Today we got up to -12 C in the sunshine, with a slight breeze out of the

west. While I don't expect to ever — EVER — encounter temperatures like

this on the great trek to Jerusalem, I thought today would be a good day

to do a live test of my layering system.

The results were encouraging. It took me 40 minutes to walk 4 km, so I

was moving at a good pace, especially considering the slush, snow, and ice

that was covering the sidewalks most of the way. The tip of my nose got a

little cold because I can't cover it without having my glasses completely

fog up, my arms felt a slight chill, but my core was actually a little too

warm. (Too warm in the winter is just as dangerous as too cold, since

once most clothing gets damp from sweat it loses a lot of its insulating

qualities.) Next time I'll leave the insulated vest at home and add an

extra long-sleeved layer.