Sundance Film Festival Survival Tips: Top 5 Ways to Stay Warm in Park City
Even though Park City is the hottest place to be right now, we’ve been having record low temperatures that have even seasoned locals scurrying for long johns and hot chocolate. It’s not much warmer in Salt Lake City, where many films are being screened. Sometimes, due to our funky geography, a temperature inversion will actually result in Park City being a good 10 degrees warmer than Salt Lake! Check out current weather conditions at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?wfo=slc&zone=utz008&county=utc043
Do not underestimate the power of this cold snap. It’s easy to get chilled to the bone while waiting for a Sundance shuttle. A bit of preparation can help you stay cozy and warm while you’re here:
1. Dress in layers. Cashmere is both lightweight and warm, if you want an excuse to splurge on a new sweater. Wool anything is a great choice, because wool stays warm even when it’s wet.
2. Keep your extremities warm. Cover your hands and head whenever you go outside. Consider a very lightweight cashmere or wool scarf wrapped over your head if you need avoid crushing your hair. Earmuffs are better than nothing, but far from ideal. Look for lined gloves or mittens for maximum comfort and warmth. Wool socks are great; ones that wick perspiration away from your feet are best. Bundling up may not give you the film star look you’re after, but rest assured: frostnip, frostbite and hypothermia are NOT a fashion plus at Sundance.
3. Stay dry! Water conducts heat away from the body 25 times faster than air does. This includes making sure your hair is very dry when you leave your hotel or condo in the morning. I used to arrive (late) at Park City High on dark winter mornings and brush a mini-snowfall of frost out of my freshly-washed hair . . . and I lived across the street from the school.
4. If you’re serious about staying warm, avoid alcohol, caffeine and tobacco, at least until you’re inside for the night. Alcohol interferes with your body’s ability to regulate its temperature, can cause your skin’s blood vessels to dilate, which increases heat loss, and reduces your ability to sense cold. Caffeine and nicotine constrict the blood vessels in your hands and feet, which reduces circulation, and makes you colder.
5. Single-use handwarmers can be tucked into all kinds of strategic places. They’re air-activated, so put ‘em in your gloves, pockets and anywhere secure. Since boots don’t get a lot of circulation, don’t fall for the clever boot-specific products; they’re a waste of money and effort. Handwarmers are cheap (usually a dollar or less each), provide hours of heat, and are easily found at grocery and sporting goods stores, and often at convenience stores throughout the area.
