[pct-l] layering

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

On Feb 5, 2011, at 5:31 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
>
> When you are up in camp in the morning, but still some time away from
> hiking out, and it's gray and 37 degrees, what layering might you be
> using to stay comfortable?
If you are a thru-hiker, there is no such thing as "in camp in the  
morning". I literally popped up, ate something while still in my  
sleeping bag, packed up and hit the trail in 20 minutes after waking up.


> Or, you have hiked out, and stop for
> breakfast, and it's 37 degrees, same question, I suppose.  Just trying
> to keep from taking too much along....I think I hear you laughing  
> at my
> naivete...

Ha ha ha ha! No, I'm not laughing. See smiley face: :) Just trying to  
be funny. Anyway, once you get walking, you'll warm up. Gloves help  
if it's really that cold. It was rarely 37 degrees while I was awake.

Layers are good. I wear at all times a tank top and a long-sleeved  
button-up hiking shirt. If it's colder, I'll add my Patagonia Houdini  
and my fleece balaclava either as a hat or a balaclava. If it's even  
colder, I will pull the hood on the Houdini on and put on fleece  
fingerless gloves. My gloves were my best friend. I'm sorry I lost  
them. If it's even colder I might add the Ray Jardine bomber hat I  
sleep in. If it's even colder I might -- and I stress the word might  
-- add my Patagonia down sweater. I try not to wear it while hiking  
if at all possible.

I was only cold enough to wear all that (minus the down sweater)  
while hiking a few times. Usually I could tolerate the coldness with  
just the tank top and long-sleeved button-up shirt until the hiking  
warmed me up.

It's amazing how used to the cold you get. I became practically  
invincible, at least compared to my usual freezing all the time self.