From 12/21/00</font id=blue>
Several years ago my college roommate and I decided to go up to the Chatooga River to try catching Trout on fly tackle. It was mid-February and we knew we would need some waders. We were both on a college budget and opted to purchase the cheapest waders we could find at the Wal-Mart in Seneca. Our chest waders were really nothing more than a thin vinyl stocking foot, they literally looked like a bibbed set of vinyl rain paints with a foot attached.
We knew we would definitely need some insulation under our waders, so we put on a couple of layers of socks plus our thermals and jeans before donning the waders. We then put on an old pair of tennis shoes to keep from tearing the foot of the waiters and hopped into the icy trout waters. Even with the extra layers of clothing I noticed my feet going numb, shortly thereafter my feet and lower legs were actually aching they were so cold. I kept asking my roommate if he was cold, he said yes a little bit but he was too consumed with his casting and trying to catch a fish. I was enjoying the new experience, but soon I was so cold I was no longer having fun.
I started making my way over to the bank where we had our tents set up. My legs were so numb I could barely walk. I lumbered up onto the shore, got together some fire wood, and started a nice size blaze, but my legs were still cold. I peeled off the waders and realized I was soaking wet underneath. The waiters had formed tiny holes in the feet from the rocks in my tennis shoes and the water had seeped in. It had come in so slowly that I did not even notice it was in there. I changed into some dry clothes and spent the next hour next to the fire warming back up.
This was definitely the coldest I have ever been in my life. This time of year even in the Carolinas outdoor sportsman run the risk of hypothermia. Water temperatures in the low 60s can cause hypothermia if a victim is exposed for long periods.
Hypothermia is simply defined as a condition where the core