Stupid questions from a seriously out-of-touch seakayak-tourer turned Class of 2010 A

[twodifferentsocks]

Stupid questions from a seriously out-of-touch seakayak-tourer turned Class of 2010 AT thru hiker.

1. Can you layer capilene over capilene? Patagucci says you can, but I have read other places that you shouldn't. My lightweight cap long sleeve has more holes in it than a death-by-pyrahna victim (it looks homelessy, and I am sick of people in restaurants looking at me funny so I want a new one or two and I deserve it).

2. I have a 16 year old NF 20 deg down bag that has seen the end of it's backcountry life. I look to purchase a new bag for the hike. I am planning a March 1 start at Springer. If I combined a 40 or 50 Deg bag with the Primaloft garments below, do you think it would equal a 30 or 20 deg bag. BTW-I tested the sleeping naked theory in a hutte on the Dachstein Glacier...the poop inside of my body froze. In my experience, the more well-performing insulation surrounding you the better, but I don't want to buy all this stuff to test the light bag theory. What do you guys think?
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3. I received a free Mountain Hardware Synchro jacket last season, great jacket, my first soft shell. I'm thinking of scrapping my heavy fleece for this.

4. For Springer March 1. On the right track? And 5. I have spent the last two weeks getting to know your community through your writings, forums and articles. You guys are great.
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[Jim Adams]

Bite the bullit and buy a new bag. Your clothing and a 40*-50* bag will not keep you warm with a march 1 start. If I were you I'd buy a 10*-15* bag, use it until you are past the Highlands and then use the 40*-50* bag to NH and then get the warmer bag back.

geek

[Lyle]

I haven't been to GA in March, so take my advice with a somewhat skeptical eye. I have had a lot of experience stretching a three-season bag's warmth through four seasons.

While I won't say that your idea absolutely won't work, I would doubt it. Possibly if you had a full-on down jacket or parka I would be more inclined to say go for it. Other big factors for stretching a light bag into heavier use is a good hat/balaclava and good/extra bottom insulation (pad). Down booties are also terrific inside a too-cold bag.

The problem with these make-do solutions for a too-light bag, is that they usually end up heavier and more bulky than just getting a good bag, and carrying more moderate insulating layers, counting on your bag as your final refuge for the really cold evenings.

I would personally recommend getting a nice bag, and changing out as geek suggested. By the same token, if you want to try your system, there are several good outfitters early on in the trip, and you can modify your gear then if necessary - but bring some extra cash!

Whatever you decide, test it out between now and next spring, and remember, when you're hiking - HAVE FUN!!!!!

[Foyt20]

Sounds like you are on track. I wear an Under Armor heat gear long sleve shirt under a UA Tshirt when I hike and thats no issue. The only weird thing is when i put on a fleece or rain coat over it, you can feel the wicking pulling the water vapor away. Kind of a strange sensation.

Is that a spread sheet you created? Is there any way you could post it up? That seems like a good planning tool for people.

[The Weasel]

SOF--

About the 40/50 degree bag. It is possible - marginally - if you do some multi-use things, which I would certainly try first:

- Have capilene longjohns and fleece pants and a sweater underneath an outerlayer, and wear 2 layers of socks.
- Use your pack as a semi bivy bag
- Balaclava and sock gloves

You will have some very marginal nights, but if you are determined to try it, it's possible.

TW

[kanga]

march in the ga mountains can be wicked cold at times. 10-15* bag at the least. i've had my water bottles freeze in my 0* a couple of times before. as for the insulation theory, i personally am warmer nekkid in my bag than with clothes on, but you've got to pee sometime...
no you cannot combine the primaloft with the 40-50* and get down below freezing.
drop the kokatat fleece and keep the syncro.
lose one of the hats.
chacos are heavy.

[brooklynkayak]

You can always layer bags. Carry two summer or 3 season bags in the beginning, bounce one ahead when it gets warm and use both again near the end.

[buz]

I think Lyle's post is right on. Test what you got, if you want to use it, at cold temps, then seriously think about a nice new, cozy, light, compressible, warm, down bag, if there are issues with your layering approach. It will be a life time purchase, and will be lighter and smaller then your combo set up, when u add it all up. Cash out for sure, but not being cold is worth it, IMO. Hot is good, cold is crap.

Good luck.

[twodifferentsocks]

Is that a spread sheet you created? Is there any way you could post it up? That seems like a good planning tool for people.

Thank you for all of your advice. Much appreciated :) My spreadsheet is a cumbersome, work-in-progress, but here is what I have so far. Must have MS Word 2007 I'm afraid.

here is the link: http://geoffreyhunt.com/trips/Gear-List.xlsx

Another good spreadsheet was by Jim Wood at http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/Spreadsheet/index.html I based mine off of his design, but his didn't include multi-season functionality.

[bigcranky]

You might could do it with a 30-F rated bag. A good one, anyway. I've taken my WM Megalite into the teens with a down jacket, Polarstretch tights, and down booties. I don't think a 40-50 rated bag would work with those clothing layers you listed. Even the 30-F bag with my down clothing would be pushing it on some nights in March.

I have tried a soft shell on multiday trips and don't like it. Mine is too heavy to wear while actually hiking on all but the coldest days (i.e., below 20-F), and not at all warm enough when I stop. And it's really heavy for all that. But then my wife loves her Marmot Sharp Point jacket and never takes it off on cold-weather hikes. But then she's *always* cold. Always. So it depends on your tolerance for cold, I guess.

I prefer a wind shirt over a light base layer while hiking. When stopped, add the puffy jacket (down or primaloft). In bad weather, add the hard shell. This 4-layer system seems to be the most versatile, in my experience. (The wind shirt I take depends on the season. I really like my Marmot Driclime, but most of the time I take an ultralight <3 ounce single-layer wind shirt.)

[Pringles]

Welcome to Whiteblaze, and have a nice hike. :welcome

Beth

[David@whiteblaze]

Thank you for all of your advice. Much appreciated :) My spreadsheet is a cumbersome, work-in-progress, but here is what I have so far. Must have MS Word 2007 I'm afraid.

here is the link: http://geoffreyhunt.com/trips/Gear-List.xlsx

Another good spreadsheet was by Jim Wood at http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/Spreadsheet/index.html I based mine off of his design, but his didn't include multi-season functionality.
heres a tip in case anyone is running an old system. open your spreadsheet and click save as. then, select word 97-2001 doc. and save it as that. users running newer comp. can still use it.

[twodifferentsocks]

for older systems and with more gear:

http://geoffreyhunt.com/trips/Gear-List-old.xls


Thanks everyone:) Thanks to this forum, I've got my Early March Base wt to 25 lbs, carrying 'most' of what I want. Including a fancy-dancy bear canister so I NEVER have to hang a bag again! And the raccoons won't eat my Wheaties on the ICW anymore! Yay!

[twodifferentsocks]

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