Prepping for a Ferocious Frostburg Winter

It is officially fall! The leaves are changing color, everyone is picking out Halloween outfits, and the harsh winter weather that Frostburg is so well known for is right around the corner. In just a few short weeks it will be that time of year again, the time when we all break out our huge insulated jackets, long johns, ski masks and the other various winter items made for a tundra environment. As some of you may know, winter here is really cold. Actually, really cold is probably an understatement for Frostburg; it’s more like “so cold that if they wanted to make a sequel to ‘Frozen,’ Frostburg would be high up on the list of places to shoot at.” When people say that it gets so cold that three layers of clothes aren’t enough here, they aren’t exaggerating. It’s a well-known fact of life on this campus. So you really need to be prepared for what’s to come.

Regular jackets that you may normally wear back home may not cut it here. Gloves are a must. If you don’t have them, you better get some, unless you hate English so much that you’d rather have your fingers fall off than write another paper. And although it may look crazy, or even scary sometimes, ski masks are the way to go. Seriously, when it’s thirty-five or below with high winds and icy snow to the point where you better know how to get to your class without opening your eyes, you will certainly be thankful to own a mask that protects your face from the abusive weather. At the very least, you should wear sunglasses and a wide scarf that you can wrap around your face. A lot of this may seem like a joke, but it is quite important; being without the proper winter wardrobe can be extremely dangerous for your skin. Extra precautions should especially be taken this year, as it has been predicted that Frostburg will have an extremely cold winter.

One thing that should also be noted is that on days that classes are delayed or canceled, so will the Appalachian Station and the Subway (if and when it opens). The only place open on snow days is the Chesapeake Dining hall, so if you want to avoid a long, grueling hike through the snow, or if you just don’t want to go out in the freezing cold, keep a decent supply of snacks and small meals on hand. If you’re on a budget So get ready to bundle up and do a lot of out of class assignments!

For those of you who are not prepared, below is a list of items to prepare you for a Frostburg winter and where you can purchase them!

•Snow gloves- JCPenney in the Country Club Mall; Kohl’s and Gabe’s located in the LaVale shopping center

•Warm hats- Kohl’s in the LaVale shopping center and Bon-Ton in the Country Club Mall

•Winter boots (that won’t leak and can handle snow)- Select styles like UGG or Timberland at T.J. Maxx and also at Sears, both of which are located in the Country Club Mall; Dunham’s in the LaVale Plaza

•Ski Masks- Tractor Supply in the LaVale shopping center has the most effective ones

•Heavy Coats- All of the department stores in the area have a vast array of winter jackets, but the most cost efficient and durable ones can be found at Kohl’s in the LaVale shopping center

•Thick Socks- Tractor Supply in the LaVale shopping center has the warmest for this weather, but Sears in the Country Club Mall has cheaper ones that are as effective

•Ramen- This is the #1 college buy, perfect for winter snow-ins; hot, tasty and super cheap at the Wal-Mart in the Country Club Mall, and 4 for $1 at Food Lion

•Chocolate and other candies- Everyone gets the winter blues, and they’re best solved with some yummy sweets! The Wal-Mart in the Country Club Mall has a vast assortment, or you can buy them in bulk from Martin’s in the LaVale shopping center

• Shovels and salt (if you live off-campus and have a sidewalk, you’ll need to clear it) – Wal-Mart in the Country Club Mall

• For the drivers, an emergency car kit complete with: a tire pump, jumper cables, a tow rope, a thermal blanket, and a bag of salt or kitty litter for traction if your car is stuck in the snow