Kaepernick, whose family left Wisconsin when he was 4, was raised in Turlock (Stanislaus County), where temperatures were in the mid-60s this week. He grew up wanting to play in high-stakes games at Lambeau Field, but he acknowledged that Sunday's game wasn't exactly what he had in mind.
"I don't think my dream was to play in freezing weather," Kaepernick said. "But to be in the playoffs and have this opportunity, yes, it's part of the dream."
The 49ers haven't played in a game when the temperature was below 32 degrees since Dec. 5, 2010, but Kaepernick has bad-weather experience.
In a 41-34 victory at New England in December 2012, it was 34 degrees and raining at kickoff and Kaepernick had three fumbles, all of which the 49ers recovered, in the first 16 minutes. However, he completed 14 of 25 passes for 221 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in the dramatic win.
As a senior at Nevada, Kaepernick, with the temperature in the 20s, threw for 259 yards and a touchdown and ran for 45 yards and a score in a 34-31 upset of No. 3 Boise State.