[pct-l] temps

[Stephen Adams]

Down is lighter and a real problem if it gets wet.  Synthetic is heavy but safer.  
I've been using down in the Sierra for all weather conditions for a lot of years at high elevation.  I use the lightest twenty degree bag I can find.  For the last five it's been an REI Sub Kilo and for the last two years I have been quite comfortable in it under a tarp, but I found myself constantly checking to make sure I wasn't getting damp when it rains.   Otherwise I had it in a Gortex bivy which also adds a lot of warmth and I got away with a Marmot 30 degree Arroyo for the five years prior to that down into freezing frosty conditions with the bivy and slept quite warm.  But idealy, if you decide on down, it might be a good idea to spend the extra duckets and get a bag with a Goreloft shell.  My winter bag has the older Gorloft shell and I have even been rained on with it, thouroughly frosted and condesated numerous times and only have had to get it out later in the day or when convenient and air it out, say at a lunch or long break.  I'll add this, when I hiked the lost coast in N.Cal I really wish I had a Gorloft bag as I only had the light Arroyo with its thin outer shell.  It felt clammy and damp and makes me think something like that might be wanting in WA if it is raining a lot.  
I treat my sleeping bag like it is the last line of defense against the cold.  I will double bag it for creek crossings and such and they make really nice lightweight dry sacks for sleeping bags now so get one no matter what bag you decide on.  I use small light garbage bags usually but I am not often making the early season fords the PCT thru will make.        
On Dec 3, 2009, at 5:28 PM, will.hiltz at gmail.com wrote:

> 20 if you sleep warm, zero if you sleep colder. I carried a zero and was happy. If you have the resources, trade out for a synthetic bag for WA. 20 degree and a bag liner seemed to be fine for most people but keep it dry!
> 
> 
> Easy
> ------Original Message------
> From: Hike Vegan
> Sender: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] temps
> Sent: Dec 3, 2009 5:22 PM
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Can anybody give us temperature ranges for the PCT?  We are considering
> purchasing sleeping bags and wondering how low the temperature gets and if
> it varies greatly by section?  Thanks!  Elise
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