1) Water proof boots AND gaiters. I had waterproof boots but forgot the gaiters on my last trip and paid dearly with wet frozen feet that was pink for days afterward from mild frostbite.
Fromatari, are you sure it was frost bite ...or was it Trench Foot?
Last June, a PCT hiker starting in Canada and hiking south spent 5 days hiking primarily in snow, and ended up with a bad case -- took his feet a month to recover. He had to keep the feet elevated and couldn't move around.
Here are several links:
CDC: Trench foot or immersion footWhat is trench foot?
Trench foot, also known as immersion foot, occurs when the feet are wet for long periods of time. It can be quite painful, but it can be prevented and treated.
What are the symptoms of trench foot?
Symptoms of trench foot include a tingling and/or itching sensation, pain, swelling, cold and blotchy skin, numbness, and a prickly or heavy feeling in the foot. The foot may be red, dry, and painful after it becomes warm. Blisters may form, followed by skin and tissue dying and falling off. In severe cases, untreated trench foot can involve the toes, heel, or entire foot.
Details: Exposure to damp, cold conditions can result in tissue damage of the foot. This condition is called trench foot, immersion foot, chillblains or pernio. The mechanism of soft tissue damage in these conditions is not fully understood. Cellular damage occurs to the skin, subcutaneous tissue, blood vessels and nerves. The longer the exposure to cold, the greater the chance of injury. Injury may be temporary or may result in permanent damage particularly to the nerves of the feet. Chillblains is used to describe permanent symptoms following one or more incidents of trench foot.
