[pct-l] hiking in rain gear

[Marion Davison]

I do my long hikes in the summer in the Sierras-usually 30 to 50 days 
per summer. I always take polypro long underwear, it weighs so little 
but I consider it to be the absolute essential bottom layer for stormy 
days on high passes.  When I gotta go over Forester and rain is 
threatening, I put that on first.  Then my usual hiking layers over it 
(nylon long pants, silk shirt) then fleece top and wind shirt.  When the 
rain hits I toss on my silnylon poncho and waterproof pants and I feel 
bombproof and warm.  I have found gore-tex jackets just too confining, I 
sweat them up too much and sweat thru all my layers, and besides my pack 
doesn't stay dry.  So the poncho works best for me.  I've also been 
known to wear rubber gloves to hike in cold rainy conditions.  I can put 
fleece mittens or nylon overmitts over them and my hands are warm and 
dry.  Cold  bare wet hands are debilitating.
Marion