Speaking as someone who was raised in Wisconsin where it was common to get -20 °F in February, I can tell you no one - NO ONE falls asleep with their naked hand exposed let alone grasping a metal pole.

I'm willing to bet this is the result of someone riding a ski lift and thinking, "Hey, it would be scary to get stuck up here."

Too bad there wasn't anyone there to tell them "No dude, it ain't scary, its lame."

In the sequel the characters get a flat on a country road or maybe their wireless goes out for a week.