[pct-l] help with layers of clothing

[Randy Godfrey]

Hi Bill,

In the mountains of Washington, The chances of your down jacket getting wet can be pretty high at times. I love my down jacket, but mostly use it in drier climates. The humidity alone, after may days of rain can decrease the loft in your jacket. 


I had been relying solely on my Patagonia Nano Puff (poly fill) as my summer weight jacket for the Cascades, with my merino or fleece shirt underneath when needed. Then, late last August while doing an 8 day hike in the Central Cascades, partly on the PCT, The weather became unseasonably cold and stormy for a few days. The Nano Puff was not enough insulation for me, especially when I was tired or around camp in morning and evening. I just wasn't able to put on enough layers to keep me warm. 


Later, in October of last year, I was on another multi-day hike in the North Cascades and this time used my Mountain Hard Wear, hooded Compressor Jacket. It's a lightweight poly fill alpinist jacketthat is much warmer than the Nano Puff, but still stuffs down to a very packable size. It weights a few ounces more but I was totally cozy in sub-freezing weather. I even laid out at night on my pad, reading while it was in the upper 20s and was still warm enough. 


Everyone has a different temperature comfort range and maybe I just get cold more easily. But IMHO, I would still hesitate to bring a down jacket on a long trip in potentially wet weather, but I'm sure there are opinions to the contrary.

Randy



________________________________
 From: Bill Potter <billpotter at yahoo.com>
To: "Pct-L at backcountry.net" <Pct-L at backcountry.net> 
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 10:54 AM
Subject: [pct-l] help with layers of clothing
 
Hi All,

I want to get a reality check on my clothing options.  Any help would be appreciated.

Hiking gear:
Lightweight pants with zip off legs

Long sleeve sun shirt
Merino wool socks
Trail runners
Wide brimmed sun hat

Rain Gear:
Mountain Hardware rain jacket
REI rainwall pants

Cold Weather gear:
Long sleeve sun shirt with Marmot down jacket/parka and the Mountain Hardware rain coat
Pants with REI rain pants
Merino wool socks
Polyester gloves
Wool cap


Question 1 - will the Columbia shirt, down jacket and rain jacket be warm enough for the weather I'll encounter on the PCT or should I get the Marmot parka instead of the jacket?  I consider myself average with temperatures, I don't run hot or cold.

Question 3 - in rain do you just leave your feet to get wet?  I don't mind hiking wet but I've never done it for days or weeks at a time like I hear can happen in Washington.

I plan on bringing Under Armour base layer 1 pants and shirt but hope to leave them for sleeping for cold nights.  I'd wear them if I needed to stay warm.  

Thanks,

Bill
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