What's Your Limit?

“Somehow a hiking discussion about how cold is too cold broke out on one of the time burning threads. I know, who’d a thunk it?

What is your limit for things like cold, snow, heat, miles, ect?

Cold- For me when it gets to about 15 degrees things stop being fun. A few new pieces of gear would make this better but when it’s so cold all there is to do is get in your bag I start wishing for spring.

Snow- About 8” is all I care for unless it’s the hard stuff you can walk on top of in shoes.

Heat- I can take about any heat as long as I can drink like a fish.

Miles- I used to bang out 20 mile days but that was a long time ago now. I like a nice 10 mile a day walk. Because the dog goes most times anything more than 10 miles kicks her ass because she does 15-20 for my 10.

What say you?”

“Cold...zero at night single digits in the day

Heat (if I can swim at the end) no limit

snow ,as long as I can walk okay

mileage, I really 15-18 mile days not fast just steady, it really depends on weather and conditions”

“Cold...havent found it yet, been 15/20 below zero quite a few times.

Snow...I start getting cranky after 4' in a night.

Heat...I've seen it over 105 in the Trinity's and over 122 in town, I get cranky after 110.

Miles...Now that I'm old and fat, 10/12 seems right.”

“i suppose the teens is my limit, though anymore i dont like any less than 30. had way too many cold nites last year

24 is the most ive ever hiked in a day. 10 is really the most i want to hike on a recreational non-thru

upper 80s low 90s is my heat limiit”

“Temps below single digits in the daytime would be about as cold as I wanted - once i get a new bag, 10 below would be tolerable.

Heat doesn't bother me, so long as water is plentiful.

Don't really care to go more than 12 miles in a day, but would enjoy the hike more if it were about 8-9 - depends on terrain though.

Snow? bring it on - snowshoes are da bomb!”

“Cold - I'm still testing the limits. -19 is my lowest so far.

Snow - As long as I can snowshoe over it, no worries.

Heat - Here's where I start drawing the line. Anything over 85 degrees, and I don't want to be out in it. High humidity obviously makes it more unpleasant.

Mileage - bring it. It all depends on the terrain, but I'm always up for a challenge. I'm looking forward to the Devil's Path trip this summer, which is named by Backpacker magazine as the most grueling dayhike. It's close to 30 miles long (I think). When I hike the 100 mile Wilderness trail here in Maine this summer I plan to make it a buttkicker as well.”

“I think money has a lot to do with what your limit is. What I mean is, the better the gear you have, the more prepared and the more enjoyable a trip becomes, regardless of the conditions. Good gear is not a replacement for common sence though.”

“Cold- I want some different gear before I try anything serious.

Heat- I live in Florida; I can deal with the heat with enough liquids, but I hate it. I prefer cool temps, like in the 50's for hiking.

Snow-Don't know yet.

Miles-I can do 15-20 in Florida, 8 in the Smokies. Bit of a difference, eh? I could do more in the mountains, but I'll hate it.”

“Two pots of coffee... anything more than that in one day tears my stomach apart.”

“I don't care to do much over 10 miles in a day.

The FYAO is something I want to keep doing each year.
I really like the FYAO gang........it's a FYAO thang!

I try to get out at least once each month and get through whatever the weather dishes out.

The colder it is the more it makes ya move and I love being out there on the snowshoes with ice in my beard.”

“I have a beard now also, MarkO. We'll have to pose as abominable snowmen once we build up some mean icicles. I can't wait for FYAO! See you then.”

“I don't think the cold bothers me nearly as much as the wind and/or precipitation does. In calm weather, meaning little or no wind and no precipitation (namely snow at these temps), I have yet to reach my limit. I've camped out when it was a good -10*F and it didn't really bother. The key is dressing warmly and appropriately for whatever you're doing, be it camping, snowshoeing, skiing, ice skating, or whatever.

Now when it's significantly windy out, It can be a real drag, even with just a slight frost (say 20's) on the mercury. The wind just seems to suck all the heat out of you no matter how you try to dress.

As for snow, when it's snowing out, things can get a bit miserable, as you're now messing with cold and wet. Maybe a light snowfall can be all cute and pretty, where you can just brush it off of you every so often, but I hate being caught outside during any kind of heavy snowfall, not to mention an all out blizzard.

And finally, there's the hypothermia factor. I can do wet; I can do cold. But when you have cold and wet together, you're now messing with some serious danger.”

“I'm puttin' some fur on my face for the occasion only.

It's lookin' too much like Santa Claus anymore to keep it all winter.

Phantom Soul on skates.......this I gotta see!!”

“20's??? Phantom Soul I thought you were a NorthEastern type?”

“Now imagine hanging out in one of these.

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/www/action/catalog/DisplayStyle?id=1311

PS. Still working on that whole link thing Phantom.

PPS. Welcome back Artex!”

“Jeebies, that thing must be really warm!

I remember the days of the full length down filled "snowmobile suits" when I was a little kid in Michigan. I always overheated in the dang thing.”

“Yeah, I guess that did sound a bit weenie, but have you ever been outside when teh temp was like 20* and the wind chills was like -20*? That's no walk in the park...
last edited: 1/24/05 8:48:50 PM”

“I have been in the zero to five degree range a few times. No problems.”

“I thought of starting a thread like this, figuring there must be other weinies like me out there WHO DON'T LIKE COLD... AND SNOW!!! lol

Therefore, temps... 20s. Snow... preferably NONE.

On the other side, there's a lot more leeway. I backpacked last summer in Nebraska on a 104-degree day. Not that I really, really wanted to, but it's what the summer weather brought... and I nearly keeled over from heatstroke, too!

Distance... have done 14 miles in one day "slackpacking." Need to test this one! Around 7 seems real comfortable, allowing time to stop and smell the roses (or take pictures of the roses, in my case)

Hey! This stuff sound a lot like a survey I just filled out for the Gore-Tex company! lolol.... but true! 'Cept they asked such questions about hiking, backpacking, skiing, rock climbing, mountaineering, etc.”

“I prefer extreme cold to extreme heat. On the FYAO trip I attended, the temps never went above 0*F, not even during the warmest part of the day. Low was -19. I was fine. I've been on a couple summer trips when it has gotten into the 80s and I was much more uncomfortable in that situation than I was in the cold. I'll still do either. But, I usually have more second thoughts when it's hot than I do when it's cold.

Snow depth is irrelevant as long as I can get around w/ my snowshoes or skis.

I think anywhere from 8-15 miles is ideal, depending on the terrain and conditions. More or less are fine, though.”

“Cold: 15 is my lower limit. Not because anything below that is too cold but because that's about the point when the layers and outerwear I have to put on to stay warm start to make me feel claustrophobic. I really can't stand that.

Snow: 8" or less without snowshoes or xcountry skies.

Heat: During the day, above 100 and I start looking for someplace to hole-up until evening, assuming I have plenty to drink. At night if it doesn't dip below 70 I can't sleep. Weird for a cold-sleeper, I know.

Miles: 8-10, more than that and I don't get to putter around in camp. I like that too much to give it up.”

“What, you don't like settin' up in the dark?”

“Cold- I am good to about zero

Snow- Haven't had to worry much about that in the South, but wouldn't want to hike in a foot or more of snow.

Heat- Above 70 and it is no longer hiking time it is river time.

Miles- 10 is a good relaxed day but this year I have been covering about 15 on most days and feeling good.”

“Cold: -10 just sitting around at camp any colder I want to be moving. I was comfortable in my sleeping bag at last years FYAO trip when it got down to –26.
Heat: Any thing over 80 I become very uncomfortable hiking
Snow: between 6” & 12” bare booting on semi packed trails.
Miles: 14 to 15 miles on most Adirondack trails is my limit. I did close to a 20 mile day hiking the entire Seward Range, which I’ll never do as a day hike again and I did about 21 miles one day on the Northville Placid Trail with full pack, but that day had a 2 hour break at the half way point.”

“My coldest run was 8 miles at 30 below in Great Falls, MT and the hottest was last summer in Phoenix when I ran 5 miles in 115 degrees. So my range is 145 degrees!”

““I have a beard now also, MarkO. We'll have to pose as abominable snowmen once we build up some mean icicles. I can't wait for FYAO! See you then.”

I have yet to grow my winter beard for one single reason. When I wear a balaclava at night while camping it pulls and itches my beard so bad my face hurts by morning. I do have a nice amish goatee that's almost long enough to brade now. LOL! When I do grow my beard in I'll be looking like a full fledged mountain man.”

“Does your neck swivel 145 degrees?”

“Only when I'm posessed. And then I might projectile vomit!”

“Want some peasoup?”

“Your mother sews socks that smell!
last edited: 1/25/05 8:17:59 AM”

“Cold - It hit about 15 to 17 degrees on the first Blair Witch's T_T trip and that was about enough for me. Any colder and I start to cease being a fun person to be around.

Snow - 4 to 6 inches is sufficient, although more probably would not be too much for me to adapt to. Just don't want to get overwhelmed (and/or buried)

Heat - 80's to 90's. It's mostly the humidity that gets to me. I am sure I could take hiking in the Arizona heat when it's 100+ easier than I can if it is 90+ and humid in the east.

Miles - I still have some sensitivity problems with my feet at times. Anything over 10 miles for the day and my feet are going to put a whupping on me later. It also depends on how rocky the terrain is. My feet may start hurting bad at 7 or 8 if the terrain is rocky enough.”

“Snow changes everything. One time I was camping and doing an all day hike and it snowed like a bltch. That wet heavy snow that just wets out your shell real fast. Miserable. I really go overboard on taking extra clothes on winter hikes now.

My first snow hike I took my pyramid tarp/tent because well, I'm a hard ass hiker type who spits in the face of adversaty. I set up the tent, liad out my plastic ground cloth, put the T Rest and bag on it, got on it and sumarily slid right off the plastic. LOL! I ended up sleeping on the T Rest directly on the snow.”

“Cold - maybe -10 at night, and around 5 to 10 above during the day. I spent a lot of nights out last winter just seeing how I'd react to cold nights, so now it would have to be a new area or group to get me out in that cold a night.

Heat - I hate heat, plain and simple. I'll hike in the 90s if I have a lot of weather and its an interesting trail, but I prefer 80 or below.

Miles - depends on the gear I'm carrying. If its 3-season weight with water along the trail, then maybe 15 miles.

Snow - the more the merrier. I'd take it on every hike if I could have it.”

“"...my face hurts by morning.....”
Nigal
8:13:23 AM
1/25/05

Your face is hurtin' me already.

Goin' for the El Diablo look?

Treebeard, the balls of my feet hurt me after too long a hike......and rocks, ow!!
As we get older the fat pads deteriorate....ouch!!
Maybe they can do implants.
Good luck, old fart!”

“I should have distinguished between night and day cold temps, I guess. Mine was actually referring to a nighttime temp. During the day and while hiking, it is more conducive to colder temps...”

“Thanks, Mark-O. Yeah, ever since the plantar faciitis thing with my heel, my feet have not been the same....”

“Cold: The coldest I have spent the night out was up in Canada in the winter. No way to track the wind chill, but the air temp at one point was -16. That was cold, and I would say it was my limit.

Heat: I don't perfer to hike when the temp is higher than 80, but I will do it.

Snow: I don't have snowshoes so I would have to say about 6 inches or so. My first hike with CMB was in wet sloppy snow (about 4 inches)

Miles: As long as the knees can keep up with the rest of me, I will hike all day. Most miles in one day was 23.
last edited: 1/25/05 8:52:27 AM”

“I went through that crap in '96-'99.
First one foot, then the other.
last edited: 1/25/05 8:52:52 AM”

“Like FZ would say, "an exquisite little inconvenience."”

“"Your face is hurtin' me already."

I knew that one was comin'. LOL!

"Goin' for the El Diablo look?"

No. Going for the Scott Ian...Satan loves you!



"Treebeard, the balls of my feet hurt me after too long a hike......"

It may be pranter facia (or something like that. At the end of the day lay a nalgene or some other round thing on the ground and roll it back and furth across the arch of your foot. Works like a charm.”

“Sounds good, Nigal. I will remember that. My problem was mostly in the heels. But, these days, it's become the front part of the foot also. Could have something to do with all that time spent favoring the heels and walking differently as a result. But the nalgene idea sounds like it would offer some real comfort...”

“Putting your foot up on a chair or table with the leg straight, toes pointed up and then lean forward stretching the back of the leg out helps too. You wouldn't think that would help the arch but it does. Next time I buy a pair of boots I'm going to go to the high end gear store and have my feet messured so I know exactly what size I need and how wide to get.”

“I'll have to remember that as well. Thanks Nigal. Now does anyone have a solution to hip pain? I've found that when I try to do a long hike I get a throbbing in my hip (normally on the right side) to the point that I almost can’t walk. It doesn't matter weather I'm backpacking or dayhiking. Generally it’s worse on rocky trails.”

“Heavy drinking and lots of oxycotton!”

“OK Rush! LOL!”

“That might work. I wouldn't even have to hike. I could just float down the trail.”

“Ladies and Gentlemen! I love oxicotton! I can bang myself over the head with my golden mic and not feel a thing.”

“I don't mind the cold during the day ( ihave crossed 3.5 miles of lake in -19 with significant wind).

But like to be comfortable at night. My current bag is 15 degree. With a liner, I have been okay at 0, but would prefer a new bag. With the right bag . . .I would be fine.

Snow -- Hmm. Packed or unpacked? I love snow. I love playing in snow. But trying to heft a winter pack through 2 or 3 feet of unroken snow is exhausting and SLOW. You never go anywhere. You can't amke your objectives. Its fun being out there . .but . . .I could just go out back and play with the kids.


So . .broken trail . . . any depth is fine. Unbroken .. . keep it to a foot.


Heat --ugh. More sensitive on the heat side. Please keep it to 90 or below. If it is 90 in the woods, and I am headed to a 70 degree ridgeline . .that's okay. I would NOT just hike around in the damn woods at 90 degrees. No f-ing way. Mt. Washington's all time high is 72 degrees. So however bad it is in the woods, the ridges are usually okay.

Miles. Depends on the packing and the terrain.

Light daypack, with hydration bladder, I have done 25.5 miles (2 years ago) . ..and the included going up and over three peaks, and then back over them to go home. It also included a major mistake that had me do one of the peaks three times. (the bonds . . how to turn a 23 mile day into a 25.5 mile day).

On the other hand .. . .with a full pack on at 45 winter pounds with food . . .forget it. . . .I would prefer to base camp at 5 miles before gaining any significant altitude and day hike from there. . .”

“

Limit?

---

I have no limits.

Limits exist to be broken.

One does not know what he can do, unless he tries.

---

However, when in a bar, I try to position myself close the the men's room. Some limits I do not care to break.
last edited: 1/25/05 9:24:00 AM”

“

Capt.Jim”