Wet snow and cold weather—ideal conditions for hypothermia.
When I was a climbing guide and rafting guide in the Pacific Northwest, hypothermia was constantly on my mind. Washington is a very wet and often cold state where people can get into trouble quickly if they don’t pay attention. The right combination of weather conditions or just a cold swim through a rapid can easily be enough to cause the onset of mild hypothermia, and severe hypothermia and serious life-threatening consequences aren’t far behind. Taking the appropriate precautions to help keep your body temperature where it should be and knowing what to do if your body temperature begins to drop can save your life or your friend’s.
