[pct-l] Bottoms rain/wind/warm

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

On Dec 26, 2010, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> what is necessary and optimal for bottoms regarding
> wind/rain/warmth. Help me shake my "hike wet and sleep dry" mentality!

I'm not sure you need to shake this mentality. I met people who wore  
no rain pants. I wore rain pants but felt just as wet anyway. As long  
as I slept dry I was fine.

>
> I'm considering carrying a Montane Lite Speed H20 For a wind shirt/
> rain jacket, but will probably carry a light weight poncho as well.
>
> Are Wind Pants necessary? I've noticed some people don't mention them
> in their gear lists while others stress their importance. Do wind
> pants supplement as functional rain bottoms vice versa?

Lots of people hike in shorts so they bring shell pants for an  
additional layer when it was cold/windy/rainy. My silnylon rain chaps  
served this function for me even though I always hike in pants. I had  
to take the legs off my pants when I wore the chaps, so that's the  
only time I hiked in shorts.

I never hike anywhere without my chaps now. The additional warmth  
when windy and protection in the rain are really nice to have and  
they weigh so little I just keep them in my day pack now.

>
> I will be carrying some fast drying hiking pants; Is there ever much
> need to wear a warmer layer underneath the long pants while hiking?

I rarely had such a need. Maybe once or twice, but since I didn't  
have a warmer layer for under my long pants, I just put on the chaps,  
added my warm hat(s), gloves and whatever else and hiked as fast as I  
could to stay warm.

>
> I have my eye on the Marmot down inner pants, but am considering just
> hiking with a pair of rather warm, yet light weight, long underwear
> for sleeping, but am not sure if thats enough, especially in the
> coldest parts of the trail. Any opinions?

The down pants would be useful for extending the range of your  
sleeping bag. A 20 degree bag is sufficient for the entire trail but  
depending on how warm you sleep, you could have a few nights when you  
wear all your clothes to bed, which I don't think is a problem. You  
would never wear down pants while hiking. It really is not that cold  
on the PCT.

Enjoy your hike!