Snow in NV

It’s cold in Nevada.

I am not a person that can usually deal with cold temperatures. I'm from Texas, its hot there. I can always enjoy an ice-cold beer or ice cream but that’s probably where my affection ends. Working all night during the coldest part of the day and then returning to my tent I am slowly being conditioned to deal with it, with minimal complaining. Temperatures the past couple of weeks have been hovering around 15-30 degrees. My field crew and I actually look forward to the 30 degree temperatures now.

Here are some examples of how cold it is:

-I can see ice crystals forming in my water bottle in real time.

·        - My skin and hands are permanently ashy and cracked. My lips are crazy chapped.

·        - Hiking in snow flurries. (Yes, it’s been done several times already. It sucks walking against the wind and being pelted in the face with frozen precip, wish I had a formidable beard for face protection.)

·        - Frozen foods: lettuce, milk, coffee, eggs, fruit and condiments. (I had to keep my mustard bottle in my pocket to thaw it out before eating hot dogs.)

·        - Layers. When going out to trap at night I essentially double in size due to the amount of cold weather clothes that I am wearing. This is a new record for me. At night I typically wear: two pairs of thick wool socks; bottom: thermal pants, sweat pants, field pants, sometimes rain pants; top: thermal shirt or long johns, long sleeve, soft shell jacket, hoodie, fleece, thick winter jacket; head: my Sherpa hat, a scarf, jacket hats; and a pair of gloves.

·     -   Baby wipes- which I use for wiping my hands and ‘camp showering’ comes out in frozen strips.

·     - Patches of snow still on the ground on hillsides and under trees, weeks after the last snowfall. When it does melt, everything gets muddy.  

·    -     My socks get wet. And sometimes they start to stink. 

But it all makes up for it when you get to build an awesome 6 foot tall SNOWMAN!

Frozen campsite

My tent on the right, covered in snow!

Taking a peek outside

I made a snowfriend!

He was definitely taller than me

Explored an old house in the snow

All smiles even despite the cold temps

Alas, all good things must end