WanderLearn Forum with Francis Tapon

I've been enjoying your hiking updates. It's a cool life you lead.
I'm spending a week on the CDT the first week of August this summer in La Garita Wilderness in southern Colorado.

My big problem is coldness at night. I do tons of layers (including a hooded sweatshirt), and sleep on a pad. Do you have any recommendations for especially warm long underwear and sleeping bags?

I'm backpacking - I just really hate being cold. Every year we go, I freeze my *** off every night, and that's wearing a stocking cap and every stitch of clothing I own.

I'm intrigued by the quilts. It strikes me that a mummy bag would be warmer than a quilt which has open sides. Do you agree?
Are the quilts super-warm?

Am I crazy to consider the Dark Star by North face?

Any thoughts would be great.
Andy Jones

Colorado is COLD! Even in August! I recommend GoLite's clothes, like this:

http://www.golite.com/product/proddetai ... AM1558&s=1

It's light and will keep you warm, but probably super toasty; it's a good layer. GoLite has some tops too, which you could use in your everyday workouts and they're a good layer.

GoLite also makes a great sleeping bag. I like the Ultra 20.

If you want something that is very light, then also consider the www.jacksrbetter.com

I like this one the best:
http://www.jacksrbetter.com/index_files/RMS.htm

It's just a quilt, so you're not fully enclosed, but it's a great if you're going backpacking. If you're car camping, then you can bring as many layers as you want.

Quilts are as warm as the insulation in them. More insulation, the warmer they are.

Ed Viesturs uses them. He sleeps under one with his climbing partner in -40 degrees. They share body heat.

So they work.

They can be drafty is you shift a lot. With the JRB design, you can either tuck the edge of the quilt under your body (like I did), or use their special attachment. The GoLite Ultra 20has a nice design.

The Dark Star is great if you are going to face temps near -40 or if you are car camping and/or like to camp naked. At 6 lbs, they're HEAVY for backpacking. All my gear was under 6 lbs! Since you'll be there in August, it never gets that cold then. So it's overkill for your situation.

Get something rated between 0-20 degrees. Getting colder bags aren't just heavier, but they're bulkier than lighter ones. Save space for food!

Listen to the JRB podcast and GoLite Ultra 20 podcasts to learn more.

Consider the loft to consider how warm it will be. The JRB sleeping bag I used Rocky Mountain Sniveller has 3.5 inches of loft, so you'll survive to around 5 degrees F. Since you're a cold sleeper, it'll probably only keep you comfy until about 20 degrees F, which is fine for August in Colorado.

Comfort Rating (°F) Loft (inches)

40 1.5
30 2.0
20 2.5
10 3.25
0 4.0


Perhaps most importantly, learn to pick a warm place to camp! Tips:

• * Camp among the trees: they block wind and they trap heat.
  
  * Avoid passes, summits and high places: it's cold.
  
  * Avoid valleys and gullies: cold air collects there in the night.
  
  * Avoid camping near creeks/rivers: katabatic winds make those places MUCH colder than just being a 50 meters above them.
  
  * Do a bit of exercise right before bed to warm your body up (but don't sweat!) right before you jump into the sack.

Finally, bring at least one warm hat (or balaclava). JRB has a goofy looking hat that is insanely warm for only 2 oz:

http://www.jacksrbetter.com/index_files/Down%20Hood.htm

More here: http://francistapon.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=20