18f degrees outside

[mountain squid]

This morning it was 18f outside in NE TN. That translates to roughly 3f on top of Roan (and probably less than that). Yesterday there was snow on the ground and next week doesn't look too much warmer. I was wondering how warm (or how cold?!?) hikers would be with a 30f or even a 40f sleeping bag. I think I would be cold in a 20f at those temps . . . .


I hope everyone has the proper gear as they start their long distance journeys . . . . brrrrr

Oh, by the way . . . Happy Spring everyone!

See you on the trail,
mt squid

Springer Mountain weather

[jcheil]

crap, since I'm leaving on the 10th, I am hoping it will be a little warmer by then. i would have thought by now the snow and freezing temps would have been gone.

I am going to go with a marmot 15 degree down bag since I am alergic to cold
I hope that will be enough.

[Praha4]

looks more like spring 2010. Smokies and Roan Mtn will be fun for the nobos in the next couple weeks. another reason why I would wait til early April to start a nobo thru

[Slo-go'en]

It had better warm up by the middle of April! Okay, I'd settle for the first week of May when I hit the Smokies. My Lafuma bag rating tag says : 41F - your okay, 30F - you'll live, 20F - good friggin luck!

I stayed on top of Roan Mt a few years ago with a 35 F bag, temps went down into the 20s'. Froze my butt off, did isometics in the bag all night. Soon as it got light I high tailed it out of there and hiked 2 miles before I was warm enough to stop and eat breakfist!

[Fireweed]

Roan is one if not the highest shelter on the trail is it not? Hopefully things will get warmer as you go. Makes me think I may up my sleeping bag to the zero degree one when I start next week in PA. Courage!

[Datto]

This is what I use when I think I might run into bitter cold weather (also, I've used the Space brand Mylar sleeping bags which also hold up) -- you put this inside your regular sleeping bag, then put Gatorade bottles with hot water inside the Mylar sleeping bag:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...l#.UUyWtYIhjkI


Datto

[Bronk]

I started in February and carried a 50° sleeping bag I bought at Walmart for $10. But I also slept with all of my clothes on when it was very cold, including a fleece shirt and a fleece vest and a rain jacket, hat and gloves. If it was really cold I wrapped my tent and rainfly around my sleeping bag...I only had to do that twice. But from seeing the discussion on this topic here in the past I am a rarity...most people are not as tolerant of the cold as I am. When I lay down to sleep at night if its really cold I can feel my metabolism and heart rate speeding up. If it was really cold I also made sure I ate something before going to bed so my body would have something to burn while I slept.

And its about a complete system as well. If you're sleeping in your underwear in a 20° bag that is not the same as sleeping in a 20° bag with all of your clothes on.

People used to say don't get rid of your cold weather gear until after April 15th and after you pass Roan mountain. So I sent a lot of stuff home from Elk Park, NC only to wake up to snow on May 21st. That was a cold day.

[mountain squid]

Went up to Carvers Gap (below Roan Mountain) this morning. It was about 35f, so I reckon it was a bit warmer than 3f last night. I hiked out to Stan Murray Shelter. There is still some snow up there with occasional 12" drifts.

jcheil - you'll probably be ok with a 15f bag next month.

Fireweed - Roan High Knob Shelter is indeed the highest shelter on the trail.

Bronk - I disagree with your 'complete system' system. Obviously it worked well for you, but what happens if 'all of your clothes' are wet . . . personally I think a hiker should carry a sleeping bag rated to a temp that they routinely expect to encounter.

Good Luck and Have Fun!

See you on the trail,
mt squid

some observations

[Bronk]

The problem with the temperature ratings is they don't address the differences in clothing people wear when they are in the sleeping bag. When I'm hiking I only wear clothing that still works when it is wet. I've gone to sleep in wet clothes before and they are dry by the time I wake up.

The way I do things is simply leveraging the layering of clothing and applying it to when you are sleeping...and those same layers can also be used during the day while you're hiking.

[10-K]

Bronk, what I take away from MS's comment is that the margin of error is too high when you rely on your clothes to supplement your bag in extreme conditions.

Maybe in late spring, early fall when you're not at risk of single digit temps - but in the winter, early spring and late fall it might be time to consider a proper bag.

That's really good advice.

[The Cleaner]

I'd like to know the difference from very cold and really cold...I always have a thermometer to keep me informed of the real temperature.As you know on a 32* day one can still work up a sweat climbing and think that the temp has warmed when in fact you have warmed and the temperature could still be 32*.....

[doritotex]

More snow for the mountains starting tonight thru Tuesday afternoon. Todays weather advisory from the NWS.....

Significant snowfall accumulations possible across the higher elevations by Tuesday afternoon...
a strengthening low pressure system will move northeastward across the southern appalachian region tonight...bringing colder air into the region behind the passage of a cold front. Rain will quickly change over to snow tonight...with a moderate to locally heavy snowfall accumulation possible by Tuesday afternoon...
Mainly across the higher elevations of southwest Virginia...
Northeast Tennessee...and the smoky mountains.
...winter storm watch remains in effect from late tonight through Tuesday afternoon...
* Event...snowfall accumulations of 1 to 4 inches will be possible by Tuesday afternoon in the lower elevations below 2500 feet...
With 4 to 8 inches possible across the higher elevations above 2500 feet. Locally higher amounts of up to a foot will be possible by Tuesday afternoon across the highest elevations above 4000 feet.

* Timing...tonight through Tuesday afternoon.

[10-K]

I'd like to know the difference from very cold and really cold...I always have a thermometer to keep me informed of the real temperature.As you know on a 32* day one can still work up a sweat climbing and think that the temp has warmed when in fact you have warmed and the temperature could still be 32*.....

I think the takeaway from this thread is that if you have the right gear how cold it is isn't nearly as important as it would be if you didn't.

I totally agree... If I'm going to cut corners I'm not going to do it when it can kill me..... Unless it involves shimmying over a raging mini-river on a log in the pouring down rain instead of waiting....

[Mountain Mike]

The problem with the temperature ratings is they don't address the differences in clothing people wear when they are in the sleeping bag. When I'm hiking I only wear clothing that still works when it is wet. I've gone to sleep in wet clothes before and they are dry by the time I wake up.

The way I do things is simply leveraging the layering of clothing and applying it to when you are sleeping...and those same layers can also be used during the day while you're hiking.

May be fine for 3 season but in winter where does that moisture end up? Most likely degrading your sleeping bag insulation if you are on a prolonged trip.. A big part of winter camping/conditions is not sweating to much. If you start getting warm take your hat off, open zippers, even your fly to avoid it. A cold wet shirt at 50 is uncomfortable. at 10 it's a frozen board & trouble.

[Brewerbob]

For those at/near Roan Mountain, stop at the Mountain Harbour Hostel. The wife and I were there (the Bed & Breakfast side) last weekend. Great meals.

Thanks for all the "bickering". I'm still very much a noob but want to do a thru hike next spring.

[FatHead64]

I'd like to know the difference from very cold and really cold...I always have a thermometer to keep me informed of the real temperature.As you know on a 32* day one can still work up a sweat climbing and think that the temp has warmed when in fact you have warmed and the temperature could still be 32*.....

I think the takeaway from this thread is that if you have the right gear how cold it is isn't nearly as important as it would be if you didn't.

I totally agree... If I'm going to cut corners I'm not going to do it when it can kill me..... Unless it involves shimmying over a raging mini-river on a log in the pouring down rain instead of waiting....

I read that thread/report!

[Rasty]

I think the takeaway from this thread is that if you have the right gear how cold it is isn't nearly as important as it would be if you didn't.

I totally agree... If I'm going to cut corners I'm not going to do it when it can kill me..... Unless it involves shimmying over a raging mini-river on a log in the pouring down rain instead of waiting....

Only when your solo. Don't want to encourage dangerous behavior with others!

[Pages]

looks like a great year to start mid -april. i feel sorry for the people that started in march. too cold. and jan or feb people are just fools in my opinion.

plan on starting at springer april 15. should be warm enough by then and plenty of time to finish, barring injury.

i want to enjoy my hike, not just survive it!

- pages

[Slo-go'en]

I'd like to know the difference from very cold and really cold...I always have a thermometer to keep me informed of the real temperature.As you know on a 32* day one can still work up a sweat climbing and think that the temp has warmed when in fact you have warmed and the temperature could still be 32*.....

I can and do work up a sweat when it's minus 10 out. But when it's that cold out, the air is really dry too, so anything damp dries out pretty quick from body heat. It's the near freezing temps which are worst since it is often really damp too. Just plain nasty and raw. If you can get anything to dry under those conditions, it takes a lot of energy to do so.

[FatHead64]

I can and do work up a sweat when it's minus 10 out. But when it's that cold out, the air is really dry too, so anything damp dries out pretty quick from body heat. It's the near freezing temps which are worst since it is often really damp too. Just plain nasty and raw. If you can get anything to dry under those conditions, it takes a lot of energy to do so.

I agree - I will sweat in any case. Even just below freezing is better than just above - much drier.