Whoa!!! To boot you forgot to mention that it was about 9 F with a stiff breeze.
The wire issue (short) I have been both 'Perp' and 'Victim'.
They probably meant well, but......
That is a hard thing to get thru some heads, Most logic is 'we have to stagger them in the Term/Gear.
Wrong."just do as your asked and I'll explain later".
Some how this would have been better if it was April.