Braving the Elements: How Extreme Cold Affects the Human Body
In February 1959, nine experienced hikers died during a skiing expedition in Russia’s Ural Mountains. In the middle of the night, they cut their way out of their tent from the inside and fled into temperatures nearing –30°F. Weeks later, rescuers found them scattered across the snow — some barefoot, some partially undressed, some with strange injuries. One hiker had even bitten off part of his own hand. For decades, the incident raised unsettling questions. Why would trained mountaineers make such dangerous choices? The answer lies in how extreme cold affects the human body. How the Body Responds to Extreme Cold The human body works hard to maintain a core temperature of around 98.6°F. When exposed to severe cold, that balance — known as homeostasis — begins to fail. Once heat loss outpaces heat production, survival becomes a race against time. The Hypothalamus: Your Internal Thermostat Body temperature regulation is controlled by the brain and circulatory system working together to conserve heat and protect vital organs. When your body senses cold, the hypothalamus (a region of the brain) activates protective responses
