I've been skiing since I was eleven years old and I love it. I participate both downhill and cross-country skiing, and I refuse to be drawn into debates over which is better. They're both wonderful pastimes, and they both have their advantages. As to drawbacks, however, there is one that is common to both forms of skiing: the cold. Like it or not, skiing is a winter sport (unless you live in Dubai and frequent their indoor ski slope). And if you're like me and you get cold easily, you tend to lose all feeling in your hands and feet. Needless to say, such a development can make skiing both difficult and painful. The logistics of maintaining tolerable feeling in your extremities while skiing can be formidable, but I have managed to pick up a few tips over the past seventeen years. So here, for the benefit of my cold-blooded brethren (and I mean that in the nicest possible way), is what I have learned.

Your neck gaiter (or gator, as it is often spelled in the industry) is your best friend. Never, ever, ever go skiing without this essential piece of fabric. It's amazing how much a simple, tube-shaped piece of cloth can contribute to your overall warmth. A neck gaiter, for those who don't know, looks like a knitted hat that someone forgot to close off. It is the modern day answer to the neck scarf. The advantage of the neck gaiter is twofold. One, it prevents freezing air from slipping down your neck and into the body of your coat. And two, it can be pulled up and over the nose and mouth, thereby keeping your face warm. When a neck gaiter is paired with goggles and the latter are pulled down over the edge of the former, the face is completely covered and the skier feels immeasurably warmer. Before I head out the door, I triple check to be sure that I have this vital piece of clothing.

Ski socks: invest in them. Yes, they may cost a bit more and yes, they may look a lot like what you can buy at the local Fred Meyer. However, socks that are specifically designed for skiing can mean the difference between having toes at the end of the day and having immobile and painful little chunks of flesh. I once spent an hour in tears while my toes thawed out. I do not recommend it. Do yourself a favor and visit your local ski equipment shop. They will carry ski socks of varying sizes and weights, so ask an employee what they recommend. Your digits will thank you.

Disposable hand warmers. These are a very common piece of skiing paraphernalia these days, although has not always been the case. Hand warmers come in little airtight packets. When you take one out, shake it to start its chemical reaction and then drop it in your glove. In about ten minutes, your glove will be a toasty little haven for your beleaguered fingers. One note of caution, do not let your hand warmers get wet. Water will prevent them from working, and you'll wind up with soggy little packets of useless chemicals.

One final piece of advice: the windmill. You'll look funny, but your hands will maintain feeling. Whenever you feel your hands beginning to go numb, fling your arms around in circles from your shoulders. The motion forces blood away from your central core and back into your hands. If you do this whenever an opportunity arises, you'll last a lot longer on the slopes.