Will I bear warm enough?

[Andrewsobo]

I'm considering doing a couple days on the AT, the 30 miles NOBO before Bear Mountain. Temps are looking to be highs of 40, low of 25 with a chance of snow. I'm a Floridian. I've got:

Thermarest Prolite Plus
20 degree Enlightened Equipment Quilt
Down balaclava
Smartwool Balaclava
Turtle Fur (merino) beanie
Smartwool sopris glove liners
Smartwool midweight bottom baselayer
Icebreaker 200 bodyfit top baselayer
Montbell U.L. down jacket
Marmot Precip jacket
Marmot Precip rain paints
Smartwool socks and North Face trail runners

Concerns: not enough insulation for my lower half at night. Don't have a waterproof covering for my glove liners. Quilt is supposed to be good down to 20 comfortably, it's apparently overstuffed by default so that the temp ratings are accurate. Haven't tried it that low yet. I was almost hot in the 40s though.

I also have some "waterproof" Timberland hiking boots that are another option. I can potentially borrow my friend's Marmot Pounder synthetic bag, good to 40 degrees. If I climbed in the Pounder then wrapped the quilt around myself I would be a lot warmer.

[Andrewsobo]

Oops, guess I was thinking about bears when I made the title, should be will I BE warm enough, not bear.

[Tipi Walter]

Bears in the Southeast are pretty warm as is, if that's your point. On the other hand, can you stand being too warm? If you're too warm, well, it could ruin a trip. Only you know the answer to this.

[Cookerhiker]

Which Bear Mountain, NY or CT? I'd recommend the latter because it's a little easier plus has more bail-out possibilities.

[Andrewsobo]

NY. Sadly I don't have a choice as far as location, this is where I can get shuttled to and from. Judging from the elevation profile in my AWOL guide, it looks mostly easy compared to the parts of the trail I've done before (Springer to Damascus).

[Feral Bill]

If it gets much colder than predicted, you may be uncomfortable. Probably not dangerously so. Enjoy.

[Snowleopard]

When are you doing this?

Assuming in the next few days, the weather report for Bear Mt, NY, is rain and warm (29F-47F) tomorrow, then highs in 30s lows in 20s. I'd recommend NOT hiking Friday if you have little cold weather experience; it'll be tough to stay dry and it'll be followed by cold -- i.e., hypothermia weather.
I'd add a 2 pair of thin wool or fleece mittens. Waterproof breathable shell mitts couldn't hurt; otherwise use plastic bags if it rains/snows. I'd also add a thin fleece top for warmth while hiking if it's a little wet.

You should be fine sleeping as long as everything is dry. Be sure to stay dry from rain/snow and from sweat. You're better off if you feel a little bit cool when you start; you'll warm up hiking. Peel off layers if you start to sweat.

[Andrewsobo]

Thanks for the replies. I'm planning on doing this the 22nd-24th, skipping Friday. I've got a cuben fiber pack liner for my ULA Circuit that keeps things pretty dry.

I don't have time or money to get a serious pair of mitts, and I would probably hardly use them... thinking about some plastic bags + rubber band over my hands?

My plan for what to wear while hiking was Icebreaker top, Smartwool bottoms with a pair of athletic shorts over them. Silly looking, but it seems like it would do the trick. If it gets too cold while hiking I was just going to throw my Precip (rain shell) on, not the best solution but at least I don't have to carry (or buy) more gear.

[Andrewsobo]

Also, I'm considering bringing my short sleeve smartwool microweight tshirt just as an extra layer for during the day.

[joshuasdad]

Looks like a minimalist setup for the temperatures you are expecting, and seemingly fine for a day hike. I think you might be cold in camp when not under the quilt. Consider bring winter (ski) type gloves, the last time I used liners only at 20 F, I wished that I had more.Do not underestimate the 30 miles south of Bear Mountain. I have heard that it is quite rugged, and has a lot of elevation change in the form of steep ups and downs. Much different than most Southern hiking.

[MuddyWaters]

If you assume your quilt is true, your clothing adds about 10F , your good for sleeping to 10. If you have a tent, possibly 3-5 F lower.
You seem to have plenty of sleeping insul to me.
Personally I would want a light fleece I could hike in, or put on while I was still sweating, but many do get by with just what you have there.

[Andrewsobo]

After doing a little research on backpacking light, it seems like nitrile exam gloves over my wool liners is the way to go for water/wind proofing.

I'm also planning on bringing a pair of thick smartwool socks that I won't hike with during the day and will only use to sleep in.

[Feral Bill]

If you can, you might want to get a Harriman State Park trail map. If you are running behind on time you can pick an easier route for the last day. If you are running ahead, you can pick some interesting side trips.

[Cookerhiker]

NY. Sadly I don't have a choice as far as location, this is where I can get shuttled to and from. Judging from the elevation profile in my AWOL guide, it looks mostly easy compared to the parts of the trail I've done before (Springer to Damascus).

[QUOTE=joshuasdad;1376158...Do not underestimate the 30 miles south of Bear Mountain. I have heard that it is quite rugged, and has a lot of elevation change in the form of steep ups and downs. Much different than most Southern hiking.[/QUOTE]

Many hikers, including thruhikers, have underestimated the difficulty of Harriman Park. Perhaps it's because like you, they look at elevation profiles and reason that since the highest point in NY is less than 1,500', the hiking must be easy. You'll find that the 32 miles from Greenwood Lake to Bear Mountain features a number of very steep ups and downs. In fact, a stretch of it is nicnamed by locals "Agony Grind."

A NOBO thruhiking bud of mine asserted that the 16 mile day from Rt. 17A to Fingerboard Shelter was his hardest day of his thruhike up to that point. AWOL in his AWOL on the Appalachian Trail said the following:

"With all I've read about the trail, I am surprised by the dearth of accounts about the difficulty of this section. The hills are low but the trail goes steeply up and down, and there is a rock scramble at the top of many hills. This day is harder than the Roller Coaster in Virginia. Taken together, these last two days have been harder than anything since Tennessee."

And when I section-hiked NY, the register entries in the shelters were full of observations/complaints about the difficulty. Maybe as inferred by AWOL, it's because that aside from Lehigh Gap, the hiking since Virginia had not featured steepness. But whatever, be advised that it's not a cakewalk especially in winter when ice on the boulders could be downright treacherous.

[Pathfinder1]

Andrewsobo;
After doing a little research on backpacking light, it seems like nitrile exam gloves over my wool liners is the way to go for water/wind proofing.


Hi...


Beware re: nitrile...no means of perspiration to escape...you may end up with wet, clammy, cold hands.

[Snowleopard]

I was surprised on my little local hike today that microspikes would have been very useful; even after the warm weather and rain we've been having there was a thin layer of ice/snow on rocks. It'll be hard to know if you need them till you're on the trail. Perhaps a NY local can chime in on this.

If your hands get cold, use your spare socks as mitts.

[Hosaphone]

Andrewsobo;
After doing a little research on backpacking light, it seems like nitrile exam gloves over my wool liners is the way to go for water/wind proofing.


Hi...


Beware re: nitrile...no means of perspiration to escape...you may end up with wet, clammy, cold hands.

I suspect whatever BPL conversations Andrew was reading were not talking about wind/waterproofing, but using Vapor Barrier Layers (VBL's). A vapor barrier is anything that doesn't breath (nitrile, etc). You wear a VBL in between your skin and insulation layers to prevent perspiration from soaking the insulation and keeping it from insulating. The result is wet, clammy, WARM hands/feet/etc.

[hikerboy57]

NY. Sadly I don't have a choice as far as location, this is where I can get shuttled to and from. Judging from the elevation profile in my AWOL guide, it looks mostly easy compared to the parts of the trail I've done before (Springer to Damascus).

although there are no big climbs, its not as easy as the profile leads you t believe.when are youu planning on going? coming up from florida you will naturally be colder for the first day or two.i would say if the weather stays the way its been lately youll be fine. but normally its a bit colder. either way i dont think youd freeze to death, maybe uncomfortable. otherwise bring the pounder.

[MuddyWaters]

After doing a little research on backpacking light, it seems like nitrile exam gloves over my wool liners is the way to go for water/wind proofing.

I'm also planning on bringing a pair of thick smartwool socks that I won't hike with during the day and will only use to sleep in.

If you can find the thin, light , plastic gloves that are sometimes in dispensers at gas stations, they work and are nearly weightless. They are oversized so they fit better, can secure at wrist with a rubber band. You can carry several pair for very little wt.

goes without saying you have to be gentle

[Andrewsobo]

Made it. Did Longhouse Drive (Road?) to the Palisades Parkway visitor center, cut it a little short of Bear Mountain because I wasn't nearly as fast in this terrain as I thought and I'm visiting family today. 11 or so miles the first day, 15 the second day, about 7.5 today.

You guys weren't joking, this terrain is MUCH harder than the AWOL elevation profile led me to believe. Some real tough ups on the second day, the lemon squeezer and the little climb just after were really iced over. Had to do a water crossing by some lake that was above my belly button (I'm 6'). Not sure how cold it was out but there was ice everywhere so either below freezing or close to it.

I took off my shoes and socks, crossed barefoot in my merino boxers and athletic shorts. Stripped them off when I got to dry land, threw on my merino bottom baselayer and shoes/socks. It actually wasn't that bad. I assume there was a bridge there before, but I guess Sandy took it out? On the first day there was a shin deep water crossing maybe a mile from where I started on Longhouse Drive, fast moving current but I was able to hang on to a downed tree as I crossed. Got a little snow the first day, some pretty intense wind. It was like 74 in Gainesville the day I left, and then less than 24 hours later I'm crossing a freezing river... great trip.

Let me know if I did anything wrong. I made it so I assume I didn't do anything too wrong, but what is the standard for river crossings in freezing conditions?

Gear worked out great. I carried a polyster Under Armor hoodie for use during the day. Most of the time I hiked in merino boxers, athletic shorts, merino baselayer top and merino glove liners. Didn't really need the hoodie, but it was nice to put my legs through the arm holes at night (and to throw on while still sweating, as MuddyWaters suggested) . Slept in my quilt with my down balaclava, down jacket unzipped, merino t shirt, merino baselayers top and bottom, hoodie covering the legs, two pairs of merino socks with handwarmers in between the layers. I was downright toasty, temps were probably in the 20s. I also carried a pair of waterproof ski gloves that made my hands start to sweat as soon as I put them on, so I didn't need them. Would have been nice in an emergency though so I don't regret having them.