[pct-l] Snow Clothing Strategy

Thu Mar 19 12:59:15 CDT 2009

Hi, Greg!

Thanks for your question. It gets asked all the time.

Most people like to look at snow, but to live in it, as in camping without 
an escape cabin to run to when cold, seems beyond comprehension. I'll give 
you both the general and specific answers.

In general, its all about layering. When you're working, either hiking, 
snowshoeing, pulling a sled on skis, or digging a snow cave, you're creating 
a lot of heat through muscle activity. As soon as you stop and are still 
exposed to the elements, you're going to cool rapidly and will need to layer 
up soon.

In specific, it really doesn't matter what types and brands of clothing you 
use as long as they retain air, like down or wool or fleece, can be piled on 
you to hold more air as it gets colder outside, and can be covered with a 
wind-proof layer over-all. I say this for all the folks who have the desire 
to get outside and learn how to safely enjoy snow camping and travel but who 
don't have the "technical" clothing wardrobe.  Bring what you have, pile it 
on, and throw a shell over it. Simple. Pay attention to your temperature, 
whether your body is telling you, "I'm going to get cold quick," or "keep 
this up and I'm going to start sweating!"

For years, mothers have been "bundling up" their kids in whatever they had 
and sent them outside to play in the elements. Nothing has changed,these 
days, but the hype from the technical outerwear manufacturers encouraging us 
to buy their designs and fabrics. That's fine; that's capitalism, but you 
still have the freedom to choose what you want to wear. Layering is the key 
to holding ever thicker volumes of air around your body, capped with a 
waterproof/windproof layer to keep the wind from blowing the warm air off 
you or the rain from getting in, will keep you warm and dry as long as you 
pay attention to your body temperature.

Your selection of clothing is a personal one. I still prefer cotton next to 
my skin. It just "feels" better than the synthetics. As long as I don't get 
wet or at least have a quick way to dry off/ change to dry layers, it 
doesn't matter in the practical sense with these preparations. Without these 
preparations of what to do if you get wet and you are wearing fabrics like 
cotton that hold moisture, causing you to get cold fast, the choice of 
cotton is hazardous to your health. Many prefer the synthetics next to the 
skin-to wick moisture off the skin so you don't chill. Your call.

I will wear a cotton turtleneck, also, as my next layer. I like it and it 
works for me-as long as I have the above preparations to change clothes 
readily at hand. It's comfortable and looks good, too.

My third layer is either a wool shirt or a Windstopper Fleece Jacket, 
depending on what I'm doing outside and the expected weather conditions, 
especially wind. Fleece is great as a synthetic air-holder, thermal layer, 
but the wind goes right through it and blows all the warm air out. Wool 
doesn't have that problem for some reason. This layer works great with a 
wind/waterproof shell over it all.

Next is the major insulating layer where the down parka is pulled out for 
when I'm really cold or just sitting around, say cooking a meal inside the 
tent or eating lunch outside in the shade. The parka doubles as my pillow.

The last layer is always a waterproof shell. If you can afford a 
waterproof/breathable shell, all the better, like a garment with a Gore 
membrane or a Conduit coating in its design.

As long as you pay attention to your body temperature, regulate your 
exposure to the elements, and control how much you sweat by how hard you 
work, with multiple layers of clothing and a waterproof/windproof shell 
you'll do fine and have a great time enjoying the peace and beautiful 
scenery of the snowy woods or mountains. Just remember to eat and drink a 
lot and all the time-you're working hard!

Mtnned

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Greg Hardwick" <gahardwick at cox.net>
To: <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 6:17 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Snow Course Weather Cancellation - March 20,21,22

>
> Ned - quick question.  can you give me a quick over view of a clthing 
> strqategy that is best suited for snow shoeing or cross country skiing.  I 
> have been gone so long from the "north" that I really can't remember. 
> Thx.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>
> To: "PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 9:18 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] Snow Course Weather Cancellation - March 20,21,22
>
>
>> This weekend's second Snow Course is cancelled due to the impending 
>> storm.
>>
>>
>>
>> (If you were not notified by email this morning to this effect, and you 
>> are expecting to attend, this notice is for you. Please contact Ned to 
>> clarify your dates of attendance. ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com )
>>
>> Although the storm is due Friday night, which means we could get into 
>> Desolation Wilderness, after two days of huddling inside our tents (and 
>> spending the nights clearing snow off them!) while the snow falls, it 
>> would not be easy to get out and the avalanche risk would be tremendous! 
>> Therefore, the trip had to be called off. Although all snow experience is 
>> valuable, for most who are not savvy with it, one like this would not be 
>> so much fun.
>>
>> The storm is expected to be substantial above 8,000 feet, not unlike the 
>> last one which dumped 6-8 feet in the area.
>>
>> There are still two more Snow Courses scheduled for March 27, 28, 29 and 
>> April 3, 4, 5. Check your schedules to see if you can attend one of them 
>> instead.
>>
>> If you want to attend one of the free snow training courses and neither 
>> one of the above will work, let me know and I may be able to open up 
>> another one in April, say the 17, 18, 19th.
>>
>>
>> Once again, I am sorry to say this weekend's free Snow Course is 
>> cancelled due to the weather.
>>
>>
>>
>> Ned Tibbits
>> _______________________________________________
>> Pct-l mailing list
>> Pct-l at backcountry.net
>> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>>
>
>
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