View Full Version : Clothing list for NOBO April 1st start(criticism/advice welcomed)
What I have as far as clothing:
Northface Gortex Rain jacket
My old Jagged Edge Mountain Gear fleece jacket
1 pair of Columbia omni-dry convertible pants
1 Long Sleeve Ibex Wool Zip-T
1 Mountain Hardware Short sleeve Lite Wicking Tee
3 pairs of wool socks (1 thick pair for sleeping)
2 pairs of sock liners
Montrail Hardrock Trail Runners
Should I bring some kind of long john baselayer to hike in?
*Not bringing any underwear, free-balling it. Leaving the rain pants at home as two pairs of pants seems a bit overkill.
Anything else that I'm missing that you think I ought to consider?
I need advice on what to sleep in? What's cheap, light and warm enough for chilly nights on the AT? I've done my share of summer hiking, but never in the winter or cold months.
Do I need long sleeve tops and bottoms?
Thanks!
You're going to need more warm clothing. An insulated jacket would be a good bet in addition to the fleece. You might want to hike in the fleece, which would make it damp. A warm, dry jacket in camp would be welcome (especially since you say you haven't hiked much in cold weather).
You shouldn't need long johns to hike in (at least the bottoms, but you might want the bottoms to sleep in). You should have a long sleeved top to hike in, though.
It gets very cold some nights at the higher elevations. Plan on a few nights in the 20 degree range, maybe lower, even in April/May.
What are you bringing for a sleeping bag/pad? Are you planning to use a tent? Which one? These questions can help you get more specific advice.
Your long sleve ibex wool shirt or your mountain hardware short sleve shirt should be your hiking baselayer. may want to combo that with your gore-tex jacket. this is what works for me when hiking in cold temps. IMO you need warmer camp clothing unless you plan to jump into your sleeping bag right away.
What are you bringing for a sleeping bag/pad? Are you planning to use a tent? Which one? These questions can help you get more specific advice.
Tent: Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo
Sleeping bag & pad: Slumberjack 20 Degree bag that I've had for years (may replace this for a warmer bag) and a regular inflatable thermarest.
Whats the weather like in south korea? have u tried sleeping outside in the cold yet?
It's comparable to a midwest winter. I don't have my tent nor my sleeping bag in Korea with me, but will be testing them out in Chicago when I get back next week.
Tent: Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo
Sleeping bag & pad: Slumberjack 20 Degree bag that I've had for years (may replace this for a warmer bag) and a regular inflatable thermarest.
The tent and the pad are fine. The Slumberjack probably never actually was a 20 degree bag. I'd look into something warmer. If you're not used to cold weather, get a bag rated lower than the anticipated temperatures, or wear down clothing inside your bag (I have a couple of down jackets/coats to choose from and a pair of Western Mountaineering down pants. They're warm enough for hanging around camp in cold weather and add a lot of warmth to my sleeping bag.
bigcranky
03-02-2010, 07:38
It can still be pretty cold starting April 1. Your list is pretty good -- if it were me, I would bring the light wool long johns to sleep in, and the rain pants (it can get pretty miserable in a major storm along the ridges -- cold cold rain is not your friend.) I'd also swap the fleece jacket for a puffy insulated jacket (warmer and compresses smaller), and bring a lighter fleece zip tee for around camp and sleeping. Don't forget a hat and gloves or mittens. One layer that I find very useful is a single-layer ultralight windshirt, something in the 3-ounce range. It's much more breathable than a Goretex shell, and I wear it over my wool base layer almost all the time while hiking in cool or cold weather.
By May 1 you'll be past most all the cold weather and can re-adjust as needed.
Blissful
03-02-2010, 08:26
You're going to need an insulating jacket (fleece won't do it). Sleeping bag should probably be replaced, though 20 degree is ok, just that your bag is old and is probably more a 30 degree bag. Some say Campmor 20 degree down bag is cheap but good.
just remember the average temps you can look at are valley numbers, not ridge top. and there is a lot of variablity.
Last year I pushed my annual hike back to april to miss the colder weather.
Two days in, it was 15 degrees over night and we had about a foot of snow on the ground.
You never know. Like Clint Eastwood says "Are you feeling lucky, Punk??"
garlic08
03-02-2010, 09:01
I agree with everyone above. I started April 4. My last-minute pack addition was a down vest, and it was very good to have. My excellent 15-degree bag was put to the test repeatedly. I had several nights in the teens with blowing snow, and that's not unusual from what I hear. I would argue for a better bag and a puffy layer. And I would carry rain pants for the first month at least. Have a couple of bread bags or plastic grocery bags handy for your feet (inside the shoes, over the socks) in case you get freezing slushy snow.
If you can't afford the warmer insulation, you can pay close attention to weather forecasts and sit out winter storms in town. And bailing out is usually fairly easy. The storms I experienced were forecast and I knew about them days in advance. Of course, long town stays cost lots of money, too, and are probably frustrating.
Anyone who remembers or has studied the Korean War knows how cold it can get there. U.S. troops had a terrible time at the Chosin Reservoir.
Snowleopard
03-02-2010, 11:36
...
If you can't afford the warmer insulation, you can pay close attention to weather forecasts and sit out winter storms in town. And bailing out is usually fairly easy. The storms I experienced were forecast and I knew about them days in advance. Of course, long town stays cost lots of money, too, and are probably frustrating.
Anyone who remembers or has studied the Korean War knows how cold it can get there. U.S. troops had a terrible time at the Chosin Reservoir.
I just saw a book: The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War, by David Halberstam.
Town stays are expensive, it might be cheaper to buy adequate gear.
Campmor has campmor brand down sleeping bags, (0F and 20F) that are good buys.
Multiple layers of cheap fleece (in graduated sizes) will work for jackets, but a puffy jacket will be lighter and more compact.
The Flatulator
03-02-2010, 12:25
List looks good and is comparable to what I am bringing. I am a cold weather camper (you have to be when you live in Maine!). I use polypropelene tops and bottoms. They are ultra light yet provide more than their weight in warmth. Great for hiking as they do not retain water, and you can slide the sleeves up when you get warm. I have a lightweight fleece jacket and a lightweight raincoat (mostly for windy conditions above treeline). I am plenty warm sitting around camp with my poly, fleece and jacket. If it gets too cold, I just huddle down with my lower half in my sleeping bag. Easy to cook and converse this way and plenty warm. I would also recommend a pair of polypro gloves. No weight to speak of and you will appreciate them on those cold, windy, rainy, raw days. I will be leaving on April 13, so maybe I'll see you up the Trail somewhere.....No rain-no pain---no Maine!!
I started north last year on April 4.
Expect some nights in the teens, possibly with snow, at least until you are well past the Smokies.
I recommend merino wool for its warmth and lack of stink. Icebreaker is a good brand, or there are others. I used merino balaclava, gloves, shirts, long johns, and socks as part of my kit. Worked great for a thermal layer for hiking/sleeping.
thanks for all of the helpful suggestions.
I added a puffy down jacket I found on clearance at REI to the list and just need to find some thermals to sleep/hike in.