
Promoting safe outdoor winter fun in the Upper Valley region of VT & NH

Winter Lingo
People have different experiences with winter time and that means not everyone knows what certain words mean. Here is a helpful list of winter words with some basic definitions
Alpine skiing: Downhill skiing, typically at ski resorts
Balaclava: A mask that covers most of the head, leaving eyes and nose/mouth covered
Black Ice: A clear coating of ice on pavement/asphalt that is transparent and makes footing treacherous
Buffs: A tube of fabric that people wear as a neck covering that can be pulled up around the mouth and nose
Cross-country skiing: Skiing on typically flat terrain
Feet warmers: Heat packs that can be applied to socks to keep feet warm, different from hand warmers
Flannel: A soft medium weight fabric that can be used for bed sheets and clothing
Fleece: Lightweight jacket that is made out of synthetic materials and great for layers
Frostbite: When a part of the body gets cold and loses sensation.
Frostnip: A less severe version of frostbite
Gaiters: Another word for a buff
Hand warmers: Heat packs that can be put in gloves, different from feet warmers
Hypothermia: A medical condition when the body's temperature has reached dangerously low temperatures
Liners: Removable inserts that help add extra layers (and hopefully warmth) to shoes and gloves
Long johns: A form of long underwear
Long underwear: An under layer that can be worn beneath clothes that is typically tight to the skin and made out of some moisture wicking material
Micro spikes: Spikes that can be added to footwear to increase traction on ice and snow
Nordic skiing: Another name for cross country skiing
Puffy: A quilted jacket that has down or synthetic insulation between sections of stitching for warmth
Rain Boots: Waterproof boots
Sleet: A combination of rain and snow that makes driving treacherous
Snow boots: Water-resistant boots that have increased traction for walking on ice and snow along with lining for warmth
Sorrels: A well known brand name for snow boots
Whiteout conditions: A weather phenomenon when it is snowing/sleeting so heavily that it is completely white
Yak traks: A name for micro spikes