Ben Plummer wrote:I love wool but don't think it is any better than anything else at keeping you warm when it is wet. I've found when something is wet it stops insulating and accelerates heat loss regardless of material and nothing dries quickly when it is cold. Just don't get wet in winter
Ben, call me crazy but I really do feel that since wool has evolved over millions of years to
insulate mammals under adverse conditions it might have just a slight leg up over some fabrics. Mostly I just wanted to stress the dressing in layers and
dressing appropriately for conditions. Staying dry is not always around here. I spend half my fall and winter living in 40 degree cloud of mist.
My exceptions to layering for warmth would be when kayaking or else wise working on or near bodies of deep water. Wool is devilishly heavy when wet -. Though I do generally where the GI shirt over the wet suit. It has breast pockets with good buttons. I picked up the wool at an army surplus shop for 12 bucks a top (I got two). The wet suit's both came from the dumbp. I boiled them.
I probably should have mentioned always make sure you have dry clothing or a dry shelter (and sleeping bags!). You can climb into wet cloths in the morning, work all day, and generate enough heat to be toasty (if a wee bit wet and uncomfortable) but if you stop moving your are going to start to loose heat rapidly. Again - layers - lots of them - a sheep has like 4-6inches of puffy jacket on. Wet socks suck. Have an extra pair. Dry them over the stove when you make tea.
and Dale, when you put it that way:
"I once had to guard a cold war bunker solo"
Sounds pretty
hardcore.
In the mean time I've been working on my Muscle Mushroom Nettle summer soup. I'm going to have to tweak it for the fall
I've mostly been using summer squashes, fresh baby nettle (more on that later and elsewhere), and onion along with all those lobster mushrooms and chantrels I got my hands on.
It's wanting in white wine (or a beer/cayenne {during the muscle steaming}) and rosemary to make it really come out strong.