Cold Weather Apparel

“Lots of good stuff on this thread.

I have a couple of tips:

Don't get windblocking fleece to wear under the G-tex jacket, the extra membrane layer reduces the breathbility to about zero. Likewise winpants (full side zip always); I prefer polyester microfibre. They are a lot less expensive than G-tex and they breathe better under G-tex gaiters (a necessity).

Booties are wonderful and I keep intending to buy a pair,but I just walk around in my liners now that I wear plastics in the winter.

You won't need a tent (no bugs), they are heavy and bulky and you will be carrying a large and bulky sleeping bag - not to mention the mattress. In the Dacks you will have lean-to room as there are fewer people. This situation is changing rapidly, however.

I use a Canadian army surplus bivy sack. It's not breathable, but I use a vapour barrier liner in my bag. The sack is rugged and I discovered that, however well you block vapour transmission, the bag will be stuck to the snow in the morning. I tried using a cheap reflective sack as a VBL, but it always tore during the night. I bought an expensive one, but I suspect the better quality reflective emergency bivy sack for 30$ in Campmor would work as well.

I use the biggest, thickest Thermarest available and have not needed to use my ¾ length one with it.

Bivying is unbelievably comfortable. I use the large stove rest for my MSR Whisperlite and just stick my head and arms out to cook or melt snow. Don't forget to put a bit of water before dumping snow in the pot or it will burn through. I don't really cook in the winter. You saw my insulated cup when we did the Dix range - I put the freeze dried food in the cup and pour in the boiling water and screw down the cover. After a few minutes I just stir and eat with my Lexan spoon - metal can freeze to your lips.

I don't put hot water in my Nalgenes before putting them in my sleeping bag because it makes me uncomfortably warm; likewise my liners which I keep in my bivy sack, but outside my sleeping bag. For some reason that I have never understood, warm boots cause cold feet. I put cold boots on in the morning, which used to be quite a chore when they were frozen leather! I have never used or needed a pee bottle.

A headlamp is an absolute necessity, I use the Petzl Tikka.

I use a Slumberjack model 600 sleeping bag rated for -30°F because it's cheap and it works - about US 180$ in Campmor.

As for snowshoes - I use Atlas, but I'm not sure I would buy them again, crud gets in the slots for the crampons and Tubbs are a lot lighter - the MSR one are garbage IM (not so) HO.

Crampons are a must; I prefer ones with sraps not clip-ins beacause they are more versatile and won't pop off, just stop and tighten every once in a while. Get the lightest STEEL ones you can find. Don't buy ice climbing crampons with vertical rails and front points - they are cookie cutters on hard snow and you won't go 200 metres with them and aluminum won't last. Mine are Camp K2's.

An ice axe looks good on your pack, but they are not really necessary in the Dacks. Once again, ice climbing tools are inappropriate. Possibly because of the popularity of ice climbing the fashion is toward short piolets. IMHO this is a mistake. Your ice axe ought not to touch the ground when held by the head from a straight arm (it's not a cane), but should be long enough to bang the side of your crampons to knock out the snow without having to lift your foot uncomfortably high.

Opinion differs on hiking poles, but I have become an originally reluctant, but now fanatic believer. I use Gabel three piece Quota 8 000m, because they pack very short. I don't use pole with a spring mechanism because of the extra weight and there is more to go wrong. One important tip - always store, carry and transport them unlocked. When they get cold, the shaft contracts and if they are screwed tight you will strip the plug when you try to lengthen them for use.

I wear a fleece balaclava even when I'm sleeping and have not yet had to close my hood. I wear polypropylene liner gloves (and seldom take them off), Polarfleece 300 mitts (which I wear only when in camp usually) and Outdoor Research Gore-Tex overmitts.

I sleep in my fleece. Down would eventually get damp, especially with a VBL. I seldom wear fleece pants, however - just Coolmax tights - even when it was cold enough to freeze our wine.

That's about all I can think of right now (God I'm looking forward to winter). Perhaps we'llbe able to get to-gether when thre is snow and the GD water on the Couchsascraga/Panther/Santanoni trail is frozwn.

Cheers.”

“Er, frozen. I'm planning on doing the Presidantials in New Hampshire during the first week of March in case you (or anyone else) is interested. I plan on bivying four nights. Anyone interested?”

“Presidentials - damned typos!”

“I have been using the OR Modular Mukluks for the last couple years. I got tired of stepping wrong and sinking up to my knees with my regular booties on. I can sleep in the pile booties when it gets sub zero, and pull the shells on when I get up...it makes it easier if you have to get up 2/3 times a night to dig the tents out, or when it comes time to pee (if you don't use a pee bottle).

I have worn them for days in camp when we put the kids on solo, and although, when doing that, the pile liners sometimes get wet from condensation and perspiration, they still keep my feet reasonably warm, warmer then my tele boots.
OR
Modular Mukluks


I just realised that I should get a second pair of pile liners....cool!! more gear to buy.....”

“Hey Gremlin, did you get my e-mail? I dropped you a line a while ago. I'm totally up for some winter hiking in the 'Daks, we'll have to plan something.”

“Don't forget packages of toe-warmers for the booties...gotta have the toewarmers for ultimate comfort.”

“I stay warm. My coldest bag night was 5 degrees F. The nights are usually around 30 F during the winter and snow is rare. I am not really qualified to recommend cold weather gear. I have a large collection of fleece, down, and goretex. I just pack stuff according to conditions and the type of hike.”

“I was pulling out my cold weather clothes just last night. I can't wait for fall. It's me 1b favorite time. 1a is winter. Last year was a big trial and error year for my clothes. In the Spring, I bought some of last year winters stuff at great prices. This is what I'm going with this year.

in Pack - Expedition weight coolmax long johns (let's not call them tights, OK?)

Worn - Addias Polyester lined breathable wind pants. Not waterproof, but from the top of the zip part at the ankle to the knee is all nylon. The dry real fast, but a little heavy.

In Pack - Expedition weight turtle neck wicking long sleeve shirt.

In Pack - Non breathable, water repellent North Face wind pants. I bring only if I'm not sure of the weather.

Worn - Ironman light weight long shirt wicking.

Worn - Pranga wicking short sleeve shirt. Got this puppy for 9 bucks missed marked at REI :)

Worn/Pack - Moonstone breathable vest. Again, one of my good deals.

Worn/Pack - North Face Talkeenka Jacket.

Worn/Pack - Glove liners

Jack Wolfskin Gloves. I had to use only in camp

One pair of rag wool socks, worn.

Two pair Regular wool socks.

Balaclava for night.

Wool baseball style hat. Dollar store find for a buck.

U of M wool headband.

Never use sock liners.

For in camp, I bring my very think slippers, that have the rubbers soles. Be leave it or not, they'er lighter than my water socks.”

“Looks like I get to put gear to work. I have a ticket to Fairbanks that expires soon. :D

Probably in December, maybe Tolovana Hot Springs.”

“Hey Buddur, took the words right outta my mouth - toe warmers and hand warmers are a must. The hand warmers come in handy after you've stopped for lunch ('specially if you ate an orange) and either can be thrown in the bottom of your sleeping bag.”

“What kind of temps are you packing for?”

“I should have mentioned that that list is the kitchen sink for day time temps of 20 - 30 degree and around 0 - maybe 15 below worst case (I hope). Michigan can get pretty cold in winter. My first cool/cold weather trip was late in October, last year. Night time was about 15-20 degress and day time was bout 40 degress. My last cold weather trip, April of this year, it was right around freezing during the day and 0 at night.”