[pct-l] Hypothermia (was "Earthquake!")

[Eugene]

My guess is that the temperatures started in the low to mid 50's and dropped into the low 40's as we ended our hiking day.  At night Evan saw 29 degrees...in the shack...it may have gotten colder at some point during the night.

 

I have to guess wind speeds too.  It was fairly calm when we started.  I think the winds reached 40-50 mph near the end.  I was getting blown around near the end and I weighed over 200 lbs and the pack I'm carrying is nowhere near ultralight...and the pack was gaining extra weight from the rain.  It wasn't nearly as bad as it can get at the overlook just past Pioneer Mail Picnic Area.  I put away the umbrella a little over an hour before the end because the wind was severely deforming it, even pointing it into the wind.  The Golite umbrella sure does resist breaking even when it's brutally flipped inside-out.

 

I do agree that gear should be carried for bad weather, or at least make sure to get to a good shelter every time there's bad weather.  Unfortunately some of us have to push the limits before we'll act like they exist.  Hopefully others are wiser.

 

Sir Mix-a-lot
 


CC: pct at fisler.ch; pct-l at backcountry.net
From: gwtmp01 at mac.com
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Hypothermia (was "Earthquake!")
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2010 13:55:48 -0400
To: atetuna at hotmail.com




On Apr 9, 2010, at 11:06 AM, Eugene wrote:


I was so certain that we'd warm up quickly in a shelter that provided wind protection.  I took off my wet pants and put on my thick down jacket, puffy pants, bomber hat and crawled under my zero degree cuben fiber quilt. 

Any estimates as to the air temp and/or wind speeds that day?


This is a great example of why it is necessary to have bad-weather gear in Southern
California.  It seems each year there are hikers who ask if it is reasonable to skip
the rain-gear and shelter while hiking in SoCal during thru-hiker season in an effort
to reduce the weight of their pack.


Radar 		 	   		  
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