[pct-l] Bivy sacs

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

On Sep 7, 2010, at 12:38 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> My next question has to do with the practical function of a bivy sac.

Your description of the guy trying to get in and out of his bivy  
leads me to believe he had one of those little bivy tents, not a bivy  
sack that lightweight hikers carry. A bivy sack is not intended to be  
used as a primary shelter.

Last year I carried a bivy sack and a poncho. The poncho was for rain  
coming from above. The bivy sack was for rain that might splash me  
while I was sleeping under the poncho. Mostly, however, I used the  
bivy sack to keep ants from climbing in as I slept under the stars.