5 Hints to Winter Caching in Minnesota #3 Traditional Cache

5 Hints to Caching in Minnesota Winters!!!

I have met a few new to Minnesota Geocachers lately. One family from California and the other Texas. It is always fun to talk to long time cachers who have not found a cache in the winter!! So I made a series of caches to help them along!! 

3. Dress for Success!! 

Some would say there is not a bad day, just bad clothing choices. Tell us your secrets to dressing well.

1. Your Head 
   1. Cover your head 
      1. A touque or a stocking cap - I like a big old knit hat with a yarn ball on top! 
      2. Bomber Hat - If you have ever wondered would it would be like to wrap a cat around your face? Here it is. These things are awesome. 
      3. Balacava (Ball-Ahh-Cah-Vah) - These have been called ski masks, but usually they are a tighter fitting fabric cover to your head, these can be used under helmits or hats for extra warmth. 
   2. Wrap your neck 
      1. A scarf silly - they are not just for looks. I like comically long ones. You may see me this winter with an NDSU or a Minnesota Duluth Hockey Scarf. 
      2. Neck Gator - Like a Balacava they are tighter fitting fabric made for your neck. You may be at risk looking like an unsavory federal official, but you will be warm. 
   3. Your Core 
      1. Long Johns - These are the best and frankly open secret to why Minnesotan's make it through the winter. They come in different fabrics and levels of warmth. Adjust accordingly. 
      2. An awesome Parka or Coat 
         1. The hooded down Parka - If you have a good one it will feel like you are in your living room with one of these on! I have a couple that I like. My favorite was a woolen mills style lined parka. I also have a nice air force style parka that would withstand the worst that North Dakota could throw at you. 
      3. Electric Heated Clothing - What did you say electric? Yes some newer clothes have electric heated coats, gloves, socks. All will keep you warm with less bulk. 
      4. Chemical Reaction Hand Warmers - Our friend from Canada reminded me of these after I published. It is amazing how long they hold heat for. A must in the cache bag. They can be picked up at most Minnesota stores in the winter. 
      5. Snowmobile Pants - In Minnesota the snow bibs are amazing and ensure you never have any drafty mid sections. 
   4. Wrap your digits - I like to have two layers a phone friendly underneath glove with the aggressive large and furry Mittens. 
      1. The Choppers - these are leather gloves with a warm lining, a working mans staple. They are usually loose fitting in case you need some dexterity. For hunters you can get them with a trigger finger seperated out. 
      2. Cell phone friendly gloves - I like to get a pair of these every year at my favorite warehouse store. You can leave them on and still use the touchscreen on your device. 
      3. Ski Gloves - there is no place in my bag for these since the two above you a great job. These are well insulated gloves that still allow your hands to move. 
      4. Fingerless Wool Gloves - a nice choice for the chopper wearing cachers that do not have cell phone friendly gloves. 
   5. Footwear 
      1. Pack Boots - My go to is a brand that shares it's name with Canada's National Sport. They often have Ice in the name, followed by king, man, or outpost if you are doing snow shoes. I like these boots that are good to below -100 deg. F, usually also waterproof. 
      2. Moon Boots - I mean these could work, but do not forget your bread bag. 
      3. Mukluks - Another kind of boot, invented by the inuit that live north of north. The originals were made of seal skin, but the commercial ones work too. You can go deep into the drifts with these.