How do you take field notes at below 0°C, without freezing fingers?
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I'm taking inventory on my tree farm. Temp today is -7 C with a light breeze. Windchill of -10 C.
I figure that there are lots of people who have this problem. Writing a journal, describing observations and so on.
How do people who work in the outdoors take field notes, or write things down?
Edit: Additional information.
The problem is NOT the writing implement -- at least so far.
The problem is fingers being too cold to function.
Here's what I've done so far:
Approach: Partial protection for writing hand. I've found I can wear a fleece mitt liner and still write.
Issues
- Fingers still get cold, but I have about 15 minutes per session between times I have to thaw out fingers. This is the current solution. It's between 1/3 and 1/2 the normal speed of taking inventory, plus more frequent breaks and job shifts.
Approach: Clipboard and pencil
Issues:
- While I can wear a mitt on the clipboard hand, bare fingers quickly go numb writing.
Approach: Used my iPhone with dictation enabled.
Issues:
- Only will record 30 seconds at a time, then you have to touch the mic button again.
- Transcription is ragged: Count becomes account 4 becomes for 2
becomes 2. But not consistently. - Phone shuts down when battery gets cold. (About 20 minutes at -7 C)
Approach: Just make an audio recording.
Issues:
- Hard to review.
- Phone still has cold problem.
Approach Keep moving to stay warm.
Issues:
- I do this. But it's more of changing jobs to warm up. Go mulch trees with gloves on while fingers thaw, scout for firewood, play with the dog, go for coffee.
- The plot is about 8 acres — 400 feet wide by 800 long. I have 20,000 trees in that space more or less, ranging in size from 3 inches to 15 feet. Counting is aa lot of 'museum pace' strolling, combined with standing. (The step counter on my phone says I do between 8,000 and 15000 steps a day. Inventory days are on the low end of this.)
Approach Write the message out in snow, then take a picture. (added in response to one answer)
Issues:
- Cold temps don't always occur with snow cover.
- Snow cover is cluttered with tractor, sled, deer and dog tracks.
- On overcast day, contrast between letters and snow is limited.
Amount of text for each block is a bit much for a medium such as snow. Go outside and write with your gloved hand:
HGE17 AshMtnCard 216 7'-9' T15 80%
That's my abbreviation for Block Haida Gwai East, lot 17, Cardinal columnar mountain ash, count of trees present, height range of 7 to 9 feet , pot size of nursery trade 15 gallon, and fraction salable. The information is dense. You will note in the pix below that even a day after the snow, it's not a blank canvas.
Approach: Take a series of photographs, then work at the house with the pictures.
Issues:
- Counting is difficult.
- Height estimate is difficult.
- Species identification in a broad picture is difficult between some pairs. E.g. white spruce and balsam fir, high bush cranberry, and amur maple
- If taking multiple pictures of a row, identifying the overlap point is tricky.
This is a popular question, and there are good answers here for people with various similar problems.
Normally inventory takes about three afternoon sessions of 3-4 hours. During that time I move a few feet between blocks for a block estimate, or walk the length of a block once for each species for a mixed block, or walk a block twice stopping at each tree for a tallied block.
Here are samples of what I'm inventorying.
I grow in mixed blocks. This decreases pest problems, and often allows pots to be spaced closer. This block is a mix of spruce, larch, birch at this point.
Further up the block, both birch and fir are still present, but the other two species are amur maple and high bush cranberry. Can you tell me the heights of each?
Two blocks one of northwest poplar and black spruce, and one of northwest poplar and balsam fir. These trees were transplanted only weeks before so are quite uniform in size.
For the larger trees I measure each one individually and run a tally. The stick is 8 feet long. Still tricky to estimate.
This is a block of young dogwood in styroblock, next to a block in #2 pots. Each block is 15 trees. I need to count the blocks, examine trees to estimate salable, dead, and runts that may become salable later. Dead is taken off the count right away.
cold-weather temperature journal-keeping
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show 7 more comments
up vote
46
down vote
favorite
I'm taking inventory on my tree farm. Temp today is -7 C with a light breeze. Windchill of -10 C.
I figure that there are lots of people who have this problem. Writing a journal, describing observations and so on.
How do people who work in the outdoors take field notes, or write things down?
Edit: Additional information.
The problem is NOT the writing implement -- at least so far.
The problem is fingers being too cold to function.
Here's what I've done so far:
Approach: Partial protection for writing hand. I've found I can wear a fleece mitt liner and still write.
Issues
- Fingers still get cold, but I have about 15 minutes per session between times I have to thaw out fingers. This is the current solution. It's between 1/3 and 1/2 the normal speed of taking inventory, plus more frequent breaks and job shifts.
Approach: Clipboard and pencil
Issues:
- While I can wear a mitt on the clipboard hand, bare fingers quickly go numb writing.
Approach: Used my iPhone with dictation enabled.
Issues:
- Only will record 30 seconds at a time, then you have to touch the mic button again.
- Transcription is ragged: Count becomes account 4 becomes for 2
becomes 2. But not consistently. - Phone shuts down when battery gets cold. (About 20 minutes at -7 C)
Approach: Just make an audio recording.
Issues:
- Hard to review.
- Phone still has cold problem.
Approach Keep moving to stay warm.
Issues:
- I do this. But it's more of changing jobs to warm up. Go mulch trees with gloves on while fingers thaw, scout for firewood, play with the dog, go for coffee.
- The plot is about 8 acres — 400 feet wide by 800 long. I have 20,000 trees in that space more or less, ranging in size from 3 inches to 15 feet. Counting is aa lot of 'museum pace' strolling, combined with standing. (The step counter on my phone says I do between 8,000 and 15000 steps a day. Inventory days are on the low end of this.)
Approach Write the message out in snow, then take a picture. (added in response to one answer)
Issues:
- Cold temps don't always occur with snow cover.
- Snow cover is cluttered with tractor, sled, deer and dog tracks.
- On overcast day, contrast between letters and snow is limited.
Amount of text for each block is a bit much for a medium such as snow. Go outside and write with your gloved hand:
HGE17 AshMtnCard 216 7'-9' T15 80%
That's my abbreviation for Block Haida Gwai East, lot 17, Cardinal columnar mountain ash, count of trees present, height range of 7 to 9 feet , pot size of nursery trade 15 gallon, and fraction salable. The information is dense. You will note in the pix below that even a day after the snow, it's not a blank canvas.
Approach: Take a series of photographs, then work at the house with the pictures.
Issues:
- Counting is difficult.
- Height estimate is difficult.
- Species identification in a broad picture is difficult between some pairs. E.g. white spruce and balsam fir, high bush cranberry, and amur maple
- If taking multiple pictures of a row, identifying the overlap point is tricky.
This is a popular question, and there are good answers here for people with various similar problems.
Normally inventory takes about three afternoon sessions of 3-4 hours. During that time I move a few feet between blocks for a block estimate, or walk the length of a block once for each species for a mixed block, or walk a block twice stopping at each tree for a tallied block.
Here are samples of what I'm inventorying.
I grow in mixed blocks. This decreases pest problems, and often allows pots to be spaced closer. This block is a mix of spruce, larch, birch at this point.
Further up the block, both birch and fir are still present, but the other two species are amur maple and high bush cranberry. Can you tell me the heights of each?
Two blocks one of northwest poplar and black spruce, and one of northwest poplar and balsam fir. These trees were transplanted only weeks before so are quite uniform in size.
For the larger trees I measure each one individually and run a tally. The stick is 8 feet long. Still tricky to estimate.
This is a block of young dogwood in styroblock, next to a block in #2 pots. Each block is 15 trees. I need to count the blocks, examine trees to estimate salable, dead, and runts that may become salable later. Dead is taken off the count right away.
cold-weather temperature journal-keeping
To answerers - remember that product recommendations are not on-topic (see help center, which says Recommendations for what item to purchase are off-topic; questions about what features one should look for are on-topic.), so we're looking for techniques, or the qualities of equipment rather than particular brands. Thanks!
– Toby Speight
Nov 6 at 10:31
7
Everyone else already answered with the gear suggestion for recording, you probably want to revert your edits and ask "How to keep finger from freezing while writing" as a related question cause I don't see people adjusting their answers
– Charlie Brumbaugh
Nov 6 at 15:54
1
If you still want to try recording, you can try putting your phone in your shirt pocket. It should still pick up useable sound (from the vibrations from your chest). Then the only problem becomes how to start and stop recording. Also, you can get yourself a power bank, which should give you more battery time, especially if it's in a warm pocket. (Good quality / new batteries don't loose as much performance from cold)
– JonasCz
Nov 6 at 17:50
1
I don't have a proper answer, but I've had to do this (ski patrol). I normally wear mittens with removable finger-covers, which reveal gloves underneath, and pair that with hand-warmers. That and an oversized grease pencil (sometimes I have to write on non-paper stuff) gets me through just about everything.
– Nic Hartley
Nov 6 at 21:35
1
Can't you use gloves on the writing hand too? Relatively thin bicycling gloves were enough for me in temperatures cold enough to regularly freeze the biros I was using. Wasn't comfortable, but for a couple hours at a time it was possible. Turning pages became the much bigger probem. But if you are taking continuous field notes instead of what I was doing then you shouldn't need to turn pages that often.
– Nobody
Nov 6 at 21:57
|
show 7 more comments
up vote
46
down vote
favorite
up vote
46
down vote
favorite
I'm taking inventory on my tree farm. Temp today is -7 C with a light breeze. Windchill of -10 C.
I figure that there are lots of people who have this problem. Writing a journal, describing observations and so on.
How do people who work in the outdoors take field notes, or write things down?
Edit: Additional information.
The problem is NOT the writing implement -- at least so far.
The problem is fingers being too cold to function.
Here's what I've done so far:
Approach: Partial protection for writing hand. I've found I can wear a fleece mitt liner and still write.
Issues
- Fingers still get cold, but I have about 15 minutes per session between times I have to thaw out fingers. This is the current solution. It's between 1/3 and 1/2 the normal speed of taking inventory, plus more frequent breaks and job shifts.
Approach: Clipboard and pencil
Issues:
- While I can wear a mitt on the clipboard hand, bare fingers quickly go numb writing.
Approach: Used my iPhone with dictation enabled.
Issues:
- Only will record 30 seconds at a time, then you have to touch the mic button again.
- Transcription is ragged: Count becomes account 4 becomes for 2
becomes 2. But not consistently. - Phone shuts down when battery gets cold. (About 20 minutes at -7 C)
Approach: Just make an audio recording.
Issues:
- Hard to review.
- Phone still has cold problem.
Approach Keep moving to stay warm.
Issues:
- I do this. But it's more of changing jobs to warm up. Go mulch trees with gloves on while fingers thaw, scout for firewood, play with the dog, go for coffee.
- The plot is about 8 acres — 400 feet wide by 800 long. I have 20,000 trees in that space more or less, ranging in size from 3 inches to 15 feet. Counting is aa lot of 'museum pace' strolling, combined with standing. (The step counter on my phone says I do between 8,000 and 15000 steps a day. Inventory days are on the low end of this.)
Approach Write the message out in snow, then take a picture. (added in response to one answer)
Issues:
- Cold temps don't always occur with snow cover.
- Snow cover is cluttered with tractor, sled, deer and dog tracks.
- On overcast day, contrast between letters and snow is limited.
Amount of text for each block is a bit much for a medium such as snow. Go outside and write with your gloved hand:
HGE17 AshMtnCard 216 7'-9' T15 80%
That's my abbreviation for Block Haida Gwai East, lot 17, Cardinal columnar mountain ash, count of trees present, height range of 7 to 9 feet , pot size of nursery trade 15 gallon, and fraction salable. The information is dense. You will note in the pix below that even a day after the snow, it's not a blank canvas.
Approach: Take a series of photographs, then work at the house with the pictures.
Issues:
- Counting is difficult.
- Height estimate is difficult.
- Species identification in a broad picture is difficult between some pairs. E.g. white spruce and balsam fir, high bush cranberry, and amur maple
- If taking multiple pictures of a row, identifying the overlap point is tricky.
This is a popular question, and there are good answers here for people with various similar problems.
Normally inventory takes about three afternoon sessions of 3-4 hours. During that time I move a few feet between blocks for a block estimate, or walk the length of a block once for each species for a mixed block, or walk a block twice stopping at each tree for a tallied block.
Here are samples of what I'm inventorying.
I grow in mixed blocks. This decreases pest problems, and often allows pots to be spaced closer. This block is a mix of spruce, larch, birch at this point.
Further up the block, both birch and fir are still present, but the other two species are amur maple and high bush cranberry. Can you tell me the heights of each?
Two blocks one of northwest poplar and black spruce, and one of northwest poplar and balsam fir. These trees were transplanted only weeks before so are quite uniform in size.
For the larger trees I measure each one individually and run a tally. The stick is 8 feet long. Still tricky to estimate.
This is a block of young dogwood in styroblock, next to a block in #2 pots. Each block is 15 trees. I need to count the blocks, examine trees to estimate salable, dead, and runts that may become salable later. Dead is taken off the count right away.
cold-weather temperature journal-keeping
I'm taking inventory on my tree farm. Temp today is -7 C with a light breeze. Windchill of -10 C.
I figure that there are lots of people who have this problem. Writing a journal, describing observations and so on.
How do people who work in the outdoors take field notes, or write things down?
Edit: Additional information.
The problem is NOT the writing implement -- at least so far.
The problem is fingers being too cold to function.
Here's what I've done so far:
Approach: Partial protection for writing hand. I've found I can wear a fleece mitt liner and still write.
Issues
- Fingers still get cold, but I have about 15 minutes per session between times I have to thaw out fingers. This is the current solution. It's between 1/3 and 1/2 the normal speed of taking inventory, plus more frequent breaks and job shifts.
Approach: Clipboard and pencil
Issues:
- While I can wear a mitt on the clipboard hand, bare fingers quickly go numb writing.
Approach: Used my iPhone with dictation enabled.
Issues:
- Only will record 30 seconds at a time, then you have to touch the mic button again.
- Transcription is ragged: Count becomes account 4 becomes for 2
becomes 2. But not consistently. - Phone shuts down when battery gets cold. (About 20 minutes at -7 C)
Approach: Just make an audio recording.
Issues:
- Hard to review.
- Phone still has cold problem.
Approach Keep moving to stay warm.
Issues:
- I do this. But it's more of changing jobs to warm up. Go mulch trees with gloves on while fingers thaw, scout for firewood, play with the dog, go for coffee.
- The plot is about 8 acres — 400 feet wide by 800 long. I have 20,000 trees in that space more or less, ranging in size from 3 inches to 15 feet. Counting is aa lot of 'museum pace' strolling, combined with standing. (The step counter on my phone says I do between 8,000 and 15000 steps a day. Inventory days are on the low end of this.)
Approach Write the message out in snow, then take a picture. (added in response to one answer)
Issues:
- Cold temps don't always occur with snow cover.
- Snow cover is cluttered with tractor, sled, deer and dog tracks.
- On overcast day, contrast between letters and snow is limited.
Amount of text for each block is a bit much for a medium such as snow. Go outside and write with your gloved hand:
HGE17 AshMtnCard 216 7'-9' T15 80%
That's my abbreviation for Block Haida Gwai East, lot 17, Cardinal columnar mountain ash, count of trees present, height range of 7 to 9 feet , pot size of nursery trade 15 gallon, and fraction salable. The information is dense. You will note in the pix below that even a day after the snow, it's not a blank canvas.
Approach: Take a series of photographs, then work at the house with the pictures.
Issues:
- Counting is difficult.
- Height estimate is difficult.
- Species identification in a broad picture is difficult between some pairs. E.g. white spruce and balsam fir, high bush cranberry, and amur maple
- If taking multiple pictures of a row, identifying the overlap point is tricky.
This is a popular question, and there are good answers here for people with various similar problems.
Normally inventory takes about three afternoon sessions of 3-4 hours. During that time I move a few feet between blocks for a block estimate, or walk the length of a block once for each species for a mixed block, or walk a block twice stopping at each tree for a tallied block.
Here are samples of what I'm inventorying.
I grow in mixed blocks. This decreases pest problems, and often allows pots to be spaced closer. This block is a mix of spruce, larch, birch at this point.
Further up the block, both birch and fir are still present, but the other two species are amur maple and high bush cranberry. Can you tell me the heights of each?
Two blocks one of northwest poplar and black spruce, and one of northwest poplar and balsam fir. These trees were transplanted only weeks before so are quite uniform in size.
For the larger trees I measure each one individually and run a tally. The stick is 8 feet long. Still tricky to estimate.
This is a block of young dogwood in styroblock, next to a block in #2 pots. Each block is 15 trees. I need to count the blocks, examine trees to estimate salable, dead, and runts that may become salable later. Dead is taken off the count right away.
cold-weather temperature journal-keeping
cold-weather temperature journal-keeping
edited yesterday
Community♦
1
1
asked Nov 5 at 20:26
Sherwood Botsford
6,07611640
6,07611640
To answerers - remember that product recommendations are not on-topic (see help center, which says Recommendations for what item to purchase are off-topic; questions about what features one should look for are on-topic.), so we're looking for techniques, or the qualities of equipment rather than particular brands. Thanks!
– Toby Speight
Nov 6 at 10:31
7
Everyone else already answered with the gear suggestion for recording, you probably want to revert your edits and ask "How to keep finger from freezing while writing" as a related question cause I don't see people adjusting their answers
– Charlie Brumbaugh
Nov 6 at 15:54
1
If you still want to try recording, you can try putting your phone in your shirt pocket. It should still pick up useable sound (from the vibrations from your chest). Then the only problem becomes how to start and stop recording. Also, you can get yourself a power bank, which should give you more battery time, especially if it's in a warm pocket. (Good quality / new batteries don't loose as much performance from cold)
– JonasCz
Nov 6 at 17:50
1
I don't have a proper answer, but I've had to do this (ski patrol). I normally wear mittens with removable finger-covers, which reveal gloves underneath, and pair that with hand-warmers. That and an oversized grease pencil (sometimes I have to write on non-paper stuff) gets me through just about everything.
– Nic Hartley
Nov 6 at 21:35
1
Can't you use gloves on the writing hand too? Relatively thin bicycling gloves were enough for me in temperatures cold enough to regularly freeze the biros I was using. Wasn't comfortable, but for a couple hours at a time it was possible. Turning pages became the much bigger probem. But if you are taking continuous field notes instead of what I was doing then you shouldn't need to turn pages that often.
– Nobody
Nov 6 at 21:57
|
show 7 more comments
To answerers - remember that product recommendations are not on-topic (see help center, which says Recommendations for what item to purchase are off-topic; questions about what features one should look for are on-topic.), so we're looking for techniques, or the qualities of equipment rather than particular brands. Thanks!
– Toby Speight
Nov 6 at 10:31
7
Everyone else already answered with the gear suggestion for recording, you probably want to revert your edits and ask "How to keep finger from freezing while writing" as a related question cause I don't see people adjusting their answers
– Charlie Brumbaugh
Nov 6 at 15:54
1
If you still want to try recording, you can try putting your phone in your shirt pocket. It should still pick up useable sound (from the vibrations from your chest). Then the only problem becomes how to start and stop recording. Also, you can get yourself a power bank, which should give you more battery time, especially if it's in a warm pocket. (Good quality / new batteries don't loose as much performance from cold)
– JonasCz
Nov 6 at 17:50
1
I don't have a proper answer, but I've had to do this (ski patrol). I normally wear mittens with removable finger-covers, which reveal gloves underneath, and pair that with hand-warmers. That and an oversized grease pencil (sometimes I have to write on non-paper stuff) gets me through just about everything.
– Nic Hartley
Nov 6 at 21:35
1
Can't you use gloves on the writing hand too? Relatively thin bicycling gloves were enough for me in temperatures cold enough to regularly freeze the biros I was using. Wasn't comfortable, but for a couple hours at a time it was possible. Turning pages became the much bigger probem. But if you are taking continuous field notes instead of what I was doing then you shouldn't need to turn pages that often.
– Nobody
Nov 6 at 21:57
To answerers - remember that product recommendations are not on-topic (see help center, which says Recommendations for what item to purchase are off-topic; questions about what features one should look for are on-topic.), so we're looking for techniques, or the qualities of equipment rather than particular brands. Thanks!
– Toby Speight
Nov 6 at 10:31
To answerers - remember that product recommendations are not on-topic (see help center, which says Recommendations for what item to purchase are off-topic; questions about what features one should look for are on-topic.), so we're looking for techniques, or the qualities of equipment rather than particular brands. Thanks!
– Toby Speight
Nov 6 at 10:31
7
7
Everyone else already answered with the gear suggestion for recording, you probably want to revert your edits and ask "How to keep finger from freezing while writing" as a related question cause I don't see people adjusting their answers
– Charlie Brumbaugh
Nov 6 at 15:54
Everyone else already answered with the gear suggestion for recording, you probably want to revert your edits and ask "How to keep finger from freezing while writing" as a related question cause I don't see people adjusting their answers
– Charlie Brumbaugh
Nov 6 at 15:54
1
1
If you still want to try recording, you can try putting your phone in your shirt pocket. It should still pick up useable sound (from the vibrations from your chest). Then the only problem becomes how to start and stop recording. Also, you can get yourself a power bank, which should give you more battery time, especially if it's in a warm pocket. (Good quality / new batteries don't loose as much performance from cold)
– JonasCz
Nov 6 at 17:50
If you still want to try recording, you can try putting your phone in your shirt pocket. It should still pick up useable sound (from the vibrations from your chest). Then the only problem becomes how to start and stop recording. Also, you can get yourself a power bank, which should give you more battery time, especially if it's in a warm pocket. (Good quality / new batteries don't loose as much performance from cold)
– JonasCz
Nov 6 at 17:50
1
1
I don't have a proper answer, but I've had to do this (ski patrol). I normally wear mittens with removable finger-covers, which reveal gloves underneath, and pair that with hand-warmers. That and an oversized grease pencil (sometimes I have to write on non-paper stuff) gets me through just about everything.
– Nic Hartley
Nov 6 at 21:35
I don't have a proper answer, but I've had to do this (ski patrol). I normally wear mittens with removable finger-covers, which reveal gloves underneath, and pair that with hand-warmers. That and an oversized grease pencil (sometimes I have to write on non-paper stuff) gets me through just about everything.
– Nic Hartley
Nov 6 at 21:35
1
1
Can't you use gloves on the writing hand too? Relatively thin bicycling gloves were enough for me in temperatures cold enough to regularly freeze the biros I was using. Wasn't comfortable, but for a couple hours at a time it was possible. Turning pages became the much bigger probem. But if you are taking continuous field notes instead of what I was doing then you shouldn't need to turn pages that often.
– Nobody
Nov 6 at 21:57
Can't you use gloves on the writing hand too? Relatively thin bicycling gloves were enough for me in temperatures cold enough to regularly freeze the biros I was using. Wasn't comfortable, but for a couple hours at a time it was possible. Turning pages became the much bigger probem. But if you are taking continuous field notes instead of what I was doing then you shouldn't need to turn pages that often.
– Nobody
Nov 6 at 21:57
|
show 7 more comments
20 Answers
20
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up vote
52
down vote
Use a pencil. They do not freeze and can be easily sharpened. You might also use a grease pencil; they can write on metal, plastic, wet, oily, or waxy surfaces as well. These don't always afford the finest points, so if this is a concern, consider a fine-tipped sharpie, but, Sharpies are still susceptible to cold and wet weather.
EDIT:
Now that you've edited your question, I can offer a little more advice.
- Use a wearable video camera, like what cops use, or a mounted Go-Pro kind of thing. Then survey your inventory and review the video clip later when it is warm. This might mean twice the time, which can be expensive for you (time is money...) but you might delegate the video review to someone else. The nice thing about this is you might catch something you might not have seen IRL. Also, it can provide proof for auditing purposes, depending on the reason for the inventory review (eg, are you looking for signs of damage from weather or animals; or maybe you're looking for vandalism, disease, or theft? Are you providing proof for purposes of sale, auction, insurance, or property value?)
- Use gloves with cut-off fingers, so only the finger tips are exposed. Wear a jacket with deep pockets, and in those pockets, keep hand warmers. You can use refillable Zippo ones that you can get from the camping section at Walmart or Target; or you can use the disposable ones you can get also from Walmart and Target, or at most chain pharmacies. With these gloves and hand warmers, you can use any writing implement - pencils, markers, sharpies, smartphones/tablets, etc.
EDIT2:
- You've got a lot to survey, a drone with video capability might be helpful.
30
You can get fatter pencils if you want to hold them in gloved hands, as well
– Chris H
Nov 5 at 22:35
You could consider one designed like this: bol.com/nl/p/…
– Thomas Moors
Nov 6 at 9:25
5
@Nauraushaun despite the fact that the OP changed their question afterwards, this suggestion is still valid: large enough pencils, grease pencils and crayons can be held in gloves. A larger than usual paper sheet/board will be needed though.
– IMil
Nov 8 at 5:25
2
This is a good idea. I've tried a similar approach using a still camera, but it's hard to judge size. and make counts.
– Sherwood Botsford
2 days ago
3
Or perhaps delegate the video recording to someone else, so you never get cold fingers at all
– Azor Ahai
2 days ago
|
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up vote
36
down vote
I have previously used a tape recorder and nowadays, a smartphone or tiny handheld microphone. Then I simply speak my observations and findings in a way I know I will be able to easily tabulate when I am inside once again.
If it is too windy to use an outer microphone, usually putting it below clothing layers will do fine. If it's muffled, I later boost the audio in Audacity -- it doesn't need to be production-quality.
This is also useful when it is too windy to write on paper, or too snowy + windy to see what you are writing.
New contributor
7
Horrid if you don't like hearing recordings of yourself though!
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Nov 7 at 13:08
2
If it's windy, a spoffle should help.
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 14:03
add a comment |
up vote
34
down vote
To address the issues you're having with audio-based solutions, keep the phone inside your clothing and use a "hands-free" headset (wired). This will stop the phone dying due to a cold battery, which incidentally I've never had trouble with on a range of Android phones. With the right software you should be able to record when the microphone button on the headset is pressed (but I don't know of anythign for iPhones as I've never had one.)
If you do use the phone, I suggest you keep an audio file and pass it through dictation software later, then you can refer to the audio file if there's confusion.
However a fat pencil and the minimum gloves you can get away with are pobably a more robust solution. Flip mitts over those gloves will allow you to warm back up again when you've got a longer break, but the inner gloves should be selected to be sufficient for reasonably long periods; in partiocular they should be windproof.
One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is the need to have a workflow such that your writing (i) is minimised, and (ii) can be big. So tick-boxes or boxes for numbers where possible -- that should get you a long way in your inventory case. A customised notebook with laser-printed (not inkjet in case of damp) pages is helpful in many situations.
6
I think your last paragraph there is my favourite part of the answer, keep the note-taking to an absolute minimum and as simple as possible, if you already know the possible cases then write them all down and tick the one that it turns out to be. By doing this, you can minimise the time your hands are exposed and keep them fully bundled up in the gloves otherwise.
– Ruadhan2300
Nov 7 at 9:17
add a comment |
up vote
19
down vote
When I was hunting, I found that the best way to keep my fingers warm, while still allowing me to free them for delicate manipulation (loading a magazine, etc) was to wear "convertible gloves" - that is, fingerless gloves with a mitten pouch that could be slipped over your fingers when not writing. Additionally, adding a chemical hand-warmer to the mitten section makes warming your fingers back up relatively quick. You'll have to shop around for a pair that is quick to convert to finger-less and back to mitten, so you can cover up between turns.
The other option is to keep your pen and clipboard on a lanyard so you can pocket your hands with handwarmers between notes.
1
This would be my recommendation as well. Keep your skin and blood warm for as long as you can before it reaches the exposed extremities, by wearing warm gloves/mitts, with only the finger tips missing. Being able to close the tips back up (especially to mitts) will help you warm up quickly if you take a break for a few minutes. To add to that, make sure your hands are staying dry (eg goretex gloves with a sweat wicking lining), or are made of wool/fleece that stays warm when wet. The chemical hand warmers also make a difference as well.
– RToyo
2 days ago
1
This is the right answer. They are also called "convertible mittens". There are plenty of styles available, mine are wool, with thinsulate lining and leather-ish surface on the grip area. They work great for writing in the cold.
– Simon Woodside
2 days ago
1
I've tried these, but for extended time they don't work. Most are knit or fleece and have limited wind protection. The lanyard idea is good.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday
1
@SherwoodBotsford I have seen gloves with removable covers for individual fingertips. They were sold for fishing. They have a similar problem - maybe check offers from them.
– Volker Siegel
11 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
18
down vote
When I worked at a salebarn in the winter we had this problem and the solution was multiple pens inside your shirt pocket under your coat.
Pens will work for a while then get too cold at which point you switch it out for a new warm one.
You might also look into the mittens that have gloved fingers inside, you can pull just the top off to write while most of your fingers (all except the tips) are still covered.
8
The problem isn't pens freezing. It's fingers freezing. I'm using a pencil.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:39
add a comment |
up vote
15
down vote
Prepare a form for the information you collect.
Make the blanks big. Fill in the form by grasping your "pencil" in your gloved fist. Use an over-sized writing utensil (so your fist doesn't cramp). Revert to bare fingers when necessary.
Blanks for numbers are easy. So are checkboxes. If there is text you need to write, try to create options ahead of time so you can just enter A, B, C, etc.
You might "waste"/use more paper, but that cost will be offset by the man-hours saved.
1
I do a form now. It is a big help over blank paper, but even so, I use about 30 sheets to do the inventory.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
14
down vote
One time, during a winter research project, it was only after after a full-day ski to the study site that we realized that none of us had a pen or pencil. So we wrote the numbers in the snow with a twig and took a picture.
I realize this doesn't directly answer your question, but it made for an entertaining story.
New contributor
8
Actually, photography can be a useful technique (take spare batteries in a warm pocket). Images can be geotagged to indicate where they were taken, which can be useful (though GPS-enabled cameras seem poor at this - I use a dedicated GPS receiver andgpscorrelate
), and you could use pebbles, pine cones, sticks etc. to indicate numbers. I make many photographic notes of geographical features whilst out in "weather", and successfully use them for updating OpenStreetMap.
– Toby Speight
Nov 6 at 10:36
3
Good comment. Change into an answer. It doesn't work in my situation, as the locations are separated by a much smaller difference than the error of the GPS. (I typically move about a meter between notes.)
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:43
1
I fail to see how this does not answer the question. You can write in the snow with a fully gloved and mitted hand, and you need only remove the glove long enough to take the picture, which should be less than 1 minute. The only problems I foresee are 1) having enough space to write and 2) having the writing show clearly enough on the image to read easily since it is all white.
– Aaron
Nov 6 at 18:55
add a comment |
up vote
12
down vote
-10C (14F) is not that cold.
If you keep moving a thin "glove liner" or "running glove" should be warm enough for a while. The glove liners are thin enough where a regular #2 pencil will do fine. Then put on a pair of "Over Mitts" over the liners when you don't need to write.
You're using a waterproof field notes book, right?
You're using dot tally to reduce how much you have to write?
Society of American Foresters has a forum on their website for Inventory questions. Maybe ask in there? https://www.eforester.org/Main/Community/Join_a_Working_Group/Main/About/Working_Groups.aspx
2
The "thin glove you can still write with" is in other answers, but this one is the only answer to mention that the temp in question is not actually very cold and moving to keep your body warm; that got my +1. This will do a lot; so much, that you might not even need gloves at this temperature if you move enough. Though it does work at OPs temp range, this alone might not be enough for temps that are very cold, so combine with other answers and take frequent breaks from writing.
– Aaron
Nov 6 at 19:08
5
-10C might be "not that cold" to you but perception of temperature depends very much on what you're used to, and it clearly is "that cold" to the asker. I have a neighbour from India who wears a hat and scarf outside any time the temperature drops below about 10C.
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 14:12
1
We are talking about working at -10C (14F). That's not so cold that you won't get use to it, unless you have a medical condition like Raynaud's. Keep moving, stay dry, use a glove liner, and streamline your process to minimize the time you have your glove off.
– Kimball
Nov 7 at 17:02
1
My neighbour hasn't got used to +10C after living here for two-and-a-half years. How quickly do you expect the asker to get used to -10C?
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 22:30
1
Use to the comfort of a temperature and the biological impairment of function are separate things. Cramping muscles and joints are based on chemical and other bio processes, not on perception. Getting the shivers so bad you cannot write clearly is probably conditional.
– TafT
yesterday
|
show 4 more comments
up vote
11
down vote
There are some pens that are made for extreme conditions such as the uni-ball PowerTank Retractable Ballpoint pen. I've never personally used one of these but it has many positive reviews on Amazon. There is also a freezer test performed on this pen with the following results:
Source: OfficeSupplyGeek
2
This is a good answer for the writing instrument. But check how it does on wet paper. It's not always freezing.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:41
add a comment |
up vote
11
down vote
Most answers seem to assume the writing implement is the problem, but the asker specifically states that his comfort is the problem. I can think of two solutions.
If possible, figure out how to simplify your inventory. Consider writing in ways that don't require a large amount of dexterity -- I would consider tally marks.
If you need more detailed notes, consider how you can heat your hands with thinner gloves. You could do fingerless heated gloves, or shove a handwarmer in the palm of the glove.
3
Battery-powered heated gloves seem like a great solution here, since they help in a variety of ways. I can't find one available, but I think you could make a heated pen without too much difficulty, especially if you don't mind some additional bulk that would probably just make it easier to hold with gloves.
– William - Rem
Nov 7 at 16:32
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
Pencils. Pencils are also approved by the Bundesmarine (German Navy).
I remember how pencils just worked when we stood outside in the rain and in the snow at temperatures around 0°C, and us recruits practicing morse codes. Unfortunately I have no other quotation for this, except myself (Signalbetriebsdienst class of Winter/2004 at Bremerhaven).
Paper was the bigger problem. Once wrote down, the notes stood there. But it wasn't really easy to not rip the wet paper apart while writing. It's best if you're equipped with both hard and soft ones. Use the soft ones within bad conditions and when the paper is wet.
Baustifte/Zimmermannbleistifte/Carpenter's Pencils are usually in the HB range, though they have a big diameter core. If you want to draw on stone or other materials, use one of these, or a standard pencil with very soft core (2B or softer).
Also, especially when you sport soft pencils, it's a good idea to have multiple of them ready to use, such that you don't have to sharpen them when you can't afford it.
New contributor
6
There's a fix to your paper problem: waterproof paper
– pipe
Nov 6 at 11:45
2
Waterproof pens and paper. They go well together and don't tear or smear.
– Brad
Nov 6 at 15:21
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
I write software for a company that supplies an application for field engineers to use to collect field data with a hardened android tablet. I expect you could use a text editor in a hardened android tablet to take notes. The value of this is that the notes can then be exported to a desktop (our software transmits it to a cloud server) and you won't have to worry about transcription errors, losing the paper, or having the paper become unreadable. There are gloves with wire embedded in the fingers to allow you to work on touch screens with them on. Or you could look for a tablet with a stylus, though a stylus typically needs electrical contact with the skin (mentioned as the gloves may have a broad contact area. But a stylus can be used with gloves like that). Sure it is a lot more expensive than paper and pen but the cost of losing a piece of paper and having to do the work over is high also and you only have to enter the data once. Paper leads to transcription errors, values in wrong fields, etc. Not saying you should look for something like we produce but you might look into a .pdf form you can fill in and then store and print.
New contributor
1
Interesting idea. But to operate a text editor requires a bare finger, and is painfully slow. Also: MOst places I take field notes do not have cellular coverage.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:45
5
@SherwoodBotsford some touchscreen gloves work well, and plenty of text editors work offline
– Chris H
Nov 6 at 16:44
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
Depending on the complexity of the notes, you may not have to sightwrite them. So, wear a warm but roomy coat, pull in your arms, and take your paper and pencil notes that way.
New contributor
add a comment |
up vote
7
down vote
Think of the basic triangle - you need warmth, dryness, and wind-free.
OP's question does not mention being wet but does reference the cold AND the windchill. So limit the wind with some kind of windproof shield. Here's a generic "outdoor clipboard".
So the plastic lid keeps rain off, but will also act as a wind shield.
It will not really act to hold warmth though because of the large opening
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
I would suggest a pair of good waterproof winter gloves instead of mittens. These will keep your hands warm and protected from wind and still allow for enough dexterity for writing with a pencil.
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Fisher Space Pen. Writes down to -30F and won't leak no matter what (say, from altitude changes going up a mountain.)
https://www.spacepen.com/about-us.aspx
(And I have no connection to them other than being a satisfied user. At a desk I consider gel ink pens to be superior, but nothing beats a space pen for reliability--if I'm carrying a pen it's a space pen.)
My experience with gel pens is that they run if the paper gets wet after.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:46
1
@SherwoodBotsford space pens aren't the same as normal gel pens, and space pens are what this answer recommends you use
– Chris H
Nov 6 at 16:45
@SherwoodBotsford Note that my mention of gel pens was in comparison--thus space pens are clearly not gel pens.
– Loren Pechtel
Nov 8 at 1:36
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Approach: Audio recorder with speech-to-text software
Issues:
- Audio recorder must work at freezing-cold temperatures
- Recordings must be processed afterwards by speech-to-text software
- Transcribed notes must be reviewed
New contributor
1
All of these would be quite easily solved if using analogue recording media.
– Weckar E.
Nov 6 at 16:23
1
@WeckarE. - How does analog media make speech to text or transcription review any better? It seems the only one that might be better is "must work in freezing-cold temperatures", but that's only true if you're using a purely mechanical wind-up turntable, otherwise, the analog tape recorder will have the same battery issue as a digital recorder. Just put the recorder in an inside pocket with external mic and it'll work in any temperature.
– Johnny
Nov 8 at 5:27
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Your question made me wonder how Robert Falcon Scott wrote his final diary entries on his trip to the South Pole in 1912.
This article, from The Guardian, Scott of the Antartic's final diary published online says with certainty that Scott's diary entries on the journey to the South Pole were written in pencil.
Readers can, from today, pore over the pages of faded pencil
handwriting that make up one of the most famous diaries in the world –
Captain Robert Scott's journal of the final months, days and hours of
his doomed 1911-1912 expedition to the South Pole.
The British Library has launched an online facsimile of the complete
last diary alongside extensive extracts from the two earlier volumes. (emphasis added)
History Channel on Foxtel describes Scott's final entry:
On 29 March 1912, in a weary pencil script, Scott wrote the final
entry in his diary: “Last entry. It seems a pity, but I do not think I
can write more–R. Scott–For God’s sake look after our people.”
(emphasis added)
The interior of Scott's tent was undoubtedly below zero C. This was Antarctica in March, and one of the colder Marches. Nature News, in its article Scott's Icy Death says:
the last entry in Edward Wilson's diary is a poignant: "Turned in at
-37° [F]" [-38 C].
Wilson and Scott, with Bowers, were in the same tent. Wilson's final entry was a day or so before Scott's.
Another source from the British Library mentions Scott picking up a pen, but the reference to a pen was probably a literary expression, not a factual description of what Scott used.
4
I think the OP has already mentioned that the issue is not the equipment he uses (which is a pencil). It's the cold fingers that are the issue. And this answer doesn't really add anything more than what others have already covered. Except for the historical references (which do not answer the original question either).
– Ricketyship
Nov 7 at 5:45
1
OP asked the question using degrees Celsius so it may be helpful to include the equivalent to the Fahrenheit measure. Happily, it seems to work about the same -38 °C. Clearly a little way past the OPs environmental conditions!
– TafT
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
Let me suggest that some acclimatization may help (though I'm not sure how practical this is).
I was personally rather astonished how much we can actually adapt to cold weather: I spent a winter in Winnipeg (office job, no outdoors job). Nevertheless, whereas I had been freezing on the bike in windproof + light fleece pants/jacket in November in +5°C rain, in March when it got warm to "only single digit negative temps (°C)", I was biking in just summer outdoor pants/T-shirt + fleece, no gloves, no cap/scarf and feeling very comfortable.
First conclusion: fall/early winter is going to be the most miserable time in the year because you're not yet accustomed to the low temps - still it is probably impossible to do this in any other season.
According to Hanna Kaciuba-Uscilko and John E. Greenleaf: Acclimatization to Cold in Humans, NASA Technical Memorandum 101011, p 18, local cold adaptation (hands) is possible as well:
It was proved that people who habitually expose their hands to cold-for example,
Eskimos (Miller and Irving, 1962), Arctic Indians (Elsner, Nelms, and Irving, 1960), fishermen (LeBlanc, 1975; Krog et al., 1960), workers who fillet fish (Nelms and Soper, 1962), and lumbermen (LeBlanc et al., 1976)- respond to local cooling of the hands with much less pronounced cutaneous vasoconstriction, and with more rapid onset of vasodilation than occurs in unacclimatized men. Thus, they tolerate cold-stress better than men unadapted to cold.
So it may be possible for you to prepare for that inventory by deliberately exposing your hands to cold beforehand.
(Biking, I find that it takes my hands, ears and nose get cold for about 3 days to a week with the first frosts in fall until they "remember" how to heat themselves at those temps. But then, I find cold adaptation much easier than heat adaptation. And my impression are that people are very much not the same in that respect.)
Whether it is worth while obviously is for you to decide. However, you may also want to take into account that it may not be "only" a question of being uncomfortable but that working in cold environment is associated e.g. with increased incidence of rheumatoid arthritis.
Obviously, keeping your fingers warm is only possible if your body core is warm. You could try whether warmer parka/long johns helps as well (parka is probably easier to get on/off). Also, there's a rumor that not only overall food status but protein in particular is important for non-shivering thermogenesis.
Thoughts about gear:
From your post, you're able to do things in not-too-thick gloves, so maybe 1+1+3 shooting gloves would be a consideration?
I'd probably try to have as much pre-printed as possible.
As kids we used to have mittens with a line (so they wouldn't get lost when taken/falling off).
A similar line with a very roomy mitten may allow you just put your hand in and out of the mitten without hassle. You you have to expose the fingers only for writing down your Mountain ash line, but they're in the warm while counting the pots.
This line of thought directly leads to the invention of the muff. A "traditional" one for warming your writing hand while not writing, or maybe you could make a more specialized one yourself that accomodates your hand and just has the pencil sticking out, so you can keep it on while writing.
In addition, a traditional muff has space for a heating pad.
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Use Noodlers Polar Ink. It is specifically designed to work down to very low temperatures and has been tested in Antarctica.
https://blog.gouletpens.com/2017/01/noodlers-polar-ink-goes-to-antartica
The inks are also "bulletproof", that means they are very permanent and don't fade or wash out.
New contributor
2
I do NOT want to use a fountain pen.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:43
2
This is just a bad answer in general. A fountain pen is a horrible, impractical implement for taking notes on a clipboard while walking around outside in the cold. I don't think anyone will benefit from this answer as anything but a novelty.
– Adonalsium
Nov 7 at 14:23
It won't let me write an answer, so I'll put it in comment - I recommend chemical hand warmer packets that you can get from any sporting good store, just keep them in your pocket, your hands will be extra warm when you take them out and it might give you more time to write. You could also tape a few of them to the bottom of your clipboard, will keep your clipboard warm too! Sorry since product recommendations aren't allowed, look for something with the feature that when you open and shake it, it gets warm :)
– Dan Chase
yesterday
add a comment |
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up vote
52
down vote
Use a pencil. They do not freeze and can be easily sharpened. You might also use a grease pencil; they can write on metal, plastic, wet, oily, or waxy surfaces as well. These don't always afford the finest points, so if this is a concern, consider a fine-tipped sharpie, but, Sharpies are still susceptible to cold and wet weather.
EDIT:
Now that you've edited your question, I can offer a little more advice.
- Use a wearable video camera, like what cops use, or a mounted Go-Pro kind of thing. Then survey your inventory and review the video clip later when it is warm. This might mean twice the time, which can be expensive for you (time is money...) but you might delegate the video review to someone else. The nice thing about this is you might catch something you might not have seen IRL. Also, it can provide proof for auditing purposes, depending on the reason for the inventory review (eg, are you looking for signs of damage from weather or animals; or maybe you're looking for vandalism, disease, or theft? Are you providing proof for purposes of sale, auction, insurance, or property value?)
- Use gloves with cut-off fingers, so only the finger tips are exposed. Wear a jacket with deep pockets, and in those pockets, keep hand warmers. You can use refillable Zippo ones that you can get from the camping section at Walmart or Target; or you can use the disposable ones you can get also from Walmart and Target, or at most chain pharmacies. With these gloves and hand warmers, you can use any writing implement - pencils, markers, sharpies, smartphones/tablets, etc.
EDIT2:
- You've got a lot to survey, a drone with video capability might be helpful.
30
You can get fatter pencils if you want to hold them in gloved hands, as well
– Chris H
Nov 5 at 22:35
You could consider one designed like this: bol.com/nl/p/…
– Thomas Moors
Nov 6 at 9:25
5
@Nauraushaun despite the fact that the OP changed their question afterwards, this suggestion is still valid: large enough pencils, grease pencils and crayons can be held in gloves. A larger than usual paper sheet/board will be needed though.
– IMil
Nov 8 at 5:25
2
This is a good idea. I've tried a similar approach using a still camera, but it's hard to judge size. and make counts.
– Sherwood Botsford
2 days ago
3
Or perhaps delegate the video recording to someone else, so you never get cold fingers at all
– Azor Ahai
2 days ago
|
show 2 more comments
up vote
52
down vote
Use a pencil. They do not freeze and can be easily sharpened. You might also use a grease pencil; they can write on metal, plastic, wet, oily, or waxy surfaces as well. These don't always afford the finest points, so if this is a concern, consider a fine-tipped sharpie, but, Sharpies are still susceptible to cold and wet weather.
EDIT:
Now that you've edited your question, I can offer a little more advice.
- Use a wearable video camera, like what cops use, or a mounted Go-Pro kind of thing. Then survey your inventory and review the video clip later when it is warm. This might mean twice the time, which can be expensive for you (time is money...) but you might delegate the video review to someone else. The nice thing about this is you might catch something you might not have seen IRL. Also, it can provide proof for auditing purposes, depending on the reason for the inventory review (eg, are you looking for signs of damage from weather or animals; or maybe you're looking for vandalism, disease, or theft? Are you providing proof for purposes of sale, auction, insurance, or property value?)
- Use gloves with cut-off fingers, so only the finger tips are exposed. Wear a jacket with deep pockets, and in those pockets, keep hand warmers. You can use refillable Zippo ones that you can get from the camping section at Walmart or Target; or you can use the disposable ones you can get also from Walmart and Target, or at most chain pharmacies. With these gloves and hand warmers, you can use any writing implement - pencils, markers, sharpies, smartphones/tablets, etc.
EDIT2:
- You've got a lot to survey, a drone with video capability might be helpful.
30
You can get fatter pencils if you want to hold them in gloved hands, as well
– Chris H
Nov 5 at 22:35
You could consider one designed like this: bol.com/nl/p/…
– Thomas Moors
Nov 6 at 9:25
5
@Nauraushaun despite the fact that the OP changed their question afterwards, this suggestion is still valid: large enough pencils, grease pencils and crayons can be held in gloves. A larger than usual paper sheet/board will be needed though.
– IMil
Nov 8 at 5:25
2
This is a good idea. I've tried a similar approach using a still camera, but it's hard to judge size. and make counts.
– Sherwood Botsford
2 days ago
3
Or perhaps delegate the video recording to someone else, so you never get cold fingers at all
– Azor Ahai
2 days ago
|
show 2 more comments
up vote
52
down vote
up vote
52
down vote
Use a pencil. They do not freeze and can be easily sharpened. You might also use a grease pencil; they can write on metal, plastic, wet, oily, or waxy surfaces as well. These don't always afford the finest points, so if this is a concern, consider a fine-tipped sharpie, but, Sharpies are still susceptible to cold and wet weather.
EDIT:
Now that you've edited your question, I can offer a little more advice.
- Use a wearable video camera, like what cops use, or a mounted Go-Pro kind of thing. Then survey your inventory and review the video clip later when it is warm. This might mean twice the time, which can be expensive for you (time is money...) but you might delegate the video review to someone else. The nice thing about this is you might catch something you might not have seen IRL. Also, it can provide proof for auditing purposes, depending on the reason for the inventory review (eg, are you looking for signs of damage from weather or animals; or maybe you're looking for vandalism, disease, or theft? Are you providing proof for purposes of sale, auction, insurance, or property value?)
- Use gloves with cut-off fingers, so only the finger tips are exposed. Wear a jacket with deep pockets, and in those pockets, keep hand warmers. You can use refillable Zippo ones that you can get from the camping section at Walmart or Target; or you can use the disposable ones you can get also from Walmart and Target, or at most chain pharmacies. With these gloves and hand warmers, you can use any writing implement - pencils, markers, sharpies, smartphones/tablets, etc.
EDIT2:
- You've got a lot to survey, a drone with video capability might be helpful.
Use a pencil. They do not freeze and can be easily sharpened. You might also use a grease pencil; they can write on metal, plastic, wet, oily, or waxy surfaces as well. These don't always afford the finest points, so if this is a concern, consider a fine-tipped sharpie, but, Sharpies are still susceptible to cold and wet weather.
EDIT:
Now that you've edited your question, I can offer a little more advice.
- Use a wearable video camera, like what cops use, or a mounted Go-Pro kind of thing. Then survey your inventory and review the video clip later when it is warm. This might mean twice the time, which can be expensive for you (time is money...) but you might delegate the video review to someone else. The nice thing about this is you might catch something you might not have seen IRL. Also, it can provide proof for auditing purposes, depending on the reason for the inventory review (eg, are you looking for signs of damage from weather or animals; or maybe you're looking for vandalism, disease, or theft? Are you providing proof for purposes of sale, auction, insurance, or property value?)
- Use gloves with cut-off fingers, so only the finger tips are exposed. Wear a jacket with deep pockets, and in those pockets, keep hand warmers. You can use refillable Zippo ones that you can get from the camping section at Walmart or Target; or you can use the disposable ones you can get also from Walmart and Target, or at most chain pharmacies. With these gloves and hand warmers, you can use any writing implement - pencils, markers, sharpies, smartphones/tablets, etc.
EDIT2:
- You've got a lot to survey, a drone with video capability might be helpful.
edited 15 hours ago
answered Nov 5 at 21:21
Wigwam
1,646211
1,646211
30
You can get fatter pencils if you want to hold them in gloved hands, as well
– Chris H
Nov 5 at 22:35
You could consider one designed like this: bol.com/nl/p/…
– Thomas Moors
Nov 6 at 9:25
5
@Nauraushaun despite the fact that the OP changed their question afterwards, this suggestion is still valid: large enough pencils, grease pencils and crayons can be held in gloves. A larger than usual paper sheet/board will be needed though.
– IMil
Nov 8 at 5:25
2
This is a good idea. I've tried a similar approach using a still camera, but it's hard to judge size. and make counts.
– Sherwood Botsford
2 days ago
3
Or perhaps delegate the video recording to someone else, so you never get cold fingers at all
– Azor Ahai
2 days ago
|
show 2 more comments
30
You can get fatter pencils if you want to hold them in gloved hands, as well
– Chris H
Nov 5 at 22:35
You could consider one designed like this: bol.com/nl/p/…
– Thomas Moors
Nov 6 at 9:25
5
@Nauraushaun despite the fact that the OP changed their question afterwards, this suggestion is still valid: large enough pencils, grease pencils and crayons can be held in gloves. A larger than usual paper sheet/board will be needed though.
– IMil
Nov 8 at 5:25
2
This is a good idea. I've tried a similar approach using a still camera, but it's hard to judge size. and make counts.
– Sherwood Botsford
2 days ago
3
Or perhaps delegate the video recording to someone else, so you never get cold fingers at all
– Azor Ahai
2 days ago
30
30
You can get fatter pencils if you want to hold them in gloved hands, as well
– Chris H
Nov 5 at 22:35
You can get fatter pencils if you want to hold them in gloved hands, as well
– Chris H
Nov 5 at 22:35
You could consider one designed like this: bol.com/nl/p/…
– Thomas Moors
Nov 6 at 9:25
You could consider one designed like this: bol.com/nl/p/…
– Thomas Moors
Nov 6 at 9:25
5
5
@Nauraushaun despite the fact that the OP changed their question afterwards, this suggestion is still valid: large enough pencils, grease pencils and crayons can be held in gloves. A larger than usual paper sheet/board will be needed though.
– IMil
Nov 8 at 5:25
@Nauraushaun despite the fact that the OP changed their question afterwards, this suggestion is still valid: large enough pencils, grease pencils and crayons can be held in gloves. A larger than usual paper sheet/board will be needed though.
– IMil
Nov 8 at 5:25
2
2
This is a good idea. I've tried a similar approach using a still camera, but it's hard to judge size. and make counts.
– Sherwood Botsford
2 days ago
This is a good idea. I've tried a similar approach using a still camera, but it's hard to judge size. and make counts.
– Sherwood Botsford
2 days ago
3
3
Or perhaps delegate the video recording to someone else, so you never get cold fingers at all
– Azor Ahai
2 days ago
Or perhaps delegate the video recording to someone else, so you never get cold fingers at all
– Azor Ahai
2 days ago
|
show 2 more comments
up vote
36
down vote
I have previously used a tape recorder and nowadays, a smartphone or tiny handheld microphone. Then I simply speak my observations and findings in a way I know I will be able to easily tabulate when I am inside once again.
If it is too windy to use an outer microphone, usually putting it below clothing layers will do fine. If it's muffled, I later boost the audio in Audacity -- it doesn't need to be production-quality.
This is also useful when it is too windy to write on paper, or too snowy + windy to see what you are writing.
New contributor
7
Horrid if you don't like hearing recordings of yourself though!
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Nov 7 at 13:08
2
If it's windy, a spoffle should help.
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 14:03
add a comment |
up vote
36
down vote
I have previously used a tape recorder and nowadays, a smartphone or tiny handheld microphone. Then I simply speak my observations and findings in a way I know I will be able to easily tabulate when I am inside once again.
If it is too windy to use an outer microphone, usually putting it below clothing layers will do fine. If it's muffled, I later boost the audio in Audacity -- it doesn't need to be production-quality.
This is also useful when it is too windy to write on paper, or too snowy + windy to see what you are writing.
New contributor
7
Horrid if you don't like hearing recordings of yourself though!
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Nov 7 at 13:08
2
If it's windy, a spoffle should help.
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 14:03
add a comment |
up vote
36
down vote
up vote
36
down vote
I have previously used a tape recorder and nowadays, a smartphone or tiny handheld microphone. Then I simply speak my observations and findings in a way I know I will be able to easily tabulate when I am inside once again.
If it is too windy to use an outer microphone, usually putting it below clothing layers will do fine. If it's muffled, I later boost the audio in Audacity -- it doesn't need to be production-quality.
This is also useful when it is too windy to write on paper, or too snowy + windy to see what you are writing.
New contributor
I have previously used a tape recorder and nowadays, a smartphone or tiny handheld microphone. Then I simply speak my observations and findings in a way I know I will be able to easily tabulate when I am inside once again.
If it is too windy to use an outer microphone, usually putting it below clothing layers will do fine. If it's muffled, I later boost the audio in Audacity -- it doesn't need to be production-quality.
This is also useful when it is too windy to write on paper, or too snowy + windy to see what you are writing.
New contributor
edited Nov 6 at 2:30
New contributor
answered Nov 6 at 2:11
cat
46335
46335
New contributor
New contributor
7
Horrid if you don't like hearing recordings of yourself though!
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Nov 7 at 13:08
2
If it's windy, a spoffle should help.
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 14:03
add a comment |
7
Horrid if you don't like hearing recordings of yourself though!
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Nov 7 at 13:08
2
If it's windy, a spoffle should help.
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 14:03
7
7
Horrid if you don't like hearing recordings of yourself though!
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Nov 7 at 13:08
Horrid if you don't like hearing recordings of yourself though!
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Nov 7 at 13:08
2
2
If it's windy, a spoffle should help.
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 14:03
If it's windy, a spoffle should help.
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 14:03
add a comment |
up vote
34
down vote
To address the issues you're having with audio-based solutions, keep the phone inside your clothing and use a "hands-free" headset (wired). This will stop the phone dying due to a cold battery, which incidentally I've never had trouble with on a range of Android phones. With the right software you should be able to record when the microphone button on the headset is pressed (but I don't know of anythign for iPhones as I've never had one.)
If you do use the phone, I suggest you keep an audio file and pass it through dictation software later, then you can refer to the audio file if there's confusion.
However a fat pencil and the minimum gloves you can get away with are pobably a more robust solution. Flip mitts over those gloves will allow you to warm back up again when you've got a longer break, but the inner gloves should be selected to be sufficient for reasonably long periods; in partiocular they should be windproof.
One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is the need to have a workflow such that your writing (i) is minimised, and (ii) can be big. So tick-boxes or boxes for numbers where possible -- that should get you a long way in your inventory case. A customised notebook with laser-printed (not inkjet in case of damp) pages is helpful in many situations.
6
I think your last paragraph there is my favourite part of the answer, keep the note-taking to an absolute minimum and as simple as possible, if you already know the possible cases then write them all down and tick the one that it turns out to be. By doing this, you can minimise the time your hands are exposed and keep them fully bundled up in the gloves otherwise.
– Ruadhan2300
Nov 7 at 9:17
add a comment |
up vote
34
down vote
To address the issues you're having with audio-based solutions, keep the phone inside your clothing and use a "hands-free" headset (wired). This will stop the phone dying due to a cold battery, which incidentally I've never had trouble with on a range of Android phones. With the right software you should be able to record when the microphone button on the headset is pressed (but I don't know of anythign for iPhones as I've never had one.)
If you do use the phone, I suggest you keep an audio file and pass it through dictation software later, then you can refer to the audio file if there's confusion.
However a fat pencil and the minimum gloves you can get away with are pobably a more robust solution. Flip mitts over those gloves will allow you to warm back up again when you've got a longer break, but the inner gloves should be selected to be sufficient for reasonably long periods; in partiocular they should be windproof.
One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is the need to have a workflow such that your writing (i) is minimised, and (ii) can be big. So tick-boxes or boxes for numbers where possible -- that should get you a long way in your inventory case. A customised notebook with laser-printed (not inkjet in case of damp) pages is helpful in many situations.
6
I think your last paragraph there is my favourite part of the answer, keep the note-taking to an absolute minimum and as simple as possible, if you already know the possible cases then write them all down and tick the one that it turns out to be. By doing this, you can minimise the time your hands are exposed and keep them fully bundled up in the gloves otherwise.
– Ruadhan2300
Nov 7 at 9:17
add a comment |
up vote
34
down vote
up vote
34
down vote
To address the issues you're having with audio-based solutions, keep the phone inside your clothing and use a "hands-free" headset (wired). This will stop the phone dying due to a cold battery, which incidentally I've never had trouble with on a range of Android phones. With the right software you should be able to record when the microphone button on the headset is pressed (but I don't know of anythign for iPhones as I've never had one.)
If you do use the phone, I suggest you keep an audio file and pass it through dictation software later, then you can refer to the audio file if there's confusion.
However a fat pencil and the minimum gloves you can get away with are pobably a more robust solution. Flip mitts over those gloves will allow you to warm back up again when you've got a longer break, but the inner gloves should be selected to be sufficient for reasonably long periods; in partiocular they should be windproof.
One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is the need to have a workflow such that your writing (i) is minimised, and (ii) can be big. So tick-boxes or boxes for numbers where possible -- that should get you a long way in your inventory case. A customised notebook with laser-printed (not inkjet in case of damp) pages is helpful in many situations.
To address the issues you're having with audio-based solutions, keep the phone inside your clothing and use a "hands-free" headset (wired). This will stop the phone dying due to a cold battery, which incidentally I've never had trouble with on a range of Android phones. With the right software you should be able to record when the microphone button on the headset is pressed (but I don't know of anythign for iPhones as I've never had one.)
If you do use the phone, I suggest you keep an audio file and pass it through dictation software later, then you can refer to the audio file if there's confusion.
However a fat pencil and the minimum gloves you can get away with are pobably a more robust solution. Flip mitts over those gloves will allow you to warm back up again when you've got a longer break, but the inner gloves should be selected to be sufficient for reasonably long periods; in partiocular they should be windproof.
One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is the need to have a workflow such that your writing (i) is minimised, and (ii) can be big. So tick-boxes or boxes for numbers where possible -- that should get you a long way in your inventory case. A customised notebook with laser-printed (not inkjet in case of damp) pages is helpful in many situations.
answered Nov 6 at 16:55
Chris H
10.7k12245
10.7k12245
6
I think your last paragraph there is my favourite part of the answer, keep the note-taking to an absolute minimum and as simple as possible, if you already know the possible cases then write them all down and tick the one that it turns out to be. By doing this, you can minimise the time your hands are exposed and keep them fully bundled up in the gloves otherwise.
– Ruadhan2300
Nov 7 at 9:17
add a comment |
6
I think your last paragraph there is my favourite part of the answer, keep the note-taking to an absolute minimum and as simple as possible, if you already know the possible cases then write them all down and tick the one that it turns out to be. By doing this, you can minimise the time your hands are exposed and keep them fully bundled up in the gloves otherwise.
– Ruadhan2300
Nov 7 at 9:17
6
6
I think your last paragraph there is my favourite part of the answer, keep the note-taking to an absolute minimum and as simple as possible, if you already know the possible cases then write them all down and tick the one that it turns out to be. By doing this, you can minimise the time your hands are exposed and keep them fully bundled up in the gloves otherwise.
– Ruadhan2300
Nov 7 at 9:17
I think your last paragraph there is my favourite part of the answer, keep the note-taking to an absolute minimum and as simple as possible, if you already know the possible cases then write them all down and tick the one that it turns out to be. By doing this, you can minimise the time your hands are exposed and keep them fully bundled up in the gloves otherwise.
– Ruadhan2300
Nov 7 at 9:17
add a comment |
up vote
19
down vote
When I was hunting, I found that the best way to keep my fingers warm, while still allowing me to free them for delicate manipulation (loading a magazine, etc) was to wear "convertible gloves" - that is, fingerless gloves with a mitten pouch that could be slipped over your fingers when not writing. Additionally, adding a chemical hand-warmer to the mitten section makes warming your fingers back up relatively quick. You'll have to shop around for a pair that is quick to convert to finger-less and back to mitten, so you can cover up between turns.
The other option is to keep your pen and clipboard on a lanyard so you can pocket your hands with handwarmers between notes.
1
This would be my recommendation as well. Keep your skin and blood warm for as long as you can before it reaches the exposed extremities, by wearing warm gloves/mitts, with only the finger tips missing. Being able to close the tips back up (especially to mitts) will help you warm up quickly if you take a break for a few minutes. To add to that, make sure your hands are staying dry (eg goretex gloves with a sweat wicking lining), or are made of wool/fleece that stays warm when wet. The chemical hand warmers also make a difference as well.
– RToyo
2 days ago
1
This is the right answer. They are also called "convertible mittens". There are plenty of styles available, mine are wool, with thinsulate lining and leather-ish surface on the grip area. They work great for writing in the cold.
– Simon Woodside
2 days ago
1
I've tried these, but for extended time they don't work. Most are knit or fleece and have limited wind protection. The lanyard idea is good.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday
1
@SherwoodBotsford I have seen gloves with removable covers for individual fingertips. They were sold for fishing. They have a similar problem - maybe check offers from them.
– Volker Siegel
11 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
19
down vote
When I was hunting, I found that the best way to keep my fingers warm, while still allowing me to free them for delicate manipulation (loading a magazine, etc) was to wear "convertible gloves" - that is, fingerless gloves with a mitten pouch that could be slipped over your fingers when not writing. Additionally, adding a chemical hand-warmer to the mitten section makes warming your fingers back up relatively quick. You'll have to shop around for a pair that is quick to convert to finger-less and back to mitten, so you can cover up between turns.
The other option is to keep your pen and clipboard on a lanyard so you can pocket your hands with handwarmers between notes.
1
This would be my recommendation as well. Keep your skin and blood warm for as long as you can before it reaches the exposed extremities, by wearing warm gloves/mitts, with only the finger tips missing. Being able to close the tips back up (especially to mitts) will help you warm up quickly if you take a break for a few minutes. To add to that, make sure your hands are staying dry (eg goretex gloves with a sweat wicking lining), or are made of wool/fleece that stays warm when wet. The chemical hand warmers also make a difference as well.
– RToyo
2 days ago
1
This is the right answer. They are also called "convertible mittens". There are plenty of styles available, mine are wool, with thinsulate lining and leather-ish surface on the grip area. They work great for writing in the cold.
– Simon Woodside
2 days ago
1
I've tried these, but for extended time they don't work. Most are knit or fleece and have limited wind protection. The lanyard idea is good.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday
1
@SherwoodBotsford I have seen gloves with removable covers for individual fingertips. They were sold for fishing. They have a similar problem - maybe check offers from them.
– Volker Siegel
11 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
19
down vote
up vote
19
down vote
When I was hunting, I found that the best way to keep my fingers warm, while still allowing me to free them for delicate manipulation (loading a magazine, etc) was to wear "convertible gloves" - that is, fingerless gloves with a mitten pouch that could be slipped over your fingers when not writing. Additionally, adding a chemical hand-warmer to the mitten section makes warming your fingers back up relatively quick. You'll have to shop around for a pair that is quick to convert to finger-less and back to mitten, so you can cover up between turns.
The other option is to keep your pen and clipboard on a lanyard so you can pocket your hands with handwarmers between notes.
When I was hunting, I found that the best way to keep my fingers warm, while still allowing me to free them for delicate manipulation (loading a magazine, etc) was to wear "convertible gloves" - that is, fingerless gloves with a mitten pouch that could be slipped over your fingers when not writing. Additionally, adding a chemical hand-warmer to the mitten section makes warming your fingers back up relatively quick. You'll have to shop around for a pair that is quick to convert to finger-less and back to mitten, so you can cover up between turns.
The other option is to keep your pen and clipboard on a lanyard so you can pocket your hands with handwarmers between notes.
answered Nov 6 at 17:36
Adonalsium
3646
3646
1
This would be my recommendation as well. Keep your skin and blood warm for as long as you can before it reaches the exposed extremities, by wearing warm gloves/mitts, with only the finger tips missing. Being able to close the tips back up (especially to mitts) will help you warm up quickly if you take a break for a few minutes. To add to that, make sure your hands are staying dry (eg goretex gloves with a sweat wicking lining), or are made of wool/fleece that stays warm when wet. The chemical hand warmers also make a difference as well.
– RToyo
2 days ago
1
This is the right answer. They are also called "convertible mittens". There are plenty of styles available, mine are wool, with thinsulate lining and leather-ish surface on the grip area. They work great for writing in the cold.
– Simon Woodside
2 days ago
1
I've tried these, but for extended time they don't work. Most are knit or fleece and have limited wind protection. The lanyard idea is good.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday
1
@SherwoodBotsford I have seen gloves with removable covers for individual fingertips. They were sold for fishing. They have a similar problem - maybe check offers from them.
– Volker Siegel
11 hours ago
add a comment |
1
This would be my recommendation as well. Keep your skin and blood warm for as long as you can before it reaches the exposed extremities, by wearing warm gloves/mitts, with only the finger tips missing. Being able to close the tips back up (especially to mitts) will help you warm up quickly if you take a break for a few minutes. To add to that, make sure your hands are staying dry (eg goretex gloves with a sweat wicking lining), or are made of wool/fleece that stays warm when wet. The chemical hand warmers also make a difference as well.
– RToyo
2 days ago
1
This is the right answer. They are also called "convertible mittens". There are plenty of styles available, mine are wool, with thinsulate lining and leather-ish surface on the grip area. They work great for writing in the cold.
– Simon Woodside
2 days ago
1
I've tried these, but for extended time they don't work. Most are knit or fleece and have limited wind protection. The lanyard idea is good.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday
1
@SherwoodBotsford I have seen gloves with removable covers for individual fingertips. They were sold for fishing. They have a similar problem - maybe check offers from them.
– Volker Siegel
11 hours ago
1
1
This would be my recommendation as well. Keep your skin and blood warm for as long as you can before it reaches the exposed extremities, by wearing warm gloves/mitts, with only the finger tips missing. Being able to close the tips back up (especially to mitts) will help you warm up quickly if you take a break for a few minutes. To add to that, make sure your hands are staying dry (eg goretex gloves with a sweat wicking lining), or are made of wool/fleece that stays warm when wet. The chemical hand warmers also make a difference as well.
– RToyo
2 days ago
This would be my recommendation as well. Keep your skin and blood warm for as long as you can before it reaches the exposed extremities, by wearing warm gloves/mitts, with only the finger tips missing. Being able to close the tips back up (especially to mitts) will help you warm up quickly if you take a break for a few minutes. To add to that, make sure your hands are staying dry (eg goretex gloves with a sweat wicking lining), or are made of wool/fleece that stays warm when wet. The chemical hand warmers also make a difference as well.
– RToyo
2 days ago
1
1
This is the right answer. They are also called "convertible mittens". There are plenty of styles available, mine are wool, with thinsulate lining and leather-ish surface on the grip area. They work great for writing in the cold.
– Simon Woodside
2 days ago
This is the right answer. They are also called "convertible mittens". There are plenty of styles available, mine are wool, with thinsulate lining and leather-ish surface on the grip area. They work great for writing in the cold.
– Simon Woodside
2 days ago
1
1
I've tried these, but for extended time they don't work. Most are knit or fleece and have limited wind protection. The lanyard idea is good.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday
I've tried these, but for extended time they don't work. Most are knit or fleece and have limited wind protection. The lanyard idea is good.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday
1
1
@SherwoodBotsford I have seen gloves with removable covers for individual fingertips. They were sold for fishing. They have a similar problem - maybe check offers from them.
– Volker Siegel
11 hours ago
@SherwoodBotsford I have seen gloves with removable covers for individual fingertips. They were sold for fishing. They have a similar problem - maybe check offers from them.
– Volker Siegel
11 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
18
down vote
When I worked at a salebarn in the winter we had this problem and the solution was multiple pens inside your shirt pocket under your coat.
Pens will work for a while then get too cold at which point you switch it out for a new warm one.
You might also look into the mittens that have gloved fingers inside, you can pull just the top off to write while most of your fingers (all except the tips) are still covered.
8
The problem isn't pens freezing. It's fingers freezing. I'm using a pencil.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:39
add a comment |
up vote
18
down vote
When I worked at a salebarn in the winter we had this problem and the solution was multiple pens inside your shirt pocket under your coat.
Pens will work for a while then get too cold at which point you switch it out for a new warm one.
You might also look into the mittens that have gloved fingers inside, you can pull just the top off to write while most of your fingers (all except the tips) are still covered.
8
The problem isn't pens freezing. It's fingers freezing. I'm using a pencil.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:39
add a comment |
up vote
18
down vote
up vote
18
down vote
When I worked at a salebarn in the winter we had this problem and the solution was multiple pens inside your shirt pocket under your coat.
Pens will work for a while then get too cold at which point you switch it out for a new warm one.
You might also look into the mittens that have gloved fingers inside, you can pull just the top off to write while most of your fingers (all except the tips) are still covered.
When I worked at a salebarn in the winter we had this problem and the solution was multiple pens inside your shirt pocket under your coat.
Pens will work for a while then get too cold at which point you switch it out for a new warm one.
You might also look into the mittens that have gloved fingers inside, you can pull just the top off to write while most of your fingers (all except the tips) are still covered.
answered Nov 5 at 20:34
Charlie Brumbaugh
43.4k15119246
43.4k15119246
8
The problem isn't pens freezing. It's fingers freezing. I'm using a pencil.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:39
add a comment |
8
The problem isn't pens freezing. It's fingers freezing. I'm using a pencil.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:39
8
8
The problem isn't pens freezing. It's fingers freezing. I'm using a pencil.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:39
The problem isn't pens freezing. It's fingers freezing. I'm using a pencil.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:39
add a comment |
up vote
15
down vote
Prepare a form for the information you collect.
Make the blanks big. Fill in the form by grasping your "pencil" in your gloved fist. Use an over-sized writing utensil (so your fist doesn't cramp). Revert to bare fingers when necessary.
Blanks for numbers are easy. So are checkboxes. If there is text you need to write, try to create options ahead of time so you can just enter A, B, C, etc.
You might "waste"/use more paper, but that cost will be offset by the man-hours saved.
1
I do a form now. It is a big help over blank paper, but even so, I use about 30 sheets to do the inventory.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
15
down vote
Prepare a form for the information you collect.
Make the blanks big. Fill in the form by grasping your "pencil" in your gloved fist. Use an over-sized writing utensil (so your fist doesn't cramp). Revert to bare fingers when necessary.
Blanks for numbers are easy. So are checkboxes. If there is text you need to write, try to create options ahead of time so you can just enter A, B, C, etc.
You might "waste"/use more paper, but that cost will be offset by the man-hours saved.
1
I do a form now. It is a big help over blank paper, but even so, I use about 30 sheets to do the inventory.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
15
down vote
up vote
15
down vote
Prepare a form for the information you collect.
Make the blanks big. Fill in the form by grasping your "pencil" in your gloved fist. Use an over-sized writing utensil (so your fist doesn't cramp). Revert to bare fingers when necessary.
Blanks for numbers are easy. So are checkboxes. If there is text you need to write, try to create options ahead of time so you can just enter A, B, C, etc.
You might "waste"/use more paper, but that cost will be offset by the man-hours saved.
Prepare a form for the information you collect.
Make the blanks big. Fill in the form by grasping your "pencil" in your gloved fist. Use an over-sized writing utensil (so your fist doesn't cramp). Revert to bare fingers when necessary.
Blanks for numbers are easy. So are checkboxes. If there is text you need to write, try to create options ahead of time so you can just enter A, B, C, etc.
You might "waste"/use more paper, but that cost will be offset by the man-hours saved.
answered Nov 6 at 16:49
Zach Mierzejewski
30114
30114
1
I do a form now. It is a big help over blank paper, but even so, I use about 30 sheets to do the inventory.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday
add a comment |
1
I do a form now. It is a big help over blank paper, but even so, I use about 30 sheets to do the inventory.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday
1
1
I do a form now. It is a big help over blank paper, but even so, I use about 30 sheets to do the inventory.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday
I do a form now. It is a big help over blank paper, but even so, I use about 30 sheets to do the inventory.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
14
down vote
One time, during a winter research project, it was only after after a full-day ski to the study site that we realized that none of us had a pen or pencil. So we wrote the numbers in the snow with a twig and took a picture.
I realize this doesn't directly answer your question, but it made for an entertaining story.
New contributor
8
Actually, photography can be a useful technique (take spare batteries in a warm pocket). Images can be geotagged to indicate where they were taken, which can be useful (though GPS-enabled cameras seem poor at this - I use a dedicated GPS receiver andgpscorrelate
), and you could use pebbles, pine cones, sticks etc. to indicate numbers. I make many photographic notes of geographical features whilst out in "weather", and successfully use them for updating OpenStreetMap.
– Toby Speight
Nov 6 at 10:36
3
Good comment. Change into an answer. It doesn't work in my situation, as the locations are separated by a much smaller difference than the error of the GPS. (I typically move about a meter between notes.)
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:43
1
I fail to see how this does not answer the question. You can write in the snow with a fully gloved and mitted hand, and you need only remove the glove long enough to take the picture, which should be less than 1 minute. The only problems I foresee are 1) having enough space to write and 2) having the writing show clearly enough on the image to read easily since it is all white.
– Aaron
Nov 6 at 18:55
add a comment |
up vote
14
down vote
One time, during a winter research project, it was only after after a full-day ski to the study site that we realized that none of us had a pen or pencil. So we wrote the numbers in the snow with a twig and took a picture.
I realize this doesn't directly answer your question, but it made for an entertaining story.
New contributor
8
Actually, photography can be a useful technique (take spare batteries in a warm pocket). Images can be geotagged to indicate where they were taken, which can be useful (though GPS-enabled cameras seem poor at this - I use a dedicated GPS receiver andgpscorrelate
), and you could use pebbles, pine cones, sticks etc. to indicate numbers. I make many photographic notes of geographical features whilst out in "weather", and successfully use them for updating OpenStreetMap.
– Toby Speight
Nov 6 at 10:36
3
Good comment. Change into an answer. It doesn't work in my situation, as the locations are separated by a much smaller difference than the error of the GPS. (I typically move about a meter between notes.)
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:43
1
I fail to see how this does not answer the question. You can write in the snow with a fully gloved and mitted hand, and you need only remove the glove long enough to take the picture, which should be less than 1 minute. The only problems I foresee are 1) having enough space to write and 2) having the writing show clearly enough on the image to read easily since it is all white.
– Aaron
Nov 6 at 18:55
add a comment |
up vote
14
down vote
up vote
14
down vote
One time, during a winter research project, it was only after after a full-day ski to the study site that we realized that none of us had a pen or pencil. So we wrote the numbers in the snow with a twig and took a picture.
I realize this doesn't directly answer your question, but it made for an entertaining story.
New contributor
One time, during a winter research project, it was only after after a full-day ski to the study site that we realized that none of us had a pen or pencil. So we wrote the numbers in the snow with a twig and took a picture.
I realize this doesn't directly answer your question, but it made for an entertaining story.
New contributor
New contributor
answered Nov 6 at 1:15
Matt Tyers
2895
2895
New contributor
New contributor
8
Actually, photography can be a useful technique (take spare batteries in a warm pocket). Images can be geotagged to indicate where they were taken, which can be useful (though GPS-enabled cameras seem poor at this - I use a dedicated GPS receiver andgpscorrelate
), and you could use pebbles, pine cones, sticks etc. to indicate numbers. I make many photographic notes of geographical features whilst out in "weather", and successfully use them for updating OpenStreetMap.
– Toby Speight
Nov 6 at 10:36
3
Good comment. Change into an answer. It doesn't work in my situation, as the locations are separated by a much smaller difference than the error of the GPS. (I typically move about a meter between notes.)
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:43
1
I fail to see how this does not answer the question. You can write in the snow with a fully gloved and mitted hand, and you need only remove the glove long enough to take the picture, which should be less than 1 minute. The only problems I foresee are 1) having enough space to write and 2) having the writing show clearly enough on the image to read easily since it is all white.
– Aaron
Nov 6 at 18:55
add a comment |
8
Actually, photography can be a useful technique (take spare batteries in a warm pocket). Images can be geotagged to indicate where they were taken, which can be useful (though GPS-enabled cameras seem poor at this - I use a dedicated GPS receiver andgpscorrelate
), and you could use pebbles, pine cones, sticks etc. to indicate numbers. I make many photographic notes of geographical features whilst out in "weather", and successfully use them for updating OpenStreetMap.
– Toby Speight
Nov 6 at 10:36
3
Good comment. Change into an answer. It doesn't work in my situation, as the locations are separated by a much smaller difference than the error of the GPS. (I typically move about a meter between notes.)
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:43
1
I fail to see how this does not answer the question. You can write in the snow with a fully gloved and mitted hand, and you need only remove the glove long enough to take the picture, which should be less than 1 minute. The only problems I foresee are 1) having enough space to write and 2) having the writing show clearly enough on the image to read easily since it is all white.
– Aaron
Nov 6 at 18:55
8
8
Actually, photography can be a useful technique (take spare batteries in a warm pocket). Images can be geotagged to indicate where they were taken, which can be useful (though GPS-enabled cameras seem poor at this - I use a dedicated GPS receiver and
gpscorrelate
), and you could use pebbles, pine cones, sticks etc. to indicate numbers. I make many photographic notes of geographical features whilst out in "weather", and successfully use them for updating OpenStreetMap.– Toby Speight
Nov 6 at 10:36
Actually, photography can be a useful technique (take spare batteries in a warm pocket). Images can be geotagged to indicate where they were taken, which can be useful (though GPS-enabled cameras seem poor at this - I use a dedicated GPS receiver and
gpscorrelate
), and you could use pebbles, pine cones, sticks etc. to indicate numbers. I make many photographic notes of geographical features whilst out in "weather", and successfully use them for updating OpenStreetMap.– Toby Speight
Nov 6 at 10:36
3
3
Good comment. Change into an answer. It doesn't work in my situation, as the locations are separated by a much smaller difference than the error of the GPS. (I typically move about a meter between notes.)
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:43
Good comment. Change into an answer. It doesn't work in my situation, as the locations are separated by a much smaller difference than the error of the GPS. (I typically move about a meter between notes.)
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:43
1
1
I fail to see how this does not answer the question. You can write in the snow with a fully gloved and mitted hand, and you need only remove the glove long enough to take the picture, which should be less than 1 minute. The only problems I foresee are 1) having enough space to write and 2) having the writing show clearly enough on the image to read easily since it is all white.
– Aaron
Nov 6 at 18:55
I fail to see how this does not answer the question. You can write in the snow with a fully gloved and mitted hand, and you need only remove the glove long enough to take the picture, which should be less than 1 minute. The only problems I foresee are 1) having enough space to write and 2) having the writing show clearly enough on the image to read easily since it is all white.
– Aaron
Nov 6 at 18:55
add a comment |
up vote
12
down vote
-10C (14F) is not that cold.
If you keep moving a thin "glove liner" or "running glove" should be warm enough for a while. The glove liners are thin enough where a regular #2 pencil will do fine. Then put on a pair of "Over Mitts" over the liners when you don't need to write.
You're using a waterproof field notes book, right?
You're using dot tally to reduce how much you have to write?
Society of American Foresters has a forum on their website for Inventory questions. Maybe ask in there? https://www.eforester.org/Main/Community/Join_a_Working_Group/Main/About/Working_Groups.aspx
2
The "thin glove you can still write with" is in other answers, but this one is the only answer to mention that the temp in question is not actually very cold and moving to keep your body warm; that got my +1. This will do a lot; so much, that you might not even need gloves at this temperature if you move enough. Though it does work at OPs temp range, this alone might not be enough for temps that are very cold, so combine with other answers and take frequent breaks from writing.
– Aaron
Nov 6 at 19:08
5
-10C might be "not that cold" to you but perception of temperature depends very much on what you're used to, and it clearly is "that cold" to the asker. I have a neighbour from India who wears a hat and scarf outside any time the temperature drops below about 10C.
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 14:12
1
We are talking about working at -10C (14F). That's not so cold that you won't get use to it, unless you have a medical condition like Raynaud's. Keep moving, stay dry, use a glove liner, and streamline your process to minimize the time you have your glove off.
– Kimball
Nov 7 at 17:02
1
My neighbour hasn't got used to +10C after living here for two-and-a-half years. How quickly do you expect the asker to get used to -10C?
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 22:30
1
Use to the comfort of a temperature and the biological impairment of function are separate things. Cramping muscles and joints are based on chemical and other bio processes, not on perception. Getting the shivers so bad you cannot write clearly is probably conditional.
– TafT
yesterday
|
show 4 more comments
up vote
12
down vote
-10C (14F) is not that cold.
If you keep moving a thin "glove liner" or "running glove" should be warm enough for a while. The glove liners are thin enough where a regular #2 pencil will do fine. Then put on a pair of "Over Mitts" over the liners when you don't need to write.
You're using a waterproof field notes book, right?
You're using dot tally to reduce how much you have to write?
Society of American Foresters has a forum on their website for Inventory questions. Maybe ask in there? https://www.eforester.org/Main/Community/Join_a_Working_Group/Main/About/Working_Groups.aspx
2
The "thin glove you can still write with" is in other answers, but this one is the only answer to mention that the temp in question is not actually very cold and moving to keep your body warm; that got my +1. This will do a lot; so much, that you might not even need gloves at this temperature if you move enough. Though it does work at OPs temp range, this alone might not be enough for temps that are very cold, so combine with other answers and take frequent breaks from writing.
– Aaron
Nov 6 at 19:08
5
-10C might be "not that cold" to you but perception of temperature depends very much on what you're used to, and it clearly is "that cold" to the asker. I have a neighbour from India who wears a hat and scarf outside any time the temperature drops below about 10C.
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 14:12
1
We are talking about working at -10C (14F). That's not so cold that you won't get use to it, unless you have a medical condition like Raynaud's. Keep moving, stay dry, use a glove liner, and streamline your process to minimize the time you have your glove off.
– Kimball
Nov 7 at 17:02
1
My neighbour hasn't got used to +10C after living here for two-and-a-half years. How quickly do you expect the asker to get used to -10C?
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 22:30
1
Use to the comfort of a temperature and the biological impairment of function are separate things. Cramping muscles and joints are based on chemical and other bio processes, not on perception. Getting the shivers so bad you cannot write clearly is probably conditional.
– TafT
yesterday
|
show 4 more comments
up vote
12
down vote
up vote
12
down vote
-10C (14F) is not that cold.
If you keep moving a thin "glove liner" or "running glove" should be warm enough for a while. The glove liners are thin enough where a regular #2 pencil will do fine. Then put on a pair of "Over Mitts" over the liners when you don't need to write.
You're using a waterproof field notes book, right?
You're using dot tally to reduce how much you have to write?
Society of American Foresters has a forum on their website for Inventory questions. Maybe ask in there? https://www.eforester.org/Main/Community/Join_a_Working_Group/Main/About/Working_Groups.aspx
-10C (14F) is not that cold.
If you keep moving a thin "glove liner" or "running glove" should be warm enough for a while. The glove liners are thin enough where a regular #2 pencil will do fine. Then put on a pair of "Over Mitts" over the liners when you don't need to write.
You're using a waterproof field notes book, right?
You're using dot tally to reduce how much you have to write?
Society of American Foresters has a forum on their website for Inventory questions. Maybe ask in there? https://www.eforester.org/Main/Community/Join_a_Working_Group/Main/About/Working_Groups.aspx
answered Nov 6 at 17:31
Kimball
48924
48924
2
The "thin glove you can still write with" is in other answers, but this one is the only answer to mention that the temp in question is not actually very cold and moving to keep your body warm; that got my +1. This will do a lot; so much, that you might not even need gloves at this temperature if you move enough. Though it does work at OPs temp range, this alone might not be enough for temps that are very cold, so combine with other answers and take frequent breaks from writing.
– Aaron
Nov 6 at 19:08
5
-10C might be "not that cold" to you but perception of temperature depends very much on what you're used to, and it clearly is "that cold" to the asker. I have a neighbour from India who wears a hat and scarf outside any time the temperature drops below about 10C.
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 14:12
1
We are talking about working at -10C (14F). That's not so cold that you won't get use to it, unless you have a medical condition like Raynaud's. Keep moving, stay dry, use a glove liner, and streamline your process to minimize the time you have your glove off.
– Kimball
Nov 7 at 17:02
1
My neighbour hasn't got used to +10C after living here for two-and-a-half years. How quickly do you expect the asker to get used to -10C?
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 22:30
1
Use to the comfort of a temperature and the biological impairment of function are separate things. Cramping muscles and joints are based on chemical and other bio processes, not on perception. Getting the shivers so bad you cannot write clearly is probably conditional.
– TafT
yesterday
|
show 4 more comments
2
The "thin glove you can still write with" is in other answers, but this one is the only answer to mention that the temp in question is not actually very cold and moving to keep your body warm; that got my +1. This will do a lot; so much, that you might not even need gloves at this temperature if you move enough. Though it does work at OPs temp range, this alone might not be enough for temps that are very cold, so combine with other answers and take frequent breaks from writing.
– Aaron
Nov 6 at 19:08
5
-10C might be "not that cold" to you but perception of temperature depends very much on what you're used to, and it clearly is "that cold" to the asker. I have a neighbour from India who wears a hat and scarf outside any time the temperature drops below about 10C.
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 14:12
1
We are talking about working at -10C (14F). That's not so cold that you won't get use to it, unless you have a medical condition like Raynaud's. Keep moving, stay dry, use a glove liner, and streamline your process to minimize the time you have your glove off.
– Kimball
Nov 7 at 17:02
1
My neighbour hasn't got used to +10C after living here for two-and-a-half years. How quickly do you expect the asker to get used to -10C?
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 22:30
1
Use to the comfort of a temperature and the biological impairment of function are separate things. Cramping muscles and joints are based on chemical and other bio processes, not on perception. Getting the shivers so bad you cannot write clearly is probably conditional.
– TafT
yesterday
2
2
The "thin glove you can still write with" is in other answers, but this one is the only answer to mention that the temp in question is not actually very cold and moving to keep your body warm; that got my +1. This will do a lot; so much, that you might not even need gloves at this temperature if you move enough. Though it does work at OPs temp range, this alone might not be enough for temps that are very cold, so combine with other answers and take frequent breaks from writing.
– Aaron
Nov 6 at 19:08
The "thin glove you can still write with" is in other answers, but this one is the only answer to mention that the temp in question is not actually very cold and moving to keep your body warm; that got my +1. This will do a lot; so much, that you might not even need gloves at this temperature if you move enough. Though it does work at OPs temp range, this alone might not be enough for temps that are very cold, so combine with other answers and take frequent breaks from writing.
– Aaron
Nov 6 at 19:08
5
5
-10C might be "not that cold" to you but perception of temperature depends very much on what you're used to, and it clearly is "that cold" to the asker. I have a neighbour from India who wears a hat and scarf outside any time the temperature drops below about 10C.
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 14:12
-10C might be "not that cold" to you but perception of temperature depends very much on what you're used to, and it clearly is "that cold" to the asker. I have a neighbour from India who wears a hat and scarf outside any time the temperature drops below about 10C.
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 14:12
1
1
We are talking about working at -10C (14F). That's not so cold that you won't get use to it, unless you have a medical condition like Raynaud's. Keep moving, stay dry, use a glove liner, and streamline your process to minimize the time you have your glove off.
– Kimball
Nov 7 at 17:02
We are talking about working at -10C (14F). That's not so cold that you won't get use to it, unless you have a medical condition like Raynaud's. Keep moving, stay dry, use a glove liner, and streamline your process to minimize the time you have your glove off.
– Kimball
Nov 7 at 17:02
1
1
My neighbour hasn't got used to +10C after living here for two-and-a-half years. How quickly do you expect the asker to get used to -10C?
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 22:30
My neighbour hasn't got used to +10C after living here for two-and-a-half years. How quickly do you expect the asker to get used to -10C?
– David Richerby
Nov 7 at 22:30
1
1
Use to the comfort of a temperature and the biological impairment of function are separate things. Cramping muscles and joints are based on chemical and other bio processes, not on perception. Getting the shivers so bad you cannot write clearly is probably conditional.
– TafT
yesterday
Use to the comfort of a temperature and the biological impairment of function are separate things. Cramping muscles and joints are based on chemical and other bio processes, not on perception. Getting the shivers so bad you cannot write clearly is probably conditional.
– TafT
yesterday
|
show 4 more comments
up vote
11
down vote
There are some pens that are made for extreme conditions such as the uni-ball PowerTank Retractable Ballpoint pen. I've never personally used one of these but it has many positive reviews on Amazon. There is also a freezer test performed on this pen with the following results:
Source: OfficeSupplyGeek
2
This is a good answer for the writing instrument. But check how it does on wet paper. It's not always freezing.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:41
add a comment |
up vote
11
down vote
There are some pens that are made for extreme conditions such as the uni-ball PowerTank Retractable Ballpoint pen. I've never personally used one of these but it has many positive reviews on Amazon. There is also a freezer test performed on this pen with the following results:
Source: OfficeSupplyGeek
2
This is a good answer for the writing instrument. But check how it does on wet paper. It's not always freezing.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:41
add a comment |
up vote
11
down vote
up vote
11
down vote
There are some pens that are made for extreme conditions such as the uni-ball PowerTank Retractable Ballpoint pen. I've never personally used one of these but it has many positive reviews on Amazon. There is also a freezer test performed on this pen with the following results:
Source: OfficeSupplyGeek
There are some pens that are made for extreme conditions such as the uni-ball PowerTank Retractable Ballpoint pen. I've never personally used one of these but it has many positive reviews on Amazon. There is also a freezer test performed on this pen with the following results:
Source: OfficeSupplyGeek
answered Nov 6 at 2:03
wanderweeer
1,6551520
1,6551520
2
This is a good answer for the writing instrument. But check how it does on wet paper. It's not always freezing.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:41
add a comment |
2
This is a good answer for the writing instrument. But check how it does on wet paper. It's not always freezing.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:41
2
2
This is a good answer for the writing instrument. But check how it does on wet paper. It's not always freezing.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:41
This is a good answer for the writing instrument. But check how it does on wet paper. It's not always freezing.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:41
add a comment |
up vote
11
down vote
Most answers seem to assume the writing implement is the problem, but the asker specifically states that his comfort is the problem. I can think of two solutions.
If possible, figure out how to simplify your inventory. Consider writing in ways that don't require a large amount of dexterity -- I would consider tally marks.
If you need more detailed notes, consider how you can heat your hands with thinner gloves. You could do fingerless heated gloves, or shove a handwarmer in the palm of the glove.
3
Battery-powered heated gloves seem like a great solution here, since they help in a variety of ways. I can't find one available, but I think you could make a heated pen without too much difficulty, especially if you don't mind some additional bulk that would probably just make it easier to hold with gloves.
– William - Rem
Nov 7 at 16:32
add a comment |
up vote
11
down vote
Most answers seem to assume the writing implement is the problem, but the asker specifically states that his comfort is the problem. I can think of two solutions.
If possible, figure out how to simplify your inventory. Consider writing in ways that don't require a large amount of dexterity -- I would consider tally marks.
If you need more detailed notes, consider how you can heat your hands with thinner gloves. You could do fingerless heated gloves, or shove a handwarmer in the palm of the glove.
3
Battery-powered heated gloves seem like a great solution here, since they help in a variety of ways. I can't find one available, but I think you could make a heated pen without too much difficulty, especially if you don't mind some additional bulk that would probably just make it easier to hold with gloves.
– William - Rem
Nov 7 at 16:32
add a comment |
up vote
11
down vote
up vote
11
down vote
Most answers seem to assume the writing implement is the problem, but the asker specifically states that his comfort is the problem. I can think of two solutions.
If possible, figure out how to simplify your inventory. Consider writing in ways that don't require a large amount of dexterity -- I would consider tally marks.
If you need more detailed notes, consider how you can heat your hands with thinner gloves. You could do fingerless heated gloves, or shove a handwarmer in the palm of the glove.
Most answers seem to assume the writing implement is the problem, but the asker specifically states that his comfort is the problem. I can think of two solutions.
If possible, figure out how to simplify your inventory. Consider writing in ways that don't require a large amount of dexterity -- I would consider tally marks.
If you need more detailed notes, consider how you can heat your hands with thinner gloves. You could do fingerless heated gloves, or shove a handwarmer in the palm of the glove.
answered Nov 6 at 17:14
Sidney
29913
29913
3
Battery-powered heated gloves seem like a great solution here, since they help in a variety of ways. I can't find one available, but I think you could make a heated pen without too much difficulty, especially if you don't mind some additional bulk that would probably just make it easier to hold with gloves.
– William - Rem
Nov 7 at 16:32
add a comment |
3
Battery-powered heated gloves seem like a great solution here, since they help in a variety of ways. I can't find one available, but I think you could make a heated pen without too much difficulty, especially if you don't mind some additional bulk that would probably just make it easier to hold with gloves.
– William - Rem
Nov 7 at 16:32
3
3
Battery-powered heated gloves seem like a great solution here, since they help in a variety of ways. I can't find one available, but I think you could make a heated pen without too much difficulty, especially if you don't mind some additional bulk that would probably just make it easier to hold with gloves.
– William - Rem
Nov 7 at 16:32
Battery-powered heated gloves seem like a great solution here, since they help in a variety of ways. I can't find one available, but I think you could make a heated pen without too much difficulty, especially if you don't mind some additional bulk that would probably just make it easier to hold with gloves.
– William - Rem
Nov 7 at 16:32
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
Pencils. Pencils are also approved by the Bundesmarine (German Navy).
I remember how pencils just worked when we stood outside in the rain and in the snow at temperatures around 0°C, and us recruits practicing morse codes. Unfortunately I have no other quotation for this, except myself (Signalbetriebsdienst class of Winter/2004 at Bremerhaven).
Paper was the bigger problem. Once wrote down, the notes stood there. But it wasn't really easy to not rip the wet paper apart while writing. It's best if you're equipped with both hard and soft ones. Use the soft ones within bad conditions and when the paper is wet.
Baustifte/Zimmermannbleistifte/Carpenter's Pencils are usually in the HB range, though they have a big diameter core. If you want to draw on stone or other materials, use one of these, or a standard pencil with very soft core (2B or softer).
Also, especially when you sport soft pencils, it's a good idea to have multiple of them ready to use, such that you don't have to sharpen them when you can't afford it.
New contributor
6
There's a fix to your paper problem: waterproof paper
– pipe
Nov 6 at 11:45
2
Waterproof pens and paper. They go well together and don't tear or smear.
– Brad
Nov 6 at 15:21
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
Pencils. Pencils are also approved by the Bundesmarine (German Navy).
I remember how pencils just worked when we stood outside in the rain and in the snow at temperatures around 0°C, and us recruits practicing morse codes. Unfortunately I have no other quotation for this, except myself (Signalbetriebsdienst class of Winter/2004 at Bremerhaven).
Paper was the bigger problem. Once wrote down, the notes stood there. But it wasn't really easy to not rip the wet paper apart while writing. It's best if you're equipped with both hard and soft ones. Use the soft ones within bad conditions and when the paper is wet.
Baustifte/Zimmermannbleistifte/Carpenter's Pencils are usually in the HB range, though they have a big diameter core. If you want to draw on stone or other materials, use one of these, or a standard pencil with very soft core (2B or softer).
Also, especially when you sport soft pencils, it's a good idea to have multiple of them ready to use, such that you don't have to sharpen them when you can't afford it.
New contributor
6
There's a fix to your paper problem: waterproof paper
– pipe
Nov 6 at 11:45
2
Waterproof pens and paper. They go well together and don't tear or smear.
– Brad
Nov 6 at 15:21
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
up vote
9
down vote
Pencils. Pencils are also approved by the Bundesmarine (German Navy).
I remember how pencils just worked when we stood outside in the rain and in the snow at temperatures around 0°C, and us recruits practicing morse codes. Unfortunately I have no other quotation for this, except myself (Signalbetriebsdienst class of Winter/2004 at Bremerhaven).
Paper was the bigger problem. Once wrote down, the notes stood there. But it wasn't really easy to not rip the wet paper apart while writing. It's best if you're equipped with both hard and soft ones. Use the soft ones within bad conditions and when the paper is wet.
Baustifte/Zimmermannbleistifte/Carpenter's Pencils are usually in the HB range, though they have a big diameter core. If you want to draw on stone or other materials, use one of these, or a standard pencil with very soft core (2B or softer).
Also, especially when you sport soft pencils, it's a good idea to have multiple of them ready to use, such that you don't have to sharpen them when you can't afford it.
New contributor
Pencils. Pencils are also approved by the Bundesmarine (German Navy).
I remember how pencils just worked when we stood outside in the rain and in the snow at temperatures around 0°C, and us recruits practicing morse codes. Unfortunately I have no other quotation for this, except myself (Signalbetriebsdienst class of Winter/2004 at Bremerhaven).
Paper was the bigger problem. Once wrote down, the notes stood there. But it wasn't really easy to not rip the wet paper apart while writing. It's best if you're equipped with both hard and soft ones. Use the soft ones within bad conditions and when the paper is wet.
Baustifte/Zimmermannbleistifte/Carpenter's Pencils are usually in the HB range, though they have a big diameter core. If you want to draw on stone or other materials, use one of these, or a standard pencil with very soft core (2B or softer).
Also, especially when you sport soft pencils, it's a good idea to have multiple of them ready to use, such that you don't have to sharpen them when you can't afford it.
New contributor
edited Nov 6 at 12:25
New contributor
answered Nov 6 at 10:56
phresnel
1913
1913
New contributor
New contributor
6
There's a fix to your paper problem: waterproof paper
– pipe
Nov 6 at 11:45
2
Waterproof pens and paper. They go well together and don't tear or smear.
– Brad
Nov 6 at 15:21
add a comment |
6
There's a fix to your paper problem: waterproof paper
– pipe
Nov 6 at 11:45
2
Waterproof pens and paper. They go well together and don't tear or smear.
– Brad
Nov 6 at 15:21
6
6
There's a fix to your paper problem: waterproof paper
– pipe
Nov 6 at 11:45
There's a fix to your paper problem: waterproof paper
– pipe
Nov 6 at 11:45
2
2
Waterproof pens and paper. They go well together and don't tear or smear.
– Brad
Nov 6 at 15:21
Waterproof pens and paper. They go well together and don't tear or smear.
– Brad
Nov 6 at 15:21
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
I write software for a company that supplies an application for field engineers to use to collect field data with a hardened android tablet. I expect you could use a text editor in a hardened android tablet to take notes. The value of this is that the notes can then be exported to a desktop (our software transmits it to a cloud server) and you won't have to worry about transcription errors, losing the paper, or having the paper become unreadable. There are gloves with wire embedded in the fingers to allow you to work on touch screens with them on. Or you could look for a tablet with a stylus, though a stylus typically needs electrical contact with the skin (mentioned as the gloves may have a broad contact area. But a stylus can be used with gloves like that). Sure it is a lot more expensive than paper and pen but the cost of losing a piece of paper and having to do the work over is high also and you only have to enter the data once. Paper leads to transcription errors, values in wrong fields, etc. Not saying you should look for something like we produce but you might look into a .pdf form you can fill in and then store and print.
New contributor
1
Interesting idea. But to operate a text editor requires a bare finger, and is painfully slow. Also: MOst places I take field notes do not have cellular coverage.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:45
5
@SherwoodBotsford some touchscreen gloves work well, and plenty of text editors work offline
– Chris H
Nov 6 at 16:44
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
I write software for a company that supplies an application for field engineers to use to collect field data with a hardened android tablet. I expect you could use a text editor in a hardened android tablet to take notes. The value of this is that the notes can then be exported to a desktop (our software transmits it to a cloud server) and you won't have to worry about transcription errors, losing the paper, or having the paper become unreadable. There are gloves with wire embedded in the fingers to allow you to work on touch screens with them on. Or you could look for a tablet with a stylus, though a stylus typically needs electrical contact with the skin (mentioned as the gloves may have a broad contact area. But a stylus can be used with gloves like that). Sure it is a lot more expensive than paper and pen but the cost of losing a piece of paper and having to do the work over is high also and you only have to enter the data once. Paper leads to transcription errors, values in wrong fields, etc. Not saying you should look for something like we produce but you might look into a .pdf form you can fill in and then store and print.
New contributor
1
Interesting idea. But to operate a text editor requires a bare finger, and is painfully slow. Also: MOst places I take field notes do not have cellular coverage.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:45
5
@SherwoodBotsford some touchscreen gloves work well, and plenty of text editors work offline
– Chris H
Nov 6 at 16:44
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
up vote
8
down vote
I write software for a company that supplies an application for field engineers to use to collect field data with a hardened android tablet. I expect you could use a text editor in a hardened android tablet to take notes. The value of this is that the notes can then be exported to a desktop (our software transmits it to a cloud server) and you won't have to worry about transcription errors, losing the paper, or having the paper become unreadable. There are gloves with wire embedded in the fingers to allow you to work on touch screens with them on. Or you could look for a tablet with a stylus, though a stylus typically needs electrical contact with the skin (mentioned as the gloves may have a broad contact area. But a stylus can be used with gloves like that). Sure it is a lot more expensive than paper and pen but the cost of losing a piece of paper and having to do the work over is high also and you only have to enter the data once. Paper leads to transcription errors, values in wrong fields, etc. Not saying you should look for something like we produce but you might look into a .pdf form you can fill in and then store and print.
New contributor
I write software for a company that supplies an application for field engineers to use to collect field data with a hardened android tablet. I expect you could use a text editor in a hardened android tablet to take notes. The value of this is that the notes can then be exported to a desktop (our software transmits it to a cloud server) and you won't have to worry about transcription errors, losing the paper, or having the paper become unreadable. There are gloves with wire embedded in the fingers to allow you to work on touch screens with them on. Or you could look for a tablet with a stylus, though a stylus typically needs electrical contact with the skin (mentioned as the gloves may have a broad contact area. But a stylus can be used with gloves like that). Sure it is a lot more expensive than paper and pen but the cost of losing a piece of paper and having to do the work over is high also and you only have to enter the data once. Paper leads to transcription errors, values in wrong fields, etc. Not saying you should look for something like we produce but you might look into a .pdf form you can fill in and then store and print.
New contributor
New contributor
answered Nov 6 at 15:23
Charles Jacks
811
811
New contributor
New contributor
1
Interesting idea. But to operate a text editor requires a bare finger, and is painfully slow. Also: MOst places I take field notes do not have cellular coverage.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:45
5
@SherwoodBotsford some touchscreen gloves work well, and plenty of text editors work offline
– Chris H
Nov 6 at 16:44
add a comment |
1
Interesting idea. But to operate a text editor requires a bare finger, and is painfully slow. Also: MOst places I take field notes do not have cellular coverage.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:45
5
@SherwoodBotsford some touchscreen gloves work well, and plenty of text editors work offline
– Chris H
Nov 6 at 16:44
1
1
Interesting idea. But to operate a text editor requires a bare finger, and is painfully slow. Also: MOst places I take field notes do not have cellular coverage.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:45
Interesting idea. But to operate a text editor requires a bare finger, and is painfully slow. Also: MOst places I take field notes do not have cellular coverage.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:45
5
5
@SherwoodBotsford some touchscreen gloves work well, and plenty of text editors work offline
– Chris H
Nov 6 at 16:44
@SherwoodBotsford some touchscreen gloves work well, and plenty of text editors work offline
– Chris H
Nov 6 at 16:44
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
Depending on the complexity of the notes, you may not have to sightwrite them. So, wear a warm but roomy coat, pull in your arms, and take your paper and pencil notes that way.
New contributor
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
Depending on the complexity of the notes, you may not have to sightwrite them. So, wear a warm but roomy coat, pull in your arms, and take your paper and pencil notes that way.
New contributor
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
up vote
8
down vote
Depending on the complexity of the notes, you may not have to sightwrite them. So, wear a warm but roomy coat, pull in your arms, and take your paper and pencil notes that way.
New contributor
Depending on the complexity of the notes, you may not have to sightwrite them. So, wear a warm but roomy coat, pull in your arms, and take your paper and pencil notes that way.
New contributor
New contributor
answered Nov 6 at 16:22
Weckar E.
1812
1812
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
7
down vote
Think of the basic triangle - you need warmth, dryness, and wind-free.
OP's question does not mention being wet but does reference the cold AND the windchill. So limit the wind with some kind of windproof shield. Here's a generic "outdoor clipboard".
So the plastic lid keeps rain off, but will also act as a wind shield.
It will not really act to hold warmth though because of the large opening
add a comment |
up vote
7
down vote
Think of the basic triangle - you need warmth, dryness, and wind-free.
OP's question does not mention being wet but does reference the cold AND the windchill. So limit the wind with some kind of windproof shield. Here's a generic "outdoor clipboard".
So the plastic lid keeps rain off, but will also act as a wind shield.
It will not really act to hold warmth though because of the large opening
add a comment |
up vote
7
down vote
up vote
7
down vote
Think of the basic triangle - you need warmth, dryness, and wind-free.
OP's question does not mention being wet but does reference the cold AND the windchill. So limit the wind with some kind of windproof shield. Here's a generic "outdoor clipboard".
So the plastic lid keeps rain off, but will also act as a wind shield.
It will not really act to hold warmth though because of the large opening
Think of the basic triangle - you need warmth, dryness, and wind-free.
OP's question does not mention being wet but does reference the cold AND the windchill. So limit the wind with some kind of windproof shield. Here's a generic "outdoor clipboard".
So the plastic lid keeps rain off, but will also act as a wind shield.
It will not really act to hold warmth though because of the large opening
answered 2 days ago
Criggie
21115
21115
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
I would suggest a pair of good waterproof winter gloves instead of mittens. These will keep your hands warm and protected from wind and still allow for enough dexterity for writing with a pencil.
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
I would suggest a pair of good waterproof winter gloves instead of mittens. These will keep your hands warm and protected from wind and still allow for enough dexterity for writing with a pencil.
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
up vote
6
down vote
I would suggest a pair of good waterproof winter gloves instead of mittens. These will keep your hands warm and protected from wind and still allow for enough dexterity for writing with a pencil.
I would suggest a pair of good waterproof winter gloves instead of mittens. These will keep your hands warm and protected from wind and still allow for enough dexterity for writing with a pencil.
answered Nov 7 at 17:07
JIMMYPlay
38112
38112
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Fisher Space Pen. Writes down to -30F and won't leak no matter what (say, from altitude changes going up a mountain.)
https://www.spacepen.com/about-us.aspx
(And I have no connection to them other than being a satisfied user. At a desk I consider gel ink pens to be superior, but nothing beats a space pen for reliability--if I'm carrying a pen it's a space pen.)
My experience with gel pens is that they run if the paper gets wet after.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:46
1
@SherwoodBotsford space pens aren't the same as normal gel pens, and space pens are what this answer recommends you use
– Chris H
Nov 6 at 16:45
@SherwoodBotsford Note that my mention of gel pens was in comparison--thus space pens are clearly not gel pens.
– Loren Pechtel
Nov 8 at 1:36
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Fisher Space Pen. Writes down to -30F and won't leak no matter what (say, from altitude changes going up a mountain.)
https://www.spacepen.com/about-us.aspx
(And I have no connection to them other than being a satisfied user. At a desk I consider gel ink pens to be superior, but nothing beats a space pen for reliability--if I'm carrying a pen it's a space pen.)
My experience with gel pens is that they run if the paper gets wet after.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:46
1
@SherwoodBotsford space pens aren't the same as normal gel pens, and space pens are what this answer recommends you use
– Chris H
Nov 6 at 16:45
@SherwoodBotsford Note that my mention of gel pens was in comparison--thus space pens are clearly not gel pens.
– Loren Pechtel
Nov 8 at 1:36
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
Fisher Space Pen. Writes down to -30F and won't leak no matter what (say, from altitude changes going up a mountain.)
https://www.spacepen.com/about-us.aspx
(And I have no connection to them other than being a satisfied user. At a desk I consider gel ink pens to be superior, but nothing beats a space pen for reliability--if I'm carrying a pen it's a space pen.)
Fisher Space Pen. Writes down to -30F and won't leak no matter what (say, from altitude changes going up a mountain.)
https://www.spacepen.com/about-us.aspx
(And I have no connection to them other than being a satisfied user. At a desk I consider gel ink pens to be superior, but nothing beats a space pen for reliability--if I'm carrying a pen it's a space pen.)
answered Nov 6 at 8:43
Loren Pechtel
27917
27917
My experience with gel pens is that they run if the paper gets wet after.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:46
1
@SherwoodBotsford space pens aren't the same as normal gel pens, and space pens are what this answer recommends you use
– Chris H
Nov 6 at 16:45
@SherwoodBotsford Note that my mention of gel pens was in comparison--thus space pens are clearly not gel pens.
– Loren Pechtel
Nov 8 at 1:36
add a comment |
My experience with gel pens is that they run if the paper gets wet after.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:46
1
@SherwoodBotsford space pens aren't the same as normal gel pens, and space pens are what this answer recommends you use
– Chris H
Nov 6 at 16:45
@SherwoodBotsford Note that my mention of gel pens was in comparison--thus space pens are clearly not gel pens.
– Loren Pechtel
Nov 8 at 1:36
My experience with gel pens is that they run if the paper gets wet after.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:46
My experience with gel pens is that they run if the paper gets wet after.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:46
1
1
@SherwoodBotsford space pens aren't the same as normal gel pens, and space pens are what this answer recommends you use
– Chris H
Nov 6 at 16:45
@SherwoodBotsford space pens aren't the same as normal gel pens, and space pens are what this answer recommends you use
– Chris H
Nov 6 at 16:45
@SherwoodBotsford Note that my mention of gel pens was in comparison--thus space pens are clearly not gel pens.
– Loren Pechtel
Nov 8 at 1:36
@SherwoodBotsford Note that my mention of gel pens was in comparison--thus space pens are clearly not gel pens.
– Loren Pechtel
Nov 8 at 1:36
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Approach: Audio recorder with speech-to-text software
Issues:
- Audio recorder must work at freezing-cold temperatures
- Recordings must be processed afterwards by speech-to-text software
- Transcribed notes must be reviewed
New contributor
1
All of these would be quite easily solved if using analogue recording media.
– Weckar E.
Nov 6 at 16:23
1
@WeckarE. - How does analog media make speech to text or transcription review any better? It seems the only one that might be better is "must work in freezing-cold temperatures", but that's only true if you're using a purely mechanical wind-up turntable, otherwise, the analog tape recorder will have the same battery issue as a digital recorder. Just put the recorder in an inside pocket with external mic and it'll work in any temperature.
– Johnny
Nov 8 at 5:27
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Approach: Audio recorder with speech-to-text software
Issues:
- Audio recorder must work at freezing-cold temperatures
- Recordings must be processed afterwards by speech-to-text software
- Transcribed notes must be reviewed
New contributor
1
All of these would be quite easily solved if using analogue recording media.
– Weckar E.
Nov 6 at 16:23
1
@WeckarE. - How does analog media make speech to text or transcription review any better? It seems the only one that might be better is "must work in freezing-cold temperatures", but that's only true if you're using a purely mechanical wind-up turntable, otherwise, the analog tape recorder will have the same battery issue as a digital recorder. Just put the recorder in an inside pocket with external mic and it'll work in any temperature.
– Johnny
Nov 8 at 5:27
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
Approach: Audio recorder with speech-to-text software
Issues:
- Audio recorder must work at freezing-cold temperatures
- Recordings must be processed afterwards by speech-to-text software
- Transcribed notes must be reviewed
New contributor
Approach: Audio recorder with speech-to-text software
Issues:
- Audio recorder must work at freezing-cold temperatures
- Recordings must be processed afterwards by speech-to-text software
- Transcribed notes must be reviewed
New contributor
New contributor
answered Nov 6 at 16:05
Bernat
1411
1411
New contributor
New contributor
1
All of these would be quite easily solved if using analogue recording media.
– Weckar E.
Nov 6 at 16:23
1
@WeckarE. - How does analog media make speech to text or transcription review any better? It seems the only one that might be better is "must work in freezing-cold temperatures", but that's only true if you're using a purely mechanical wind-up turntable, otherwise, the analog tape recorder will have the same battery issue as a digital recorder. Just put the recorder in an inside pocket with external mic and it'll work in any temperature.
– Johnny
Nov 8 at 5:27
add a comment |
1
All of these would be quite easily solved if using analogue recording media.
– Weckar E.
Nov 6 at 16:23
1
@WeckarE. - How does analog media make speech to text or transcription review any better? It seems the only one that might be better is "must work in freezing-cold temperatures", but that's only true if you're using a purely mechanical wind-up turntable, otherwise, the analog tape recorder will have the same battery issue as a digital recorder. Just put the recorder in an inside pocket with external mic and it'll work in any temperature.
– Johnny
Nov 8 at 5:27
1
1
All of these would be quite easily solved if using analogue recording media.
– Weckar E.
Nov 6 at 16:23
All of these would be quite easily solved if using analogue recording media.
– Weckar E.
Nov 6 at 16:23
1
1
@WeckarE. - How does analog media make speech to text or transcription review any better? It seems the only one that might be better is "must work in freezing-cold temperatures", but that's only true if you're using a purely mechanical wind-up turntable, otherwise, the analog tape recorder will have the same battery issue as a digital recorder. Just put the recorder in an inside pocket with external mic and it'll work in any temperature.
– Johnny
Nov 8 at 5:27
@WeckarE. - How does analog media make speech to text or transcription review any better? It seems the only one that might be better is "must work in freezing-cold temperatures", but that's only true if you're using a purely mechanical wind-up turntable, otherwise, the analog tape recorder will have the same battery issue as a digital recorder. Just put the recorder in an inside pocket with external mic and it'll work in any temperature.
– Johnny
Nov 8 at 5:27
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Your question made me wonder how Robert Falcon Scott wrote his final diary entries on his trip to the South Pole in 1912.
This article, from The Guardian, Scott of the Antartic's final diary published online says with certainty that Scott's diary entries on the journey to the South Pole were written in pencil.
Readers can, from today, pore over the pages of faded pencil
handwriting that make up one of the most famous diaries in the world –
Captain Robert Scott's journal of the final months, days and hours of
his doomed 1911-1912 expedition to the South Pole.
The British Library has launched an online facsimile of the complete
last diary alongside extensive extracts from the two earlier volumes. (emphasis added)
History Channel on Foxtel describes Scott's final entry:
On 29 March 1912, in a weary pencil script, Scott wrote the final
entry in his diary: “Last entry. It seems a pity, but I do not think I
can write more–R. Scott–For God’s sake look after our people.”
(emphasis added)
The interior of Scott's tent was undoubtedly below zero C. This was Antarctica in March, and one of the colder Marches. Nature News, in its article Scott's Icy Death says:
the last entry in Edward Wilson's diary is a poignant: "Turned in at
-37° [F]" [-38 C].
Wilson and Scott, with Bowers, were in the same tent. Wilson's final entry was a day or so before Scott's.
Another source from the British Library mentions Scott picking up a pen, but the reference to a pen was probably a literary expression, not a factual description of what Scott used.
4
I think the OP has already mentioned that the issue is not the equipment he uses (which is a pencil). It's the cold fingers that are the issue. And this answer doesn't really add anything more than what others have already covered. Except for the historical references (which do not answer the original question either).
– Ricketyship
Nov 7 at 5:45
1
OP asked the question using degrees Celsius so it may be helpful to include the equivalent to the Fahrenheit measure. Happily, it seems to work about the same -38 °C. Clearly a little way past the OPs environmental conditions!
– TafT
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Your question made me wonder how Robert Falcon Scott wrote his final diary entries on his trip to the South Pole in 1912.
This article, from The Guardian, Scott of the Antartic's final diary published online says with certainty that Scott's diary entries on the journey to the South Pole were written in pencil.
Readers can, from today, pore over the pages of faded pencil
handwriting that make up one of the most famous diaries in the world –
Captain Robert Scott's journal of the final months, days and hours of
his doomed 1911-1912 expedition to the South Pole.
The British Library has launched an online facsimile of the complete
last diary alongside extensive extracts from the two earlier volumes. (emphasis added)
History Channel on Foxtel describes Scott's final entry:
On 29 March 1912, in a weary pencil script, Scott wrote the final
entry in his diary: “Last entry. It seems a pity, but I do not think I
can write more–R. Scott–For God’s sake look after our people.”
(emphasis added)
The interior of Scott's tent was undoubtedly below zero C. This was Antarctica in March, and one of the colder Marches. Nature News, in its article Scott's Icy Death says:
the last entry in Edward Wilson's diary is a poignant: "Turned in at
-37° [F]" [-38 C].
Wilson and Scott, with Bowers, were in the same tent. Wilson's final entry was a day or so before Scott's.
Another source from the British Library mentions Scott picking up a pen, but the reference to a pen was probably a literary expression, not a factual description of what Scott used.
4
I think the OP has already mentioned that the issue is not the equipment he uses (which is a pencil). It's the cold fingers that are the issue. And this answer doesn't really add anything more than what others have already covered. Except for the historical references (which do not answer the original question either).
– Ricketyship
Nov 7 at 5:45
1
OP asked the question using degrees Celsius so it may be helpful to include the equivalent to the Fahrenheit measure. Happily, it seems to work about the same -38 °C. Clearly a little way past the OPs environmental conditions!
– TafT
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
Your question made me wonder how Robert Falcon Scott wrote his final diary entries on his trip to the South Pole in 1912.
This article, from The Guardian, Scott of the Antartic's final diary published online says with certainty that Scott's diary entries on the journey to the South Pole were written in pencil.
Readers can, from today, pore over the pages of faded pencil
handwriting that make up one of the most famous diaries in the world –
Captain Robert Scott's journal of the final months, days and hours of
his doomed 1911-1912 expedition to the South Pole.
The British Library has launched an online facsimile of the complete
last diary alongside extensive extracts from the two earlier volumes. (emphasis added)
History Channel on Foxtel describes Scott's final entry:
On 29 March 1912, in a weary pencil script, Scott wrote the final
entry in his diary: “Last entry. It seems a pity, but I do not think I
can write more–R. Scott–For God’s sake look after our people.”
(emphasis added)
The interior of Scott's tent was undoubtedly below zero C. This was Antarctica in March, and one of the colder Marches. Nature News, in its article Scott's Icy Death says:
the last entry in Edward Wilson's diary is a poignant: "Turned in at
-37° [F]" [-38 C].
Wilson and Scott, with Bowers, were in the same tent. Wilson's final entry was a day or so before Scott's.
Another source from the British Library mentions Scott picking up a pen, but the reference to a pen was probably a literary expression, not a factual description of what Scott used.
Your question made me wonder how Robert Falcon Scott wrote his final diary entries on his trip to the South Pole in 1912.
This article, from The Guardian, Scott of the Antartic's final diary published online says with certainty that Scott's diary entries on the journey to the South Pole were written in pencil.
Readers can, from today, pore over the pages of faded pencil
handwriting that make up one of the most famous diaries in the world –
Captain Robert Scott's journal of the final months, days and hours of
his doomed 1911-1912 expedition to the South Pole.
The British Library has launched an online facsimile of the complete
last diary alongside extensive extracts from the two earlier volumes. (emphasis added)
History Channel on Foxtel describes Scott's final entry:
On 29 March 1912, in a weary pencil script, Scott wrote the final
entry in his diary: “Last entry. It seems a pity, but I do not think I
can write more–R. Scott–For God’s sake look after our people.”
(emphasis added)
The interior of Scott's tent was undoubtedly below zero C. This was Antarctica in March, and one of the colder Marches. Nature News, in its article Scott's Icy Death says:
the last entry in Edward Wilson's diary is a poignant: "Turned in at
-37° [F]" [-38 C].
Wilson and Scott, with Bowers, were in the same tent. Wilson's final entry was a day or so before Scott's.
Another source from the British Library mentions Scott picking up a pen, but the reference to a pen was probably a literary expression, not a factual description of what Scott used.
edited yesterday
answered Nov 6 at 23:59
ab2
12k340103
12k340103
4
I think the OP has already mentioned that the issue is not the equipment he uses (which is a pencil). It's the cold fingers that are the issue. And this answer doesn't really add anything more than what others have already covered. Except for the historical references (which do not answer the original question either).
– Ricketyship
Nov 7 at 5:45
1
OP asked the question using degrees Celsius so it may be helpful to include the equivalent to the Fahrenheit measure. Happily, it seems to work about the same -38 °C. Clearly a little way past the OPs environmental conditions!
– TafT
yesterday
add a comment |
4
I think the OP has already mentioned that the issue is not the equipment he uses (which is a pencil). It's the cold fingers that are the issue. And this answer doesn't really add anything more than what others have already covered. Except for the historical references (which do not answer the original question either).
– Ricketyship
Nov 7 at 5:45
1
OP asked the question using degrees Celsius so it may be helpful to include the equivalent to the Fahrenheit measure. Happily, it seems to work about the same -38 °C. Clearly a little way past the OPs environmental conditions!
– TafT
yesterday
4
4
I think the OP has already mentioned that the issue is not the equipment he uses (which is a pencil). It's the cold fingers that are the issue. And this answer doesn't really add anything more than what others have already covered. Except for the historical references (which do not answer the original question either).
– Ricketyship
Nov 7 at 5:45
I think the OP has already mentioned that the issue is not the equipment he uses (which is a pencil). It's the cold fingers that are the issue. And this answer doesn't really add anything more than what others have already covered. Except for the historical references (which do not answer the original question either).
– Ricketyship
Nov 7 at 5:45
1
1
OP asked the question using degrees Celsius so it may be helpful to include the equivalent to the Fahrenheit measure. Happily, it seems to work about the same -38 °C. Clearly a little way past the OPs environmental conditions!
– TafT
yesterday
OP asked the question using degrees Celsius so it may be helpful to include the equivalent to the Fahrenheit measure. Happily, it seems to work about the same -38 °C. Clearly a little way past the OPs environmental conditions!
– TafT
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
Let me suggest that some acclimatization may help (though I'm not sure how practical this is).
I was personally rather astonished how much we can actually adapt to cold weather: I spent a winter in Winnipeg (office job, no outdoors job). Nevertheless, whereas I had been freezing on the bike in windproof + light fleece pants/jacket in November in +5°C rain, in March when it got warm to "only single digit negative temps (°C)", I was biking in just summer outdoor pants/T-shirt + fleece, no gloves, no cap/scarf and feeling very comfortable.
First conclusion: fall/early winter is going to be the most miserable time in the year because you're not yet accustomed to the low temps - still it is probably impossible to do this in any other season.
According to Hanna Kaciuba-Uscilko and John E. Greenleaf: Acclimatization to Cold in Humans, NASA Technical Memorandum 101011, p 18, local cold adaptation (hands) is possible as well:
It was proved that people who habitually expose their hands to cold-for example,
Eskimos (Miller and Irving, 1962), Arctic Indians (Elsner, Nelms, and Irving, 1960), fishermen (LeBlanc, 1975; Krog et al., 1960), workers who fillet fish (Nelms and Soper, 1962), and lumbermen (LeBlanc et al., 1976)- respond to local cooling of the hands with much less pronounced cutaneous vasoconstriction, and with more rapid onset of vasodilation than occurs in unacclimatized men. Thus, they tolerate cold-stress better than men unadapted to cold.
So it may be possible for you to prepare for that inventory by deliberately exposing your hands to cold beforehand.
(Biking, I find that it takes my hands, ears and nose get cold for about 3 days to a week with the first frosts in fall until they "remember" how to heat themselves at those temps. But then, I find cold adaptation much easier than heat adaptation. And my impression are that people are very much not the same in that respect.)
Whether it is worth while obviously is for you to decide. However, you may also want to take into account that it may not be "only" a question of being uncomfortable but that working in cold environment is associated e.g. with increased incidence of rheumatoid arthritis.
Obviously, keeping your fingers warm is only possible if your body core is warm. You could try whether warmer parka/long johns helps as well (parka is probably easier to get on/off). Also, there's a rumor that not only overall food status but protein in particular is important for non-shivering thermogenesis.
Thoughts about gear:
From your post, you're able to do things in not-too-thick gloves, so maybe 1+1+3 shooting gloves would be a consideration?
I'd probably try to have as much pre-printed as possible.
As kids we used to have mittens with a line (so they wouldn't get lost when taken/falling off).
A similar line with a very roomy mitten may allow you just put your hand in and out of the mitten without hassle. You you have to expose the fingers only for writing down your Mountain ash line, but they're in the warm while counting the pots.
This line of thought directly leads to the invention of the muff. A "traditional" one for warming your writing hand while not writing, or maybe you could make a more specialized one yourself that accomodates your hand and just has the pencil sticking out, so you can keep it on while writing.
In addition, a traditional muff has space for a heating pad.
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Let me suggest that some acclimatization may help (though I'm not sure how practical this is).
I was personally rather astonished how much we can actually adapt to cold weather: I spent a winter in Winnipeg (office job, no outdoors job). Nevertheless, whereas I had been freezing on the bike in windproof + light fleece pants/jacket in November in +5°C rain, in March when it got warm to "only single digit negative temps (°C)", I was biking in just summer outdoor pants/T-shirt + fleece, no gloves, no cap/scarf and feeling very comfortable.
First conclusion: fall/early winter is going to be the most miserable time in the year because you're not yet accustomed to the low temps - still it is probably impossible to do this in any other season.
According to Hanna Kaciuba-Uscilko and John E. Greenleaf: Acclimatization to Cold in Humans, NASA Technical Memorandum 101011, p 18, local cold adaptation (hands) is possible as well:
It was proved that people who habitually expose their hands to cold-for example,
Eskimos (Miller and Irving, 1962), Arctic Indians (Elsner, Nelms, and Irving, 1960), fishermen (LeBlanc, 1975; Krog et al., 1960), workers who fillet fish (Nelms and Soper, 1962), and lumbermen (LeBlanc et al., 1976)- respond to local cooling of the hands with much less pronounced cutaneous vasoconstriction, and with more rapid onset of vasodilation than occurs in unacclimatized men. Thus, they tolerate cold-stress better than men unadapted to cold.
So it may be possible for you to prepare for that inventory by deliberately exposing your hands to cold beforehand.
(Biking, I find that it takes my hands, ears and nose get cold for about 3 days to a week with the first frosts in fall until they "remember" how to heat themselves at those temps. But then, I find cold adaptation much easier than heat adaptation. And my impression are that people are very much not the same in that respect.)
Whether it is worth while obviously is for you to decide. However, you may also want to take into account that it may not be "only" a question of being uncomfortable but that working in cold environment is associated e.g. with increased incidence of rheumatoid arthritis.
Obviously, keeping your fingers warm is only possible if your body core is warm. You could try whether warmer parka/long johns helps as well (parka is probably easier to get on/off). Also, there's a rumor that not only overall food status but protein in particular is important for non-shivering thermogenesis.
Thoughts about gear:
From your post, you're able to do things in not-too-thick gloves, so maybe 1+1+3 shooting gloves would be a consideration?
I'd probably try to have as much pre-printed as possible.
As kids we used to have mittens with a line (so they wouldn't get lost when taken/falling off).
A similar line with a very roomy mitten may allow you just put your hand in and out of the mitten without hassle. You you have to expose the fingers only for writing down your Mountain ash line, but they're in the warm while counting the pots.
This line of thought directly leads to the invention of the muff. A "traditional" one for warming your writing hand while not writing, or maybe you could make a more specialized one yourself that accomodates your hand and just has the pencil sticking out, so you can keep it on while writing.
In addition, a traditional muff has space for a heating pad.
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
Let me suggest that some acclimatization may help (though I'm not sure how practical this is).
I was personally rather astonished how much we can actually adapt to cold weather: I spent a winter in Winnipeg (office job, no outdoors job). Nevertheless, whereas I had been freezing on the bike in windproof + light fleece pants/jacket in November in +5°C rain, in March when it got warm to "only single digit negative temps (°C)", I was biking in just summer outdoor pants/T-shirt + fleece, no gloves, no cap/scarf and feeling very comfortable.
First conclusion: fall/early winter is going to be the most miserable time in the year because you're not yet accustomed to the low temps - still it is probably impossible to do this in any other season.
According to Hanna Kaciuba-Uscilko and John E. Greenleaf: Acclimatization to Cold in Humans, NASA Technical Memorandum 101011, p 18, local cold adaptation (hands) is possible as well:
It was proved that people who habitually expose their hands to cold-for example,
Eskimos (Miller and Irving, 1962), Arctic Indians (Elsner, Nelms, and Irving, 1960), fishermen (LeBlanc, 1975; Krog et al., 1960), workers who fillet fish (Nelms and Soper, 1962), and lumbermen (LeBlanc et al., 1976)- respond to local cooling of the hands with much less pronounced cutaneous vasoconstriction, and with more rapid onset of vasodilation than occurs in unacclimatized men. Thus, they tolerate cold-stress better than men unadapted to cold.
So it may be possible for you to prepare for that inventory by deliberately exposing your hands to cold beforehand.
(Biking, I find that it takes my hands, ears and nose get cold for about 3 days to a week with the first frosts in fall until they "remember" how to heat themselves at those temps. But then, I find cold adaptation much easier than heat adaptation. And my impression are that people are very much not the same in that respect.)
Whether it is worth while obviously is for you to decide. However, you may also want to take into account that it may not be "only" a question of being uncomfortable but that working in cold environment is associated e.g. with increased incidence of rheumatoid arthritis.
Obviously, keeping your fingers warm is only possible if your body core is warm. You could try whether warmer parka/long johns helps as well (parka is probably easier to get on/off). Also, there's a rumor that not only overall food status but protein in particular is important for non-shivering thermogenesis.
Thoughts about gear:
From your post, you're able to do things in not-too-thick gloves, so maybe 1+1+3 shooting gloves would be a consideration?
I'd probably try to have as much pre-printed as possible.
As kids we used to have mittens with a line (so they wouldn't get lost when taken/falling off).
A similar line with a very roomy mitten may allow you just put your hand in and out of the mitten without hassle. You you have to expose the fingers only for writing down your Mountain ash line, but they're in the warm while counting the pots.
This line of thought directly leads to the invention of the muff. A "traditional" one for warming your writing hand while not writing, or maybe you could make a more specialized one yourself that accomodates your hand and just has the pencil sticking out, so you can keep it on while writing.
In addition, a traditional muff has space for a heating pad.
Let me suggest that some acclimatization may help (though I'm not sure how practical this is).
I was personally rather astonished how much we can actually adapt to cold weather: I spent a winter in Winnipeg (office job, no outdoors job). Nevertheless, whereas I had been freezing on the bike in windproof + light fleece pants/jacket in November in +5°C rain, in March when it got warm to "only single digit negative temps (°C)", I was biking in just summer outdoor pants/T-shirt + fleece, no gloves, no cap/scarf and feeling very comfortable.
First conclusion: fall/early winter is going to be the most miserable time in the year because you're not yet accustomed to the low temps - still it is probably impossible to do this in any other season.
According to Hanna Kaciuba-Uscilko and John E. Greenleaf: Acclimatization to Cold in Humans, NASA Technical Memorandum 101011, p 18, local cold adaptation (hands) is possible as well:
It was proved that people who habitually expose their hands to cold-for example,
Eskimos (Miller and Irving, 1962), Arctic Indians (Elsner, Nelms, and Irving, 1960), fishermen (LeBlanc, 1975; Krog et al., 1960), workers who fillet fish (Nelms and Soper, 1962), and lumbermen (LeBlanc et al., 1976)- respond to local cooling of the hands with much less pronounced cutaneous vasoconstriction, and with more rapid onset of vasodilation than occurs in unacclimatized men. Thus, they tolerate cold-stress better than men unadapted to cold.
So it may be possible for you to prepare for that inventory by deliberately exposing your hands to cold beforehand.
(Biking, I find that it takes my hands, ears and nose get cold for about 3 days to a week with the first frosts in fall until they "remember" how to heat themselves at those temps. But then, I find cold adaptation much easier than heat adaptation. And my impression are that people are very much not the same in that respect.)
Whether it is worth while obviously is for you to decide. However, you may also want to take into account that it may not be "only" a question of being uncomfortable but that working in cold environment is associated e.g. with increased incidence of rheumatoid arthritis.
Obviously, keeping your fingers warm is only possible if your body core is warm. You could try whether warmer parka/long johns helps as well (parka is probably easier to get on/off). Also, there's a rumor that not only overall food status but protein in particular is important for non-shivering thermogenesis.
Thoughts about gear:
From your post, you're able to do things in not-too-thick gloves, so maybe 1+1+3 shooting gloves would be a consideration?
I'd probably try to have as much pre-printed as possible.
As kids we used to have mittens with a line (so they wouldn't get lost when taken/falling off).
A similar line with a very roomy mitten may allow you just put your hand in and out of the mitten without hassle. You you have to expose the fingers only for writing down your Mountain ash line, but they're in the warm while counting the pots.
This line of thought directly leads to the invention of the muff. A "traditional" one for warming your writing hand while not writing, or maybe you could make a more specialized one yourself that accomodates your hand and just has the pencil sticking out, so you can keep it on while writing.
In addition, a traditional muff has space for a heating pad.
answered yesterday
cbeleites
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1,831612
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add a comment |
up vote
0
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Use Noodlers Polar Ink. It is specifically designed to work down to very low temperatures and has been tested in Antarctica.
https://blog.gouletpens.com/2017/01/noodlers-polar-ink-goes-to-antartica
The inks are also "bulletproof", that means they are very permanent and don't fade or wash out.
New contributor
2
I do NOT want to use a fountain pen.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:43
2
This is just a bad answer in general. A fountain pen is a horrible, impractical implement for taking notes on a clipboard while walking around outside in the cold. I don't think anyone will benefit from this answer as anything but a novelty.
– Adonalsium
Nov 7 at 14:23
It won't let me write an answer, so I'll put it in comment - I recommend chemical hand warmer packets that you can get from any sporting good store, just keep them in your pocket, your hands will be extra warm when you take them out and it might give you more time to write. You could also tape a few of them to the bottom of your clipboard, will keep your clipboard warm too! Sorry since product recommendations aren't allowed, look for something with the feature that when you open and shake it, it gets warm :)
– Dan Chase
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Use Noodlers Polar Ink. It is specifically designed to work down to very low temperatures and has been tested in Antarctica.
https://blog.gouletpens.com/2017/01/noodlers-polar-ink-goes-to-antartica
The inks are also "bulletproof", that means they are very permanent and don't fade or wash out.
New contributor
2
I do NOT want to use a fountain pen.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:43
2
This is just a bad answer in general. A fountain pen is a horrible, impractical implement for taking notes on a clipboard while walking around outside in the cold. I don't think anyone will benefit from this answer as anything but a novelty.
– Adonalsium
Nov 7 at 14:23
It won't let me write an answer, so I'll put it in comment - I recommend chemical hand warmer packets that you can get from any sporting good store, just keep them in your pocket, your hands will be extra warm when you take them out and it might give you more time to write. You could also tape a few of them to the bottom of your clipboard, will keep your clipboard warm too! Sorry since product recommendations aren't allowed, look for something with the feature that when you open and shake it, it gets warm :)
– Dan Chase
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
Use Noodlers Polar Ink. It is specifically designed to work down to very low temperatures and has been tested in Antarctica.
https://blog.gouletpens.com/2017/01/noodlers-polar-ink-goes-to-antartica
The inks are also "bulletproof", that means they are very permanent and don't fade or wash out.
New contributor
Use Noodlers Polar Ink. It is specifically designed to work down to very low temperatures and has been tested in Antarctica.
https://blog.gouletpens.com/2017/01/noodlers-polar-ink-goes-to-antartica
The inks are also "bulletproof", that means they are very permanent and don't fade or wash out.
New contributor
New contributor
answered Nov 6 at 4:01
guest
271
271
New contributor
New contributor
2
I do NOT want to use a fountain pen.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:43
2
This is just a bad answer in general. A fountain pen is a horrible, impractical implement for taking notes on a clipboard while walking around outside in the cold. I don't think anyone will benefit from this answer as anything but a novelty.
– Adonalsium
Nov 7 at 14:23
It won't let me write an answer, so I'll put it in comment - I recommend chemical hand warmer packets that you can get from any sporting good store, just keep them in your pocket, your hands will be extra warm when you take them out and it might give you more time to write. You could also tape a few of them to the bottom of your clipboard, will keep your clipboard warm too! Sorry since product recommendations aren't allowed, look for something with the feature that when you open and shake it, it gets warm :)
– Dan Chase
yesterday
add a comment |
2
I do NOT want to use a fountain pen.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:43
2
This is just a bad answer in general. A fountain pen is a horrible, impractical implement for taking notes on a clipboard while walking around outside in the cold. I don't think anyone will benefit from this answer as anything but a novelty.
– Adonalsium
Nov 7 at 14:23
It won't let me write an answer, so I'll put it in comment - I recommend chemical hand warmer packets that you can get from any sporting good store, just keep them in your pocket, your hands will be extra warm when you take them out and it might give you more time to write. You could also tape a few of them to the bottom of your clipboard, will keep your clipboard warm too! Sorry since product recommendations aren't allowed, look for something with the feature that when you open and shake it, it gets warm :)
– Dan Chase
yesterday
2
2
I do NOT want to use a fountain pen.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:43
I do NOT want to use a fountain pen.
– Sherwood Botsford
Nov 6 at 15:43
2
2
This is just a bad answer in general. A fountain pen is a horrible, impractical implement for taking notes on a clipboard while walking around outside in the cold. I don't think anyone will benefit from this answer as anything but a novelty.
– Adonalsium
Nov 7 at 14:23
This is just a bad answer in general. A fountain pen is a horrible, impractical implement for taking notes on a clipboard while walking around outside in the cold. I don't think anyone will benefit from this answer as anything but a novelty.
– Adonalsium
Nov 7 at 14:23
It won't let me write an answer, so I'll put it in comment - I recommend chemical hand warmer packets that you can get from any sporting good store, just keep them in your pocket, your hands will be extra warm when you take them out and it might give you more time to write. You could also tape a few of them to the bottom of your clipboard, will keep your clipboard warm too! Sorry since product recommendations aren't allowed, look for something with the feature that when you open and shake it, it gets warm :)
– Dan Chase
yesterday
It won't let me write an answer, so I'll put it in comment - I recommend chemical hand warmer packets that you can get from any sporting good store, just keep them in your pocket, your hands will be extra warm when you take them out and it might give you more time to write. You could also tape a few of them to the bottom of your clipboard, will keep your clipboard warm too! Sorry since product recommendations aren't allowed, look for something with the feature that when you open and shake it, it gets warm :)
– Dan Chase
yesterday
add a comment |
protected by Charlie Brumbaugh Nov 6 at 21:10
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
To answerers - remember that product recommendations are not on-topic (see help center, which says Recommendations for what item to purchase are off-topic; questions about what features one should look for are on-topic.), so we're looking for techniques, or the qualities of equipment rather than particular brands. Thanks!
– Toby Speight
Nov 6 at 10:31
7
Everyone else already answered with the gear suggestion for recording, you probably want to revert your edits and ask "How to keep finger from freezing while writing" as a related question cause I don't see people adjusting their answers
– Charlie Brumbaugh
Nov 6 at 15:54
1
If you still want to try recording, you can try putting your phone in your shirt pocket. It should still pick up useable sound (from the vibrations from your chest). Then the only problem becomes how to start and stop recording. Also, you can get yourself a power bank, which should give you more battery time, especially if it's in a warm pocket. (Good quality / new batteries don't loose as much performance from cold)
– JonasCz
Nov 6 at 17:50
1
I don't have a proper answer, but I've had to do this (ski patrol). I normally wear mittens with removable finger-covers, which reveal gloves underneath, and pair that with hand-warmers. That and an oversized grease pencil (sometimes I have to write on non-paper stuff) gets me through just about everything.
– Nic Hartley
Nov 6 at 21:35
1
Can't you use gloves on the writing hand too? Relatively thin bicycling gloves were enough for me in temperatures cold enough to regularly freeze the biros I was using. Wasn't comfortable, but for a couple hours at a time it was possible. Turning pages became the much bigger probem. But if you are taking continuous field notes instead of what I was doing then you shouldn't need to turn pages that often.
– Nobody
Nov 6 at 21:57