hiya GB, how's the wife and little ms. gb? hope you are all well..
i drink iced tea all year round, even when skiing. a few skiing buddies and i have tried carrying many types of drinks in our goatskins and camelpacks, and since they are outside your coat, they get very cold, to the point of freezing. so when we're in the mood to drink alky while skiing, we usually put white zin or a mixed vodka drink in the goatskins. even long island iced teas, but that's not the same thing as you're talking about.when i'm on my third or 4th day of skiing and can't handle any more alcohol (until apres ski, of course), i always put iced tea in my camelpack. i just love the stuff, and the sugar is a needed kick when your quads are burning, but you've got time for one more run.
oh, and as far as the sense of direction thingie, i do a lot of backpacking, and have always made it out ok by using the sun, moon and stars, (and sadly the sound of far off traffic to gauge the direction of a highway). sometimes, i even use "the force" to find my way, lol. you'd be surprised at the looks on people's faces when that one works. it's mostly a hunch combined with an educated guess, but using "the force"is more fun...