Re: [Paddlewise] Cold water adaptation - Part II

You should read the article in the New Yorker that appeared about a month
ago about a cold water swimmer with unusual physiology who is able to
tolerate more cold exposure than the rest of the population.

Part of her regime is sleeping in the cold and swimming in the cold
frequently which seems to have an effect on how her vascular system works to
minimize heat loss. Other features of this woman are likely genetic and her
fat distribution and such.

There is a lot of variability of how people loose heat that has to do with
factors that cannot be predicted with crude measurements such as simply
weighing people and measuring their fat distribution. Part of the equation
of heat loss is how core temperature is maintained by keeping the blood flow
to the limbs and skin surface low and how much heat people are simply able
to generate by burning calories... This is variable from person to person.

The article suggests that it is possible to train oneself to tolerate cold
to some degree.

This woman is an extreme case. It makes interesting reading. I doubt that
many kayakers would embrace her training regime which is extreme. (not much
room for cuddling with loved ones among other things:)  )

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