[pct-l] Hypothermia (was "Earthquake!")

[Thomas Jamrog]

I agree.  We live the same cautious lives when heading out into the wilds of Maine.  
Uncle tom 

Follow Uncle Tom on the PCT 2010.
2,656 miles from Mexico to Canada.
Tom is posting online reports on http://www.trailjournals.com/tjamrogPCT/

tjamrog at me.com

http://twitter.com
httpp://tjamrog.wordpress.com

On Apr 9, 2010, at 5:26 PM, dsaufley wrote:

> Radar, 
> 
> As usual, you're correct.  The "I don't need this raingear/shelter" attitude
> is exacerbated by our warmer weather.  It can be hot and sunny for extended
> periods, leading people (locals as well as visitors) to believe that,
> "Summer is here so why bother with all this cold weather gear?" They send it
> ahead to Kennedy Meadows.  
> 
> Unfortunately, winter and spring are extremely variable in southern
> California, and you absolutely should hold onto your raingear and shelter
> any time you go for a hike. As Bill Bryson pointed out in "A Walk in the
> Woods," and as my WFA instructors have cautioned, more people die of
> hypothermia when the temperatures on a fair day plummets to a mere 50
> degrees or so, catching people without adequate warmth and protection, than
> die in snowy blizzard conditions. It doesn't take much chill before your
> hands won't obey your commands to strike a match or lighter, zip a jacket,
> or put up shelter, and things can go really south from there.
> 
> This is my same old, tired out, broken record,
> you're-all-tired-of-hearing-it warning. Sadly, I know that there will still
> be too many hikers who don't get this message and make this mistake. It cost
> one precious hiker his life. Despite that, I see hikers taking that chance
> though I hope and pray I won't.
> 
> L-Rod
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> On Behalf Of Gary Wright
> Sent: Friday, April 09, 2010 10:56 AM
> To: Eugene
> Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Hypothermia (was "Earthquake!")
> 
> 
> On Apr 9, 2010, at 11:06 AM, Eugene wrote:
>> 
>> I was so certain that we'd warm up quickly in a shelter that provided wind
> protection.  I took off my wet pants and put on my thick down jacket, puffy
> pants, bomber hat and crawled under my zero degree cuben fiber quilt. 
> 
> Any estimates as to the air temp and/or wind speeds that day?
> 
> This is a great example of why it is necessary to have bad-weather gear in
> Southern
> California.  It seems each year there are hikers who ask if it is reasonable
> to skip
> the rain-gear and shelter while hiking in SoCal during thru-hiker season in
> an effort
> to reduce the weight of their pack.
> 
> Radar
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