Although not directly focused on the outdoors, this Inside Science podcast does have some interesting information that is relevant to ski mountaineering. This includes the significant deterioration in cognative function from quite small reductions in body temperature and that keeping ones nose warm and breathing through it should reduce the risk of infection. Face masks are recommended in normal life to raise the temperature of the nose and increase the humidity of the air, both of which have a positive effect. This observation would seem particularly relevant when using telecabins.