Gerald F. and his group of friends from Illinois went hiking during September in the Rawah Wilderness in Colorado September.
During the afternoon, Gerald got separated from the group.
One of his friends called the sheriff’s office to report that Gerald was missing.
The friend told first responders that Gerald had military experience and was equipped with warm clothing, and a sleeping bag.
Rescuers tried to ping Gerald’s phone but were unsuccessful.
Since nightfall was approaching and weather conditions were severe, first responders waited until morning to start their search for Gerald.
“Searchers faced snowy, cold, and windy conditions, and air support was unavailable due to the weather,” officials said.
The next morning officials launched a full search effort.
After more than ten hours of searching, the efforts were suspended for the night.
Again, the next morning rescuers resumed search efforts.
“Rescuers were hampered by arduous winter conditions, including cold temperatures, snow, and difficult terrain within the Rawah Wilderness,” the sheriff’s office added.
But, by the afternoon Gerald was able to call 911 and authorities were able to ping his cell phone, which routed searchers to his location.
“He was found to be in good health and credited his survival to staying calm, starting a fire, and using his sleeping bag and clothing to stay warm,” the sheriff’s office said.
According to local officials, there was an “intense early-season snowstorm” that hit the area.
But Gerald managed to survive two nights in the extreme weather because he had the right gear and knowledge.
One piece of gear that played a critical role in his survival was insulated boots.
The reality is that footwear is sometimes overlooked in a survival situation.
Yet, our feet have a large surface area, and they can get cold quickly – especially when constantly exposed to snow, water, and the cold ground.
Plus, your feet are far from your core, so the blood isn’t as warm by the time it gets to the feet.
In snowy conditions, proper footwear prevents frostbite and ensures you maintain mobility with your feet.
But Gerald’s feet stayed warm and dry, which is essential to his survival.
Considering this, here are a few features you should look for in your next winter boot:
Flexible:
During a survival situation, one of the best ways to keep your feet warm is through increased blood flow.
Which is why you want to wear boots with flexible soles that allow your foot muscles move more.
The increased blood circulation and muscle movement create heat.
Fire resistant:
One of the keys to survival in the winter is building a campfire for warmth.
But if you are going to do this there is a good chance your feet will literally get too close to the fire.
This could be when you are making a fire or when you sit close for warmth, and the last thing you need to do is melt your boots.
So, make sure your boots can take the heat.
Consider boots made from materials such as leather, Nomex, or other fire-resistant materials.
Waterproof:
Militaries around the world have studied the benefits of waterproof boots, and they’ve found that waterproof boots retain more heat than non-waterproof boots.
And during a bug-out situation, you may have to cross creeks and the last thing you want is to get your feet wet.
So, it’s best to choose a winter boot that is waterproof.
Lightweight:
Additionally, having lightweight boots is a big factor because heavier footwear will increase oxygen consumption and use more energy.
And being tired decreases your body’s ability to fight off the cold.
One boot to consider is the Baffin Impact.
This boot provides warmth in extreme weather and has great traction, and it sells for about $200.
Another boot to check out is the Steger Camuks Xtreme.
This boot is lightweight and warm, with a rubberized leather foot and flexible tread. It sells for about $300.
A third option is the NEOS Overboots.
These are extremely lightweight and compact and can be worn over a shoe. They sell for about $150.
Even if you don’t think you’ll need boots, storms can pop up out of nowhere (just ask Gerald) so you need to pack them in your gear.
