Troop 757 Portal

I will check my e-mail Sunday morning. Please check yours as well. Call if you have any questions Sunday morning. 682-3425

Our yearly ski trip to Paoli Peaks is on!! Paoli has great snow and the conditions should be perfect for great snow skiing. To check ski conditions go to http://www.paolipeaks.com/snow_report.html

*** bring a towel for drying off after your shower. Bring a pad if you have a problem sleeping on the floor ***

Riding:
Mr. Evans, Bradley, Mr. Love, Jackson Love, Josiah Lane, M. Calhoon

Mr. Pierce, Mr. Calhoon, Ian Pierce, Sam Pierce

Mr. Spivey, Michael & Andrew Dillon, Caleb, Drew, James Spivey

Mr. Wells, Mr. Lane, Andy S., Bradford, Earl, Jeremiah

If you want to change, do so, but inform me. But we will not leave late because of rearranging.

We will wear class A's to travel, as usual. Don't be embarrassed and cause your car to be delayed while you get your class A.

Cold, cold, cold. Layers, layers, layers. Gloves. Read cold weather instructions. Important!!!

Bring something to eat on the road or eat before coming. We will have breaks, but we will not have any major stops until dinner. Drivers, I recommend you check out where you want to stop for dinner. It will take about 6 hrs and we will pass to the Eastern Time Zone.

We'll be sleeping indoors but you will still need to bring your sleeping bags, toiletries, and change of clothing. We will meet in the Medical Center parking lot at the Parkway and Govenor's Drive and leave by 11:00 am on Sunday Jan 3,2010. Be sure to dress for skiing! Here are some tips:

Wear clothes that will keep you warm and dry. And that's really important if you end up falling a couple of times. We do not recommend cotton clothing (jeans and a sweatshirt) it becomes wet, then cold. What's great is that you probably have most of what you need. If you don't, just borrow some from friends or visit the Ski Pro Shop for clothing rental.

Layer Up
The best way to dress for winter is to wear layers. This gives you flexibility to add or remove layers, depending on the weather and your activity. Turtleneck shirts, sweaters, long underwear and footless tights work well as under-layers. Avoid wearing cotton next to your skin, because it will absorb sweat and snow and make you shiver. For that same reason, wool or acrylic socks are better than cotton athletic socks. Wear one, thin pair. Ski and snowboard boots are designed to be warm. Thick socks, or multiple layers of socks, will only give you blisters. If you buy anything, it should be a pair of waterproof shell pants and warm long underwear. You probably have a winter sports jacket already. You may not need as many layers of clothing as you think. On a sunny day, you may only need two layers - the waterproof outer layer and the turtleneck/long underwear first layer. But bring a middle layer (fleece or wool sweater) just in case. You can always take off clothes as you get warmer. Interested in more info, check this out: In general, the three main layers are wicking, insulating and weather protection.

Wicking layer: This is the layer worn next to your skin, usually consisting of long underwear.

Look for thermal underwear made of a synthetic - usually polyester - fiber that has "wicking" power. This means the fibers will wick (move) moisture away from your skin and pass it through the fabric so it will evaporate. This keeps you warm, dry and comfortable. Silk is also a good, natural fabric that has wicking abilities.

Even though it's cold, you will sweat

Insulating layer: This middle layer includes sweaters, sweatshirts, vests and pullovers. The purpose of this layer is to keep heat in and cold out, which is accomplished by trapping air between the fibers. Popular insulation materials include:

Fleece, a synthetic material which maintains its insulating ability even when wet and spreads the moisture out so it dries quickly.

Wool, which naturally wicks away moisture.

Protection layer: The exterior layer, generally a shell and pants, serves as your guard against the elements of winter. It should repel water from snow, sleet or rain and block the wind, while also letting perspiration evaporate.

Most genuine winter shells and pants are made waterproof and breathable to some extent by using tightly woven fabricsteamed with a coating or laminate. This keeps moisture on the outside but allows perspiration to escape, keeping you dry and comfortable.

Depending on the weather and type of winter activity you will be doing, you may be interested in uninsulated pants and jackets/shells, or garments with increasing amounts of insulation.

One-piece suits, which combine a jacket and pants, are popular with many alpine skiers, especially on cold days and days where there is a lot of fresh powder snow.

Look for functional hoods, cuffs, pockets and zippers - details that truly make garments comfortable in a snowstorm.

Although less baggy than in previous years, most snowboard clothing is still designed to fit looser than alpine skiwear, giving snowboarders freedom of movement. In addition, many snowboard pants are reinforced in the seat and knees for extra protection when kneeling or sitting on the snow.

Headwear: Up to 60 percent of your body's heat can escape from an uncovered head, so wearing a hat, headband or helmet is essential when it's cold. (Tip: If you wear a hat, you may be able to wear one less layer on your body.) There are thousands of styles of hats and headbands, usually made from fleece or wool. Many have non-itch liners. Helmets are becoming very popular. Not only do they protect your head from bumps, but they also keep your head warm. A fleece neck gaiter (like a collar) or face mask is a must on cold days.

Sunglasses and goggles: Sunglasses do much more than make you look cool. They also protect your eyes from damaging solar radiation. Snow, or any other reflective surface, makes ultraviolet (UV) rays stronger, while increased altitude also magnifies the danger. On flat-light days or when it's snowing, goggles are vital. They protect your eyes and special lens colors increase the contrast so you can properly discern terrain features.

Gloves and mittens: Look for gloves and mittens that use waterproof, breathable fabrics. Mittens, in general, are warmer than gloves, but offer you less dexterity. Consider the type of activity you'll be doing. Snowboarding gloves and mittens often have a reinforced palm because of extra wear from adjusting bindings and balancing on the snow. Some snowboarding gloves and mittens also have built-in wristguards, which are excellent for novice snowboarders. Cross country skiing gloves tend to be lighter-weight for extra movement and because you perspire more.

Socks: One pair of light-weight or medium-weight socks works best for skiing or snowboarding. Socks are made from a variety of materials, including polyester, silk, wool and nylon. Some socks have wicking properties similar to long underwear, meaning your feet will stay dry and comfortable.