A cold winter beckons every year with its snow-covered landscapes; however, sub-zero temperatures and wind do not put everyone in the mood to leave the warmth of their homes and embark on their next winter adventure. The area around Mutters offers a wide range of activities - be it a shopping spree through Innsbruck's old town or an eventful day in the mountains on skis, snowboard or toboggan. Good preparation is essential so that you don't freeze on your excursions! Our tips will tell you how to survive the winter without frostbite and constant shivering!
Our winter tips: How to stay warm on cold days
Which parts of the body need the most protection from the cold?
The extremities: To keep the body warm, the blood vessels constrict. As a result, the heart has to work harder to maintain the oxygen supply. Our extremities are particularly affected by this: Arms and legs and even more so the hands, fingers, feet and toes. In order to keep the important organs and bodily functions running, these areas are supplied with less blood when it is cold and therefore cool down more quickly. Warm socks, socks, shoes and gloves will help prevent you from cooling down.
The head: With or without protective hair - people lose a large proportion of their body heat through their head. This is where a particularly large number of important organs are located in a very small space (mouth, nose, ears, eyes), as well as the brain. The relatively thin skin on the face only provides limited protection against heat loss. That's why we need to counteract this with hats, earmuffs, hoods, headscarves or headbands!
Lungs and airways: Outside, the cold winter air is breathed in, which can irritate the bronchial tubes and strain the lungs. Meanwhile, the heating air exposes the mucous membranes of the nose and airways. They dry out more easily and become more susceptible to pathogens. Attention should also be paid to the throat area. A scarf or a pulled-up collar that protects the nose and mouth can help to warm up the air slightly when breathing and at the same time protect the sensitive throat area.
The onion look - several layers of clothing are worthwhile
The "onion principle" has proven its worth in winter. Several thin layers of clothing on top of each other keep you particularly warm and can be adjusted depending on the (temperature) situation. Each individual layer has a very specific function:
It is best to start with thermal underwear and warm socks. If it is really cold, a fleece layer should also be worn over the thermal underwear and a second pair of socks, ideally thermal or woollen socks. The clothing in the inner layer should not only keep you warm, but also wick moisture away from the skin. The layer should be as close to the body as possible. Cotton is less suitable. Instead, various functional textiles made from synthetic fibres or wool can really come into their own here.
The purpose of the thermal layer is to protect the body from the cold. Materials with small air chambers store natural body heat and thus act as an insulating cushion. A knitted woollen jumper or a fleece jacket are ideal for this. If you need to be a little warmer, you can also wear more than one layer for warmth.
The outer layer should protect against direct weather influences such as wind or moisture from the outside. If the lower layers already keep you warm enough, a windproof and waterproof soft or hard shell jacket is sufficient as the outermost layer. A generous cut provides an additional layer of air in which body heat can be stored. It is important that breathable materials are used so that moisture can be effectively transported to the outside - because in damp clothing you will start to feel cold in no time at all.
With our cold weather tips, nothing stands in the way of your winter holiday! You can plunge into the Muttereralm ski area just 2 kilometres from dasMEI**** and enjoy skiing fun on over 15 kilometres of pistes!
