Shivers in the Night

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

The only really miserable night I've ever spent on the AT was one where I had to spend the night because of a sudden winter storm near Thunderhead Mountain in late April that made finsihing a day hike impossible. I had a poncho for shelter and enough clothing to keep from freezing to death, but not much else. I built a small fire for warmth / to melt snow for water. Didn't get any sleep and was sooo sore from shivering the next day as I hiked out.

[maxNcathy]

Is hail a real threat to a tent? Have You ever had or seen a tent damaged? I read about high winds and marble sized hailstones on the AT.

[orangebug]

I doubt a common threat, as hail is usually an afternoon event associated with thunderstorms and wind. I don't know that you would have much of a chance to pitch a tent in such a storm.

[TIDE-HSV]

you should be OK at least up to marble size. I've never been in hail on the AT, but 20 years ago, my wife and I were camped at South Fork Lakes in the Wind River Range, our honeymoon, I might add, and a sudden hail storm blew up and the Eureka Apine Meadows tent held up great. As luck would have it, I'd just caught a nice brook trout and I used the hail to ice it down. When you're lying on your stomach looking out at it hailing, it looks like popcorn. You don't see it fall, because of the speed, I guess. But, you see the bounce, hence the popcorn illusion. That same tent succumbed, though, several years later. to willy-waws (sudden downbursts of wind off the ridges - it is, after all, the Wind River Range). The winds bent three of the four poles. We had extras for a little cooking vestibule, so I was able to jam those in the sleeves and reinforce the bent ones. We had to back away from the lakes and into the woods and build windbreaks. We'd already had to do that for a friend, whose tent was almost blown away. That was the year of the Yellowstone fires and the Fayette fire was right over the CD from us to the west, and that probably had something to do with the wind bursts...

[Tipi Walter]

I had a tree fall on my tent at Marys Rock in the Shenandoah(just left it to do some yoga - praise Buddha), I spent all night in my tent puking in Grayson Highlands, I had to do an emergency evac when a creek flooded its bank and I was under water, had a tent pole break in Slickrock and a high wind whipped my tent against me and slapped me silly on Bob Bald(bent the tent pole), had a Svea stove blow up on me as I was trying to impress a young woman hiker with gear-handling, had a bald-faced hornet crawl into my tent and into my goatee on the AT outside of Hot Springs at 2am and sting my chin(ow!!), had a skunk lick my pot clean and stick his head in the tent afterwards(we exchanged greetings), took a dump on my own bootlaces, got lost in a Pisgah gorge and tried to bushwack down to the river and got stranded on a cliff face with a full pack on my back(my worst experience).

BUT I was never struck by lightning, never chewed by a black bear, never rattlesnake bit though one got very pissed, only just nearly copperhead bit, never actually crushed by a tree, never caught in a forest fire and all my hitchhiking turned out GREAT. See you in THE WOODS!

[The Scribe]

I think to worry about getting cold is pointless... cuz you are gonna be cold...and sore ..and tired.. and hungry and ( hopefully ) having a fantastic time ...just get the best gear ya can and be smart.

Sure we can and will all get cold, it's the exceptions I think this thread is about. Exceptions that can be serious trouble.

Labor Day weekend 2004 on a section hike between Caratunk and Monson in Maine. Beautiful weekend. Perfect hiking weather. Ended the day at Bald Mountain Brook shelter. Sat and talked with others there, set up camp, ate dinner.

Immediately after eating, I started shivering soo bad. Couldn't stop it. Drank something hot. Put on all the close I had. Ended up going to bed like at 7 and finally warming up in the bag.

As someone mentioned in the thread, dehydration can contribute to it too and I am sure that is what was up with me.

[atraildreamer]

You gotta dress for the mountains and let that natural insulation grow!:

[Hammock Hanger]

I had a tree fall on my tent at Marys Rock in the Shenandoah(just left it to do some yoga - praise Buddha), I spent all night in my tent puking in Grayson Highlands, I had to do an emergency evac when a creek flooded its bank and I was under water, had a tent pole break in Slickrock and a high wind whipped my tent against me and slapped me silly on Bob Bald(bent the tent pole), had a Svea stove blow up on me as I was trying to impress a young woman hiker with gear-handling, had a bald-faced hornet crawl into my tent and into my goatee on the AT outside of Hot Springs at 2am and sting my chin(ow!!), had a skunk lick my pot clean and stick his head in the tent afterwards(we exchanged greetings), took a dump on my own bootlaces, got lost in a Pisgah gorge and tried to bushwack down to the river and got stranded on a cliff face with a full pack on my back(my worst experience).

BUT I was never struck by lightning, never chewed by a black bear, never rattlesnake bit though one got very pissed, only just nearly copperhead bit, never actually crushed by a tree, never caught in a forest fire and all my hitchhiking turned out GREAT. See you in THE WOODS!

Well, I will make sure I do not hike with you, as you are a magnet for stuff and rirpe and overdue for being: struck by lightning, never chewed by a black bear, never rattlesnake bit though one got very pissed, only just nearly copperhead bit, never actually crushed by a tree, never caught in a forest fire ....

[WILLIAM HAYES]

I have spent two very cold nights on the AT- Once three years ago at Woods Hole Shelter South of Blood MT. Cold rain with temps dropping I had a layer of ice on my rain gear when I got to the shelter I never got fully warmed up even in my 15 degree marmot Down bag. The second time was in the smokies during march two years ago at Derrick knob- one college hiker had hypothermia and was air lifted out the next morning -he was wearing cotton-we had heavy snow and deep drifts -up to your waist if you got of the ridgeline. I stayed warm with most of my clothing on in my sleeping bag. Just be prepared and know when to hunker down.

Hillbilly

[Tipi Walter]

I nursed a sick wild raccoon for 3 days on a snow covered ridge and helped it pass over, once took a rest on a steep trail and drank a Knudsen ginger ale when a yellow jacket fell into it and got in my mouth and stung my inner lip(ow!!), jammed a crab apple thorn spike thru my trailrunners and could barely walk, had a puppy dog chew my tent apart, got caught in the blizzard of '93 in a canvas tipi and in the snow induced chaos knocked over a full pee bucket onto the floor, had an incense stick burn completely thru a thermarest while camping at Shining Rock(Sam's Knob), tried to convince many women to forsake syphilization and live outdoors with only limited success(the worst experience of all).

Yet more? I caught a stray hunting dog pulling down my food bag in the Nantahala forest(he ate well), caught a raccoon in Pisgah opening my food bag and dragging everything down to the creek(paw prints in the half eaten cheese), saw a dayglo crawdad in Ripshin creek when I fell trying to climb the worst manway in Pisgah, had to do a 30 mile yellow blaze to Hot Springs on Hiway 209 cuz there was no traffic to hitch, bit a big garden slug in half when moving gear at night in a rainstorm(don't ask), slept in a cemetary behind a big tombstone and scared the crap out of 3 pot smokers when I rose up out of my mummy bag to say hello, woke up too fast in a rainstorm and jumped to put the fly on the tent and passed out(came to wet).

But Momma Nature has been good to me in the 28 years of living out, she can't wait for me to join her for a January trip to the high ground to be one of the frozen chosen in the freezin' season. She's the wild woman of the wind.

[terrapin_too]

But Momma Nature has been good to me in the 28 years of living out, she can't wait for me to join her for a January trip to the high ground to be one of the frozen chosen in the freezin' season. She's the wild woman of the wind.

Always a treat reading these screeds, Tipi, always a new phrase or thought worth stashing into the memory banks. Thanks!

[hikerjohnd]

Has anyone had your tent fail in the night?

Oh yea - before I carried a beefier front stake, my tent (Europa 05) fell over the night I spent just south of Unaka Mtn. There were storms and lightning and all sorts of other fun things. Whenthings calmed down outside, I set it back up and at the next stop I bought a bigger stake for the front.

[Tipi Walter]

Always a treat reading these screeds, Tipi, always a new phrase or thought worth stashing into the memory banks. Thanks!

Always a treat reading these screeds: I like the sound of that. You are more than welcome to stash this stuff in your memory banks, in fact, once I figure out a way to clean and purge MY cluttered cerebral memory banks(this is where Whiteblaze comes in), I will travel with a lighter pack. Maybe have room for an extra book or two.

[Ridge Rat]

You need to choose your tent site with some care, but it's not that hard. Don't camp on high, exposed ridges. If it it looks like it might rain, consider drainage and don't pitch your tent where water is likely to run or to pool. Any decent tent these days, if pitched properly, will keep you dry in *most* foul weather.

When I first started backpacking alone in college I used to live for sleeping on exposed ridgelines for the view... thus the name. Problem was, I would give up a good nights sleep from being completely frozen for a great scenery when I awoke. Had a group of Section hikers that I was half following up the trail doing the same section dub me ridge rat because of my choice of campsites and me bitching about being cold all night. I have since learned my lesson, but the name stuck.

[maxNcathy]

Thanks for your stories.If I can't sleep I won't feel like hiking.

[terrapin_too]

Thanks for your stories.If I can't sleep I won't feel like hiking.

It takes some people years to learn that. Take what you need, do what you need to do, to get a good night's sleep on the trail.

Carry a good tent, learn to select campsites that will keep you out of the worst of the weather. If a shelter is crowded or noisy, skip it and use your tent. If it's windy or cold, chances are you'll be more comfortable in a tent, anyway. With a bit of care and luck (back to good tent-site selection) you'll have softer ground underneath you as well.

Last thought... maybe a bit more controversial. An ibuprofen or two before bed time will take the edge off those aches and pains and help you get a good night's rest. Works for me .

[mrc237]

You're from Ontario - you should be giving us advice!

[Tipi Walter]

It takes some people years to learn that. Take what you need, do what you need to do, to get a good night's sleep on the trail.

Carry a good tent, learn to select campsites that will keep you out of the worst of the weather. If a shelter is crowded or noisy, skip it and use your tent. If it's windy or cold, chances are you'll be more comfortable in a tent, anyway. With a bit of care and luck (back to good tent-site selection) you'll have softer ground underneath you as well.

Last thought... maybe a bit more controversial. An ibuprofen or two before bed time will take the edge off those aches and pains and help you get a good night's rest. Works for me .

Praise all tents both big and small and praise the backpacks that carry them!

There is a funny thing that happens on a backpacking trip, I haven't put a name to it yet but one will come to me. It is this: No matter how rough a day I've had and no matter how many miles I've walked and no matter if I feel like quitting, on the next day and on the next morning all is forgotten and I am ready to hit the trail with renewed enthusiasm. This is like some kind of Backpacker's Law or something.

[maxNcathy]

You're from Ontario - you should be giving us advice!

Robert, I have spent a night or two cold due to poor equipment.This fall I built a "spruce tipi" in the yard and sleep out there a couple times a week testing new sleeping bags rated for 20F and 10F and 0F along with different pieces of bed clothing to figure out what my body requires for a cozy night's sleep.
I am thinking the 10F bag with a light down sweater/jacket would be a wise thing to do for me.My 0F bag weighs 3 lbs 8oz so I may take a lighter bag.

Sandalwood/Max

[Tipi Walter]

Robert, I have spent a night or two cold due to poor equipment.This fall I built a "spruce tipi" in the yard and sleep out there a couple times a week testing new sleeping bags rated for 20F and 10F and 0F along with different pieces of bed clothing to figure out what my body requires for a cozy night's sleep.
I am thinking the 10F bag with a light down sweater/jacket would be a wise thing to do for me.My 0F bag weighs 3 lbs 8oz so I may take a lighter bag.

Sandalwood/Max

Your quote brings back memories of my early backpacking years which can be described with one word: EXPERIMENTATION. Of course, I lived in the mountains of North Carolina which had some tough winters(not like Canada!) and so I tried everything to stay light and to stay warm. I went thru the whole wad of down vs synthetic, inflatable pad vs ensolite, tarp vs tent, single pole tipi style tent vs 4 season double wall, ultralite bedroll pack vs huge externals, etc.

Oh, and one last insult of mishap and mayhem I forgot to mention(squeamish readers turn away): Snowed in for 5 days in a blizzard and with an angry turtlehead poking out, I had to birth a vicious colon lizard inside the tent and store it for later burial. I've heard of Alaskan guys doing this in their cabins and tossing the whole bundle into a woodstove and I've done it many times in the tipi in the winter but never before in a tent on a backpacking trip. Sometimes the whole idea of going out in the snowy cold wind and digging a hole can be too much.