One bag or two?

[egilbe]

Since slo-goen is from NH, it makes sense to ask what the weather will be like in VA three weeks from now. Knowing me, I'd tend towards a 20* bag myself, but it's good to get confirmation. Things are different south of the Mason Dixon line, so I've heard.

[Slo-go'en]

In the end I decided on just the travel blanket. I think it will give me the little extra warmth I might need early on.

It's kind of multi use, can use it in the sleeping bag or wrapped around the shoulders while sitting around and is only marginally heavier then a silk liner. Finally, it's something I wouldn't mind leaving behind in a hiker box should I no longer need it. The down side is the bulk, but it's half that of a second sleeping bag and not a lot more bulk then a COCOON coolmax Travel Sheet.

I might still carry the silk liner. If it gets really hot, I can send the sleeping bag home and just use the liner and blanket.

If we were going into fall instead of summer, the two bags would make more sense. I think a good system would be a 40 degree mummy bag and a 40 degree quit.

I'll let you know if I made a wise choice or not in a few months

[Gabigabs]

You might also consider looking into a liner. They can add up significant warmth and weight less than a second sleeping bag. They also can be easily washed when you are in town which keeps your bag clean.

[Another Kevin]

20 degree bag converts to a warm weather quilt when unzipped. Problem solved.

This. I don't even own a 40-degree bag. Considering where he lives, I'm a little surprised that Slo does.

[Slo-go'en]

This. I don't even own a 40-degree bag. Considering where he lives, I'm a little surprised that Slo does.

Because I get the heck out of NH for mud season and go hiking in the south. A 40* bag + liner is generally all I need.

With it being such a cold start to spring, I was a bit concerned that combo wouldn't be quite enough for the early part of the trip. Before getting a 20 degree bag for the fall, I've used the double bag trick with good results.

[Another Kevin]

Because I get the heck out of NH for mud season and go hiking in the south. A 40* bag + liner is generally all I need.

With it being such a cold start to spring, I was a bit concerned that combo wouldn't be quite enough for the early part of the trip. Before getting a 20 degree bag for the fall, I've used the double bag trick with good results.

I guess it depends on how you got started. I started with the 20° bag, because I wanted a three-season capability. I seem to do most of my hiking in "shoulder season".

I go with that bag even in high summer. If I need to, I can unzip it all the way and use it as a quilt, or even just sleep minimally clothed on top of it. A few years ago, I added a 0° bag, which I've pushed a little beyond its rating by using many of the tricks that people here have mentioned. I've never been able to justify the price of a summer-only bag to myself, even though it would save maybe half a pound in season. (In fact, if I were to be adding a third bag to my collection at this point, it would likely be one for deep winter. I envy Lou his pile of dead geese.)

Then again, I have the advantage of being able to go in two directions to hike. By the time the mud season is well underway in the Adirondacks, the trails have usually firmed up nicely in the Shawangunks and Catskills. So I've been able to resist the pull to go to the South for hiking. So far.

Right now it's cabin fever season. Mud and patchy snow down here in the valley, a slushy mess up in the peaks (down from about a seven-foot snowpack after the Four'Easter). And I'm way too busy to travel anywhere. Oh well, I noticed the first crocuses this morning so spring might actually come one of these weeks.

[Slo-go'en]

I'll let you know if I made a wise choice or not in a few months

Here's my update.

I hit the trail in Harpers Ferry SOBO April 19th. My final choice was a 40 degree down bag and silk liner. I traveled with the fleece travel blanket, but I really didn't have enough room in the pack to carry it on the trail, so I gave it to a homeless guy at the DC train station. He put it to immediate use.

The 40 bag and liner was fine most of the time (plus top and bottom base layers). Once into the SNP it became marginal for a few nights and woefully inadequate one night when we had strong winds blowing right into the shelter and the temp dropped to 25 degrees. Wind chill was probably in the single digits. I had on every piece of clothing I had and still didn't get much sleep. Thankfully that was only a one night event and a few days later it was in the 80's!

By the time I got to Waynesboro, it seemed like summer was there to stay so I sent my cold weather base layers and synthetic vest home. Mostly to make room in my pack, which was packed really tight (45L + 5L expansion sleeve).

By the time I got to Daleville last week, it been really, really hot - 90's every day. Hadn't really used my sleeping bag for a week. So, I decided to send my bag home - along with my rain jacket - and switch to just the silk liner + fleece blanket and switch to a poncho for rain gear since the forecast was for afternoon thunderstorms.

Well, that turned out to be a big mistake. I jumped the gun on making that switch out by at least a week. The only fleece blanket I could find was a thin "throw" which didn't completely cover me. The afternoon thunderstorms turned into more of a steady all night rain. I spent a miserable night at the Lamberts meadow shelter, looked at the weather forecast and saw it wasn't going to get any better anytime soon, so I turned around, went back to Daleville and started home.

[cmoulder]

Bummer! Sorry to hear about that.

[Malto]

I have a really low base weight but would never consider going without my quilt any time of year. It is one key element of safety. Does a 40deg quilt really weigh that much?

[Slo-go'en]

I have a really low base weight but would never consider going without my quilt any time of year. It is one key element of safety. Does a 40deg quilt really weigh that much?

I don't know, my 40* mummy bag weighs about 1.5 pounds. The fleece throw is only 11 oz. If all that stormy weather hadn't moved in - and lingered - I would have been fine. Lesson learned, the middle of May is still too early to swap out to a hot weather sleep system.

Oh well, I was on the fence about ending at Daleville anyway. Besides the heat, the trail was getting really busy and knew it would get worse once Trail Days let out Sunday. The last week going into Daleville I was passing up to 40 hikers a day.

[tdoczi]

The last week going into Daleville I was passing up to 40 hikers a day.

couldnt pay me to do a hike against the grain of the bubble like that.

hiking in the same direction as them you can sort of find a spot in between them and make them more or less disappear. going against the traffic though? no way.

[Astro]

To paraphrase a friend who was making fun of me “Dave, why is it that you spent all that time and money getting good cold weather gear, yet you constantly get yourself in trouble by ignoring your good gear and instead bringing the most marginal gear you can get away with on trips?”

This is why my summer base weight is going up as I hike NH & ME this summer. I hate the extra weight for long sleeves and pants, but it beats freezing and regretting.

[Astro]

Because I get the heck out of NH for mud season and go hiking in the south. A 40* bag + liner is generally all I need.

With it being such a cold start to spring, I was a bit concerned that combo wouldn't be quite enough for the early part of the trip. Before getting a 20 degree bag for the fall, I've used the double bag trick with good results.

When does NH Mud Season End?
Starting NOBO from Glencliff on June 9th, and hoping it is close to over.

[Slo-go'en]

When does NH Mud Season End?
Starting NOBO from Glencliff on June 9th, and hoping it is close to over.

Most of the AT through NH is on bed rock. There are however boggy areas, mostly in cols along the ridge, which will stay wet well into summer. Currently streams are running high and that means high water routes in the gaps and any ponds the trail skirts could be very wet. It kind of looks like this is going to end up being a very wet early summer, with yet another tropical system ready to move more rain our way next week. Plan on being cold and wet and hope that your not.

[Deacon]

This is why my summer base weight is going up as I hike NH & ME this summer. I hate the extra weight for long sleeves and pants, but it beats freezing and regretting.

Last year on July 6th, I ran into a driving sleet storm on Mt. Success (mile 1901) in southern Maine. Glad I had my extra gear, gloves, rain pants, thermals.

Don’t underestimate New Hampshire and Maine weather.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Astro]

Slo-go'en and Deacon, thanks for the advice!