[pct-l] pct-l Digest, Vol 40, Issue 19
Georgi Heitman
bobbnweav at citlink.net
Tue Feb 13 23:19:04 CST 2007
We'll, I suppose it might depend a bit as to where you were at any given
time....but up here in the back of beyond (i.e., the area of Lassen N.P ,and
to an even greater extent, the Hat Creek Rim (there is a purely Freudian
Slip on at least one 'official' map I've seen, calling it the Hot Creek
Rim), last year was a scorcher...from beginning to end. The oldest
old-timers up here in Old Station, the ones who remember winters long gone
by when anywhere from 6 to 8 feet of snow falling 'per storm', several
storms a season, but who've never really commented on the summer heat
before...said the same thing. They 'aint see'd nothin' like it, afore,
neever...an' that's the truth'. From my vantage point, about 600 feet below
the rim in elevation and maybe 10 to 15 degrees cooler, last summer's heat
started early, by the last week in July about...instead of late August or
the first week of September (for maybe 10 days in the low 90's with
occasionally, but not every year, one or two days at or near 100
degrees),... and lasted for at least six weeks. And down in the
valley...Redding, a notable hot-spot in the north-state, where I don't get
to go too often in the summer (thank heavens, as I'm pretty busy being a
Trail Angel up here) I was there at least three times when the temp. hit
116/117 degrees. Down there, monthly PG&E bills were running higher than
mortgage payments...so much higher than average, in fact, that PG&E aka
Pacific Graft and Extortion, was so embarrassed at it's profits that is
issued,. along about November or so, a refund, called a 'heat storm' bill
credit, i.e....money back. For some valley people it amounted to as much as
three hundred bucks or so. Not having air conditioning, our's was less than
$40.00, but what the hey...I'll take that. For the better part of three
weeks straight, the only thing cooked in the kitchen at dinner was done in
the microwave, all else as either Dutch Ovened or B.B.Q'ed outside.
But eventually the heat defeated the nine inch logs that make up our home,
and at the end of the day, they felt warm inside the house. Yes...this
last summer was indeed hotter that any I remember in the 14 summers we've
been here. And there are predictions that say next summer will be worse,
Whoopee...........
Georgi,
Old Station CA. T.A.
Original Message -----
From: <pct-l-request at backcountry.net>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 10:00 AM
Subject: pct-l Digest, Vol 40, Issue 19
> Send pct-l mailing list submissions to
> pct-l at backcountry.net
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> pct-l-request at backcountry.net
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> pct-l-owner at backcountry.net
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of pct-l digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. PCT temps - iButtons (Vic Hanson)
> 2. Re: PCT temps - iButtons (Bill Batchelor)
> 3. PCT Handbook updates (yogi)
> 4. The weight of a AA battery? (enyapjr at comcast.net)
> 5. alternate trails for the pct in Giant Sequia and Yosemite (roni h)
> 6. Re: alternate trails for the pct in Giant Sequia and Yosemite
> (AsABat)
> 7. Re: PCT temps - iButtons (Bill Batchelor)
> 8. Re: alternate trails for the pct in Giant Sequia andYosemite
> (Bob Bankhead)
> 9. Batteries (Max Mitchell)
> 10. Re: alternate trails for the pct in Giant Sequia andYosemite
> (Aaron Wallace)
> 11. Re: alternate trails for the pct in Giant Sequia andYosemite
> (AsABat)
> 12. Re: hiking in rain gear (Cris)
> 13. Hiking in Rain gear (Matt Bradley)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 20:49:30 -0800 (PST)
> From: Vic Hanson <vichansonperu at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] PCT temps - iButtons
> To: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <373159.17412.qm at web61225.mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> I just checked with Patch and he said the results from those hikers who
> carried the thermometers are posted at
> http://www.charityhikers.org/pct/temps.htm
>
> However they are only the "raw" data, the temp. for each hour of the day,
> it doesn't give a location. If you are interested in the location, you
> could probably cross reference it with the hiker's journals and see where
> they were on a particular date. Please keep in mind that the iButtons were
> usually sewn into the pack somewhere, if the pack was in the sun it will
> register high, or it may have been on a snowbank during a break or dunked
> in a river, which could account for some wildly fluctuating temps. over a
> short period of time.
>
> Patch also said "You might mention that if people are interested in
> carrying one this year, it's possible. So far, I've been laying low until
> I can get a good database going for the info, but I may as well send out
> some more if people are interested." -patch
>
> Contact him via his web site if interested.
>
> Sugar Daddy
>
>
> Interested in a South American Adventure? I have started an Adventure
> Travel Business in Peru.
> http://www.adventurecotahuasi.com
>
> Check out my yahoo blog for stories and pictures of my PCT hike:
> http://360.yahoo.com/vichansonperu
>
> Check out my MSN blog for current and past photos and stories of my
> adventures in Peru:
> http://spaces.msn.com/members/vichanson/
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Be a PS3 game guru.
> Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo!
> Games.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 21:42:15 -0800
> From: "Bill Batchelor" <billbatch at cox.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] PCT temps - iButtons
> To: "'Vic Hanson'" <vichansonperu at yahoo.com>,
> <pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <001f01c74f31$baa759f0$6601a8c0 at OFFICE>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Fascinating information.
>
>>From the group of thru-hikers that have been "around" a while, was 2006
> considered colder than average, warmer, or avg.?
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> On Behalf Of Vic Hanson
> Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 8:50 PM
> To: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] PCT temps - iButtons
>
> I just checked with Patch and he said the results from those hikers who
> carried the thermometers are posted at
> http://www.charityhikers.org/pct/temps.htm
>
> However they are only the "raw" data, the temp. for each hour of the day,
> it doesn't give a location. If you are interested in the location, you
> could
> probably cross reference it with the hiker's journals and see where they
> were on a particular date. Please keep in mind that the iButtons were
> usually sewn into the pack somewhere, if the pack was in the sun it will
> register high, or it may have been on a snowbank during a break or dunked
> in
> a river, which could account for some wildly fluctuating temps. over a
> short
> period of time.
>
> Patch also said "You might mention that if people are interested in
> carrying one this year, it's possible. So far, I've been laying low until
> I
> can get a good database going for the info, but I may as well send out
> some
> more if people are interested." -patch
>
> Contact him via his web site if interested.
>
> Sugar Daddy
>
>
> Interested in a South American Adventure? I have started an Adventure
> Travel Business in Peru.
> http://www.adventurecotahuasi.com
>
> Check out my yahoo blog for stories and pictures of my PCT hike:
> http://360.yahoo.com/vichansonperu
>
> Check out my MSN blog for current and past photos and stories of my
> adventures in Peru:
> http://spaces.msn.com/members/vichanson/
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Be a PS3 game guru.
> Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo!
> Games.
> _______________________________________________
> pct-l mailing list
> pct-l at backcountry.net
> unsubscribe or change options:
> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 21:45:51 -0800 (PST)
> From: yogi <yogihikes at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: [pct-l] PCT Handbook updates
> To: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <495623.86086.qm at web82207.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> For those who are interested, I just posted an
> "update" file for the PCT Handbook. It's a collection
> of information from 2006 hikers and Trail Angels
> regarding trail and town changes.
>
> Go to www.pcthandbook.com, then click on the Feb 2007
> Update link.
>
> yogi
> www.pcthandbook.com
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 10:23:31 +0000
> From: enyapjr at comcast.net
> Subject: [pct-l] The weight of a AA battery?
> To: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net
> Message-ID:
> <021320071023.17486.45D191A2000F16D20000444E22165499769D069F0E97020A at comcast.net>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain
>
>>What is the weight of a single energizer e2 lithium battery in ounces?
>
> Here's what I have listed in my gear spreadsheet...
> AA = 0.6 oz. (Alkaline AA = 0.9 oz.)
> AAA = 0.3 oz. (Alk. AAA = 0.5 oz.)
>
> Lithiums have a very long shelf life... Buy in 'bulk', put a few in your
> bounce bucket/box - no worries
> about availability in trail towns... Or just use Alkaline - they're
> available just about 'everywhere'...
>
> Happy trails!!!
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 04:39:10 -0800 (PST)
> From: roni h <roni_h3000 at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] alternate trails for the pct in Giant Sequia and
> Yosemite
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <906044.89213.qm at web53106.mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Hi evryone.
>
> When I hiked the pct in 2003 I, like most other thruhikers, never left
> the pct, and never saw the famous giant sequia trees and the lower
> Yosemite Valley, even though we hiked so close to them.
>
> I'm hoping that there is some way of seeing those places this year, when
> I hike the pct again.
> Can anyone think of some side trail (which will "cost" me a day or two at
> most) or an alternate for the PCT in the sierras that would enable me to
> see those places? Possible some route that will take me by somewhere to
> resupply (I buy as I go and don't do mail drops).
> I'm especialy wondering about the permits. I know the rangers in Yosemite
> are probebly the most strict in the country, and I will have to get any
> hiking permits (aside from the pct permit) as I go, possibly by phone from
> Kennedy medows. I don't carry a bear box, so if I need one, I will have
> to get it as I go.
> Any suggestion of how to solve these problems?
>
> Thanks
> Roni (in Israel)
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> 8:00? 8:25? 8:40? Find a flick in no time
> with theYahoo! Search movie showtime shortcut.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 06:05:12 -0800
> From: "AsABat" <AsABat at 4Jeffrey.Net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] alternate trails for the pct in Giant Sequia and
> Yosemite
> To: "'roni h'" <roni_h3000 at yahoo.com>, <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <002b01c74f77$fbf6da70$6501010a at PC8>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> I've known many PCTers who went to Yosemite Valley. From Tuolumne
> Meadows it's a good full dayhike to Yosemite Valley on the John Muir
> Trail. From there either a long hitch or catch a shuttle bus, although
> I'm not sure of the bus hours - I'm sure you'd have to leave early to
> get the bus back to Tuolumne.
>
> Some PCTers do did this, as well as Mt. Whitney, so they will have hiked
> the John Muir Trail as well as the PCT (although those two trails do
> have separate parallel routes in some places, notably just north of Reds
> Meadow).
>
> As for the giant Sequoias, I can't think of an easy way. The best know
> groves are in the west part of Sequoia National Park, about 50 trail
> miles from the PCT. Perhaps actually backpack to Yosemite Valley,
> staying in the backpacker campsite there one night, then take a bus to
> the Mariposa Grove (near Wawona) and back, and then a second bus to
> Tuolumne. Again, I don't know the bus schedules.
>
> AsABat
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 06:38:05 -0800
> From: "Bill Batchelor" <billbatch at cox.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] PCT temps - iButtons
> To: "'Vic Hanson'" <vichansonperu at yahoo.com>,
> <pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <002801c74f7c$949ffb40$6601a8c0 at OFFICE>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Fascinating information. From the group of thru-hikers that have been
> "around" a while, was 2006
> considered colder than average, warmer, or avg.?
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> On Behalf Of Vic Hanson
> Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 8:50 PM
> To: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] PCT temps - iButtons
>
> I just checked with Patch and he said the results from those hikers who
> carried the thermometers are posted at
> http://www.charityhikers.org/pct/temps.htm
>
> However they are only the "raw" data, the temp. for each hour of the day,
> it doesn't give a location. If you are interested in the location, you
> could
> probably cross reference it with the hiker's journals and see where they
> were on a particular date. Please keep in mind that the iButtons were
> usually sewn into the pack somewhere, if the pack was in the sun it will
> register high, or it may have been on a snowbank during a break or dunked
> in
> a river, which could account for some wildly fluctuating temps. over a
> short
> period of time.
>
> Patch also said "You might mention that if people are interested in
> carrying one this year, it's possible. So far, I've been laying low until
> I
> can get a good database going for the info, but I may as well send out
> some
> more if people are interested." -patch
>
> Contact him via his web site if interested.
>
> Sugar Daddy
>
>
> Interested in a South American Adventure? I have started an Adventure
> Travel Business in Peru.
> http://www.adventurecotahuasi.com
>
> Check out my yahoo blog for stories and pictures of my PCT hike:
> http://360.yahoo.com/vichansonperu
>
> Check out my MSN blog for current and past photos and stories of my
> adventures in Peru:
> http://spaces.msn.com/members/vichanson/
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Be a PS3 game guru.
> Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo!
> Games.
> _______________________________________________
> pct-l mailing list
> pct-l at backcountry.net
> unsubscribe or change options:
> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> _______________________________________________
> pct-l mailing list
> pct-l at backcountry.net
> unsubscribe or change options:
> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 06:39:27 -0800
> From: "Bob Bankhead" <wandering_bob at comcast.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] alternate trails for the pct in Giant Sequia
> andYosemite
> To: "AsABat" <AsABat at 4Jeffrey.Net>, "'roni h'" <roni_h3000 at yahoo.com>,
> <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <002501c74f7c$cebfbe00$6400a8c0 at BOB>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> It is 23 miles from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley/Happy Isle. There
> are two shuttle bus options for you, depending on when you arrive.
>
>
> Morning Shuttle:
> The Hikers' Shuttle Bus leaves Curry Village at 0800, arrives T. Mdws
> Store at 1020.
> http://www.yosemitepark.com/content3col.cfm?SectionID=75&PageID=217
>
> $14.50 one-way
>
>
> Evening Bus:
> YARTS also runs their Highway 120 East bus route from Yosemite Valley
> (Yosemite Visitors Center) to Mammoth Lakes with a stop in T. Mdws. It
> leaves the Valley at 1700 and gets to TM Store at 1850.
> http://www.yarts.com/schedule/2006/120ESUMMER06.pdf
>
> There is only one walk-in campground (Camp 4) in Yosemite Valley (near
> Yosemite Lodge) and it's first-come, first-served; $5 per night; 35 sites;
> 6 people to a site. If you get there too late for the 1700 bus, you're
> unlikely to get a spot. Hope your super-stealth camping skills are up to
> par as the rangers (and the bears) reportedly patrol heavily to discourage
> unauthorized camping. all other campgrounds and the hotel are reservation
> only. Good luck.
>
> T. Mdws has an excellent campground with a LARGE walk-in Backpackers' area
> in the middle. The rest of the CG is by reservation only.
> Self-registering; about $7.50 per person per night as I recall.
>
> Wandering Bob
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: AsABat
> To: 'roni h' ; pct-l at backcountry.net
> Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 6:05 AM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] alternate trails for the pct in Giant Sequia
> andYosemite
>
>
> I've known many PCTers who went to Yosemite Valley. From Tuolumne
> Meadows it's a good full dayhike to Yosemite Valley on the John Muir
> Trail. From there either a long hitch or catch a shuttle bus, although
> I'm not sure of the bus hours - I'm sure you'd have to leave early to
> get the bus back to Tuolumne.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 06:47:50 -0800
> From: "Max Mitchell" <maxmitchelljr at msn.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] Batteries
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <BAY114-DAV16D34C43D01D7AB7E8D9AB7900 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> I think Energizer Lithium batteries are the way to. 1) They weight 1/3 of
> alkaline 2) They do last 3 times or more, so you use less of them 3) Cold
> temperature does not effect them. I know that some people think
> rechargeable batteries and a solar charger is the way to go but. 1)
> Rechargeable batteries have a short life. 2) When the batteries get to the
> point when they will not hole a charge they is no warning. 3) Even the
> best solar cells are only about 14% efficiency 3) Cold temperature will
> effect the batteries output.
>
> Max
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 10
> Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 08:51:46 -0800
> From: "Aaron Wallace" <aaron at skeeky.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] alternate trails for the pct in Giant Sequia
> andYosemite
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID:
> <1A3B3ED5C7F10A459BA394B211D5572B2E3703 at pl1600r-2.kssw.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>
> There is also a backpacker's campground in Yosemite Valley that's
> available during the summer--it's across Tenaya Creek past North Pines
> Campground. Unlike Camp 4, this one is available only to backpackers
> with wilderness permits, so it's less likely to be full. $5/night per
> backpacker, I believe.
>
> Also, if you're hiking the JMT from TM to the Valley, you could stop at
> the campground in Little Yosemite Valley, then leave early the next
> morning to catch the shuttle bus at Curry Village (approx. 3-4 miles
> away). However, the LYV campground can easily be as crowded as the
> backpacker's campground in the Valley...
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net
>> [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Bob Bankhead
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 6:39 AM
>>
>> [...]
>>
>> There is only one walk-in campground (Camp 4) in Yosemite
>> Valley (near Yosemite Lodge) and it's first-come,
>> first-served; $5 per night; 35 sites; 6 people to a site. If
>> you get there too late for the 1700 bus, you're unlikely to
>> get a spot. Hope your super-stealth camping skills are up to
>> par as the rangers (and the bears) reportedly patrol heavily
>> to discourage unauthorized camping. all other campgrounds and
>> the hotel are reservation only. Good luck.
>>
>> T. Mdws has an excellent campground with a LARGE walk-in
>> Backpackers' area in the middle. The rest of the CG is by
>> reservation only. Self-registering; about $7.50 per person
>> per night as I recall.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 11
> Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 8:55:47 -0800
> From: AsABat <asabat at cox.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] alternate trails for the pct in Giant Sequia
> andYosemite
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net, 'roni h' <roni_h3000 at yahoo.com>, AsABat
> <AsABat at 4Jeffrey.Net>, Bob Bankhead <wandering_bob at comcast.net>
> Message-ID:
> <5032836.1171385747559.JavaMail.root at fed1wml14.mgt.cox.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> There is a backpacker campground behind North Pines Campground,
> arrangements similar to that in Tuolumne (wilderness permit required, one
> night before or after your trip only, etc.). It's not advertised for many
> obvious reasons, but ask around. I haven't used it in years, but talked to
> some hikers who were there two years ago. I hope it's still there.
>
> I'd rather leave Tuolumne before sunrise and head to Tuolumne, timing it
> so I was at Cathedral Pass around sunrise. That would leave plenty of time
> for sightseeing and still catch the 5:00 bus.
>
> AsABat
>
>
> ---- Bob Bankhead wrote:
>> It is 23 miles from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley/Happy Isle.
>> There are two shuttle bus options for you, depending on when you arrive.
>>
>>
>> Morning Shuttle:
>> The Hikers' Shuttle Bus leaves Curry Village at 0800, arrives T. Mdws
>> Store at 1020.
>> http://www.yosemitepark.com/content3col.cfm?SectionID=75&PageID=217
>>
>> $14.50 one-way
>>
>>
>> Evening Bus:
>> YARTS also runs their Highway 120 East bus route from Yosemite Valley
>> (Yosemite Visitors Center) to Mammoth Lakes with a stop in T. Mdws. It
>> leaves the Valley at 1700 and gets to TM Store at 1850.
>> http://www.yarts.com/schedule/2006/120ESUMMER06.pdf
>>
>> There is only one walk-in campground (Camp 4) in Yosemite Valley (near
>> Yosemite Lodge) and it's first-come, first-served; $5 per night; 35
>> sites; 6 people to a site. If you get there too late for the 1700 bus,
>> you're unlikely to get a spot. Hope your super-stealth camping skills are
>> up to par as the rangers (and the bears) reportedly patrol heavily to
>> discourage unauthorized camping. all other campgrounds and the hotel are
>> reservation only. Good luck.
>>
>> T. Mdws has an excellent campground with a LARGE walk-in Backpackers'
>> area in the middle. The rest of the CG is by reservation only.
>> Self-registering; about $7.50 per person per night as I recall.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 12
> Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 11:04:14 -0600
> From: "Cris" <CJ5w4WD at earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] hiking in rain gear
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <001b01c74f90$fe3f8890$4100a8c0 at Admin4>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Hey Steel-eye or Meadow Ed,
> I must have missed earlier conversations about this Parcho garment-sounds
> perfect. Where do you get one?
>
> Cris
>
> mountains don't tolerate fools....
>> -----Original Message-----
>> Message: 7
>> Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 10:59:21 -0800
>> From: "Steel-Eye" <chelin at teleport.com>
>> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Hiking in Rain Gear
>> To: "Mark Jernigan" <footslogger03 at yahoo.com>,
> <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>> Message-ID: <002b01c74ed7$e81a95a0$83d8f204 at DF504N31>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>> reply-type=original
>>
>> Good afternoon, Footslogger
>>
>> Going without rain gear in the Pacific Northwest is like going without a
>> sun
>> hat in the desert or bug protection in the Sierras: You can if you want
>> to,
>> but I won't.
>>
>> I have one of Bill's rain outfits. If it's the one Meadow Ed refers to
>> it
>> is called a Bigly Parcho, as in Par from parka and cho from poncho. This
>> my
>> second rainy season with it in Oregon's west-slope Cascades, and I am
>> very
> ************************************
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 13
> Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 09:40:32 -0800
> From: "Matt Bradley" <mattbradley1 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] Hiking in Rain gear
> To: PCT-L <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID:
> <301d98090702130940m2103d871lb48654a79b3f8f63 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> At the risk of beating a dead horse, here is my experience with rain on
> the
> PCT. I grew up in western Oregon and as such am no stranger to the rain.
> As a flip-flopper in 2005 I had an unusually wet hike. The only rain gear
> I
> carried was a silnylon poncho. The first lesson i learned has already
> been
> pointed out by Swithcback and that is not to wait to put on the rain gear.
> I spent a whole day fighting hypothermia by walking faster than a
> comfortable pace in the San Felipe Hills (yes, those San Felipe Hills)
> because I waited too long to put on rain gear in a blowing rain storm.
> I'm
> sure others on this list remember that storm well. After that I never
> hesitated to break out the rain gear prematurely and it worked very well
> for
> me.
> Up in Washington the weather pattern was something like 4 days of rain
> for every one day of sun and the sunny says always seemed to fall on town
> days so I spent a lot of time hiking and camping in the rain. The poncho
> kept me reasonably dry although in those kind of conditions even the most
> well protected person will be damp just from the 100% humidity. I
> stopped
> using the hood pretty quickly because it made my head more wet than the
> rain
> and instead opted to use my sun hat as a rain hat. I think that my head
> stayed drier this way even though the sun hat has a mesh top. The
> critical
> thing for me was having a good shelter and a sufficiently warm sleeping
> bag
> for when i made camp. For me this was my homemade silnylon tarp and my
> Nunatak down quilt. I usually was a little damp immediately after setting
> up camp but I was always dry and warm come morning. Using a tarp and down
> sleeping system in those conditions is a calculated risk and requires
> experience with tarp camping as well as diligence in keeping the down dry.
> But my experience proves that it is possible, even in some nasty blowing
> rain with lightning hammering down all around you.
> For my anticipated 2008 hike I am considering switching from the
> poncho
> to a rain suit because of the added mobility and because my legs always
> get
> soaked from brush along the trail while wearing a poncho. This will mean
> adding not only the weight of a rain suit to my gear but also having to
> carry a pack cover since the poncho won't be available to serve that duty.
> My exact choices are still up in the air but at this point I am looking at
> the Integral Designs eVent Jacket and a pair of silnylon rain pants or
> chaps. I havent had the chance to try out the eVent myself but by all
> accounts it outperforms GoreTex in breathability at a fraction of the
> weight. I think the jacket is around 9.5 oz and it looks to be
> significantly more durable than the Frogg Toggs micropore material. The
> big
> disadvantage of eVent is its price. $220 from www.backcountrygear.com.
> As a final comment, I would caution against using a down jacket as
> your
> "fleece". A major reason that I battled hypothermia all day in the San
> Felipe hills was that my warm jacket was a montbell UL Down Inner Jacket.
> I
> was afraid to use it because i was soaked from the inside and the rain was
> blowing sideways (actually it was blowing uphill at times) and I figured
> that the down would be quickly rendered useless in those conditions
> anyway.
> The down is the lightest but next time around I'll be opting for the
> Montbell Thermawrap instead at the cost of a few ounces but with a great
> gain in safety.
> That is all.
> Peace and Love,
> Matt
>
> --
> Matt Bradley
> mattbradley1 at gmail.com
> http://www.trailjournals.com/peaceandlove
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> pct-l mailing list
> pct-l at backcountry.net
> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> unsubscribe or change options:
> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/options/pct-l
>
>
>
> End of pct-l Digest, Vol 40, Issue 19
> *************************************
>
>
More information about the Pct-L
mailing list