[pct-l] Emailing: hypocold

[Jeffrey Olson]

I hiked for almost a week in June 2005 south from Manning in clouds and 
periodic blowing snow.  I wore shorts, long underwear top, a primaloft 
vest, fleece hat, and windproof anorak and was always comfortable.  As 
soon as I hit blowing rain just on the south side of the Packwood 
Glacier, I got hypothermic wearing those clothes plus a frogg toggs 
top.  I have a long waist and the raincoat didn't hang far enough over 
my butt to protect my undergarments, and they leached water halfway up 
my body.  I've gone back to a silynylon poncho. 

It took only ten minutes of "I'm going to be out of this really soon" 
before I was cold, and then shivering.  I finally stopped under a big 
tree and heated dinner up.  Hellcat walked by and we talked for a 20 
minutes or so.  He didn't say his name and I named him "Sweet man" 
because every other sentence began with "Sweeeeeeet!"    I walked past 
Sheep Lake, completely missing it for the clouds, and  finally pitched 
my tent in blowing clouds at 2PM, still cold, still trying to warm up.   
As I walked down the hill after taking a dump the next morning, Skittles 
strode by, noting my tent but not seeing me. 

My lesson was I forgot how quickly being wet drains bodily heat.  What's 
funny, is that while hiking in Idaho's Sawtooths this summer, I waited 
to put on the poncho because I was going uphill and figured I'd stay 
warm because I was working so hard.  True, but stopping for a break at 
the top of the ridge was a mistake.  I was shivering in just two 
minutes...  Maybe I don't hike enough to learn...  Nice thought...

Jeff, just Jeff...