The day he left it was negative 20 over there.

 

So I grew up in Washington State and now live in Virginia. I've only felt temperature in the teens or below a couple times in my life.
1. Acclimation is real. If you're not used to it, 50 will feel way colder than it is. On the same coin, it's hilarious when rainy Washington's winter finally breaks and we get that first 55 degree sunny day and everyone's out in their shorts and tshirts.
2. You know the saying "It's not the heat, it's the humidity" ? It just as much applies to the cold. If it's dry out, 20's don't feel so bad. If it's damp, 40's cut right through to you.
3. I can't do winter camping. Not without a buddy heater or those hot hands things or something.
4. I'm not sure if I'm fully qualified to answer that last question, but for me personally, the first sign of summer brings joy to my soul.
5. Skiing, tubing, bundle up and walk the dog if it's not raining.
6. Both places I've lived get snow so rarely and it melts fairly quickly, therefore it's fun. Go drifting around in the vehicles, build a snowman, walk around and take pictures. Typical snow day stuff.

Hope this helps..

 

It's freaking cold, I can't find my pair

 

White, hardtop, clean af, that is one sexy S2k.

 

A girl I know from upstate New York was just talking about the humidity thing a few days ago, and said that it feels much colder here in California because of the humidity.