Summer bag in Spring

[Dirty Harry]

Well Ive decided to try useing my Western Mountainering High Lite 35 Degree bag at the start of the thru-hike on march 16th. In addition I just bought a Sea to Summit reactor thermolite fleece liner, that is rated for 15 degrees. They say that 15 is pushing it for that fleece liner according to the reviews. I bought the High Lite in mid april when I was in damascus in 05 and remember freezing in Grayson Highlands state park, but only a couple times. Do you guys think it that this sleeping set up is doable? I really think im going to go for it any way, plus the the bag and the liner way out at 1lb, 8oz, you really cant beat that for colder temps.

[Dirty Harry]

I just wanted to clarify, obviosly the liner will drop the temp of the bag 15 degrees wich would be a total of 20 degree protection-mabe, to be safe I would guess 25 degrees. Is that good enough?

[SlowLightTrek]

I had a 15 degree Big Agness synthetic and I was cold at 35 degrees. I had a Moutain Hardwear 45 degree down and I was toasty at 48 degrees. I guess it depends on the bag.

[take-a-knee]

Well Ive decided to try useing my Western Mountainering High Lite 35 Degree bag at the start of the thru-hike on march 16th. In addition I just bought a Sea to Summit reactor thermolite fleece liner, that is rated for 15 degrees. They say that 15 is pushing it for that fleece liner according to the reviews. I bought the High Lite in mid april when I was in damascus in 05 and remember freezing in Grayson Highlands state park, but only a couple times. Do you guys think it that this sleeping set up is doable? I really think im going to go for it any way, plus the the bag and the liner way out at 1lb, 8oz, you really cant beat that for colder temps.

You're gonna freeze.

[JAK]

Well Ive decided to try useing my Western Mountainering High Lite 35 Degree bag at the start of the thru-hike on march 16th. In addition I just bought a Sea to Summit reactor thermolite fleece liner, that is rated for 15 degrees. They say that 15 is pushing it for that fleece liner according to the reviews. I bought the High Lite in mid april when I was in damascus in 05 and remember freezing in Grayson Highlands state park, but only a couple times. Do you guys think it that this sleeping set up is doable? I really think im going to go for it any way, plus the the bag and the liner way out at 1lb, 8oz, you really cant beat that for colder temps.I think for a true thru-hike rather than a thru-hike done in sections it makes sense to go with a sleeping bag that is suitable for the coldest nights of summer, and supplement it for the coldest nights of the first and last month of your hike. I would use a combination of fleece blanket and long wool underwear, cheap enough to drop off at a thrift story when no longer needed, and available enough to pick up at a thrift story at the other end once needed again.

[dessertrat]

Take along a mylar survival bag also, just in case. If it gets really, really cold and you start regretting your choice, put that between your liner and your bag. Make sure to dry out the liner the next day.

[scavenger]

Your profile says you live in chicago, I know it gets plenty cold there so I suggest testing your setup in real life rather than relying on the manufacturer's temp ratings.

[gumball]

I have been cold on a very windy cold night in my 20 degree WM and all my layers, including fleece. Then again, that's me, I sleep cold. I now carry an additional silk liner.

[River Runner]

Well Ive decided to try useing my Western Mountainering High Lite 35 Degree bag at the start of the thru-hike on march 16th. In addition I just bought a Sea to Summit reactor thermolite fleece liner, that is rated for 15 degrees. They say that 15 is pushing it for that fleece liner according to the reviews. I bought the High Lite in mid april when I was in damascus in 05 and remember freezing in Grayson Highlands state park, but only a couple times. Do you guys think it that this sleeping set up is doable? I really think im going to go for it any way, plus the the bag and the liner way out at 1lb, 8oz, you really cant beat that for colder temps.

I think it's doable. A better question might be will it be comfortable. To that I think the answer is 'no'. At least, 'no' unless you some very warm clothing you can wear inside the bag.

You could easily experience temperatures down into the 20's at that time of year, and don't forget to factor in wind chill. Most thru hikers are pretty happy to have a good 20 degree rated bag for the spring months, ship it home somewhere between the Smokies and Damascus, and have it shipped back again before the Whites.

[ScottP]

You've thru-hiked the AT and climbed Denali, so you know what you're getting yourself into. If I were you I'd buy a western mountaineering flight down vest in addition to/instead of the fleece liner.



But hey, it takes a lot to kill you.

[Blissful]

I wouldn't go with anything higher than 20 degree for a start. Maybe 25. (mine was 15 and I had a silk liner) But if you're a guy, you may be fine with a liner. My hubby was in his Go lite 25 degree bag last night in the teens with his long undies on and did fine.
But there can be nights in March when the temps can go to single digits. Hopefully you will be near a town then. (we were at Franklin by March 15 when it hit 8 degrees on the trail)

Whoops, didn't see you were a past hiker. Well then, you should know the answer!!

[River Runner]

Whoops, didn't see you were a past hiker. Well then, you should know the answer!!

Me neither! Strange someone who has thru-hiked before (or even section hiked in early spring) should ask such a question.

Methinks it's even stranger they would consider a bag rated at 35. :eek:

[take-a-knee]

You've thru-hiked the AT and climbed Denali, so you know what you're getting yourself into. If I were you I'd buy a western mountaineering flight down vest in addition to/instead of the fleece liner.



But hey, it takes a lot to kill you.

Yeah, well, I've been to Alaska too (minus 54), the coldest I've ever been in my life was in South Carolina. I was wet and had poor equipment.

[Tinker]

Simplest answer I can give is to get real dehydrated, get your bag slightly damp with a quick spray from the hose, set up your intended shelter in your back yard in, say 10F weather with a wind and see how you do. If you're cold, make plans to bring something warmer on the trip.
Take risks near home, be safe in the woods.

[scavenger]

Simplest answer I can give is to get real dehydrated, get your bag slightly damp with a quick spray from the hose, set up your intended shelter in your back yard in, say 10F weather with a wind and see how you do. If you're cold, make plans to bring something warmer on the trip.
Take risks near home, be safe in the woods.

Yep, this is why i slept out lastnight in the new bag, hoping it would hit the projected low of 18 degrees but turns out it only went down to 24. damn global warming! :D

[gaga]

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=911&catid=popimages&orderby=posts

[Dirty Harry]

Thanks for the input. Yes Im deff aware of the spring weather at the start of the trail. In mid april going thru the smokies we had about two feet of snow. We got stuck in Gatlinberg for four days, unfortunatley. I allready know im going to have cold nights, but i was thinking somebody on the forums has had some experience with a summer bag in cold temps, with a possible linner that makes a differnece. Plus I really am trying to avoid buying a 10 degree WM for 400 plus dollars. Even though that would be very comfy.

[Dirty Harry]

Oh ya, 80mph winds, -25 temp, 19,000 ft, in a -40 degree featherd friends down bag, a little jarring.

[SlowLightTrek]

If you wore all the clothing you have in your pack how many degrees can you survive in? Baselayer, thermal layer, windshell, raingear, all your socks, hat, and gloves. I've been thinking about that quite a bit.

[take-a-knee]

If you wore all the clothing you have in your pack how many degrees can you survive in? Baselayer, thermal layer, windshell, raingear, all your socks, hat, and gloves. I've been thinking about that quite a bit.

How 'bout when your hiking clothes are damp from rain and sweat, walking in 35 degree weather, the front moves in and it drops to ten degrees with a 20mph wind?

[whitefoot_hp]

just go.

[gmagnes]

I've read in other places a number of reviews of the Sea to Summit liner that indicate the 15 degree estimate is way, way over done and suggest it has only minimal warming value. Based on having seen it, but not used it, plus the reviews I've read, I wouldn't count on it adding much warmth. I'd suggest you consider getting a light weight summer bag (maybe the Montbell Alpine sheet, which has real insulation and is rated to about 50 degrees, but weighs less than a pound) or another, light weight summer bag and use that in combo with your WM bag. That will not tax your pocket book as much as a new winter or 3 season WM bag and you can send it home once you've hit more moderate temp ranges. Two bags together should give you a reasonable boost in temp. By the way, I don't think they're making the Alpine Sheet any longer, but if you advertise a WTB post on some of the light weight sites, you may be able to find one.
Gerry

[maxNcathy]

Test at home before you go.
Then you will know.

[JAK]

If you wore all the clothing you have in your pack how many degrees can you survive in? Baselayer, thermal layer, windshell, raingear, all your socks, hat, and gloves. I've been thinking about that quite a bit.My 'system' is pretty much the same year round, but it is 'upgraded' or 'downgraded' for the month I am hiking in. I generally go by worst case climate data rather than weather forecast, but of course I still check the weather before I go. The difference in clothing weight between summer and winter is pretty extreme, but its all pretty much the same system year round, with the idea of wearing it all at once when it is most extreme. When stuff gets wet I wear it until its dry, using a fire if neccessary.