[pct-l] [John Muir Trail] Winter tent

[Ned Tibbits]

Hi, Bill!

Every year, starting a couple of weeks after the Kickoff, we begin teaching a series of 10-day, Advanced Snow Skills Courses along the PCT and JMT from the southern Kennedy Meadows north. Typically, this is a great time to head into the high sierra as the pack is consolidated, still freezing at night so the snow is hard enough for walking in the mornings, and the snow bridges are still thick and intact so we don’t have to worry about creek crossings. 

Usually, we are the first over Forester Pass and cut the trail across its south-facing chute for the thru hikers coming up behind us. We don’t remain ahead of them for long as their leading edge usually passes us (we don’t do more than 10 miles a day in that steep terrain) somewhere between Forester and Mather! Keep in mind that at this time of year (snowpack dependent), snow line is about 9500 feet, so everything above that is under snow. This translates to miles of snow on either side of every Pass (especially Muir Pass).

The first 10-day stretch runs from Kennedy Meadows to Kearsarge Pass and out Onion Valley Trailhead. The first four or five days to Horseshoe Meadow resupply (when open) is perfect for getting the legs and body ready for the snow traverses to come. Once past Chicken Spring Lake, we get busy with teaching how to walk and self-arrest on snow and learn the skills of over-snow navigation (GPS and map/compass). At Forester, we teach the various ways to select safe routes, ascend, descend, and 
traverse steep slopes, and learn when to turn around and go back. Though we teach Mountain Medicine, we sure don’t want to fly anyone out!

At this time in the sierra (usually after Dittli has done his last winter snowpack survey for the DWR), the thaw can start anytime, the creeks begin to rise and roar in the canyons, and the local animals and flowers begin peeking out. Mud and water is everywhere below snowline, but the best conditions and views are up high in the snow. Suncups begin to grow larger as the days grow longer, but since the snow is still relatively hard for most of the day (postholing may not be an afternoon issue at all), they don’t become much of a pain like they will later in May and June when most of the PCT “herd” struggles through the sierra. The best elements of snow-hiking in May and June are no mosquitoes or bears and only a few people (with the exception of the thru hikers who “fly” by, endeavoring to cover as many miles per day that they can).

One beautiful time of year to be out on the high passes, buddy!

 
Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
www.mountaineducation.org

From: Bill Cathey 
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2012 7:32 PM
To: ned at mountaineducation.org 
Subject: [SPAM] Fwd: [John Muir Trail] Winter tent

Thanks for the info, Ned. I'll keep it in mind while considering the various 4-season tents out there. It sounds like May might be a nice time to try some snow camping in the Sierras.

bill

Begin forwarded message:


  From: "Ned Tibbits" <ned at mountaineducation.org>
  Date: October 4, 2012 12:36:18 PM PDT
  To: <johnmuirtrail at yahoogroups.com>, <pct-l at backcountry.net>
  Subject: Re: [John Muir Trail] Winter tent
  Reply-To: johnmuirtrail at yahoogroups.com


    
  Ok, let’s wade into this one...

  Over the last 30 years of teaching snow camping and winter travel techniques, we have seen pretty much all the different styles and designs of shelters used on snow in good and bad weather (to include wind alone) by our students. Tested many of those tents for ourselves. Based on that...

  The “winter” environment is not friendly nor kind to the human body because of the “cold and wet” issue. Maintaining your “internal environment” (between clothing and skin) as warm and dry is your first concern, always. So, when the outside environment gets nasty and you’re exhausted from wallowing through a foot or two of powder, the use of a tent can be life saving just when you need it! 

  A winter tent provides real-time Safety. It gets you out of the wind, the wet, and the cold, all of which strive to steal your heat and threaten your life. Once started, hypothermia is no joke and must be arrested at once. It is not just the issue of frequent storms, but also any circumstance where you get wet in ambient cold, whether from the inside (going too fast or hard and getting sweaty) or the outside (fall in a creek, tumble in the snow, snow cave collapse, snow on your sleeping bag getting you wet, trying to travel in a snow storm/shower, etc.). As we teach our students, it is not worth it to try to continue struggling through the miles over/in snow just to get wet and exhausted when you could be conserving energy and staying warm by resting inside a nice, warm tent. Continue on when the snow conditions allow it (both those that are falling and those that are on the “ground.”) No need to risk an avalanche!

  And don’t forget, Spring (when the sun is up longer melting the pack and less fresh powder is accumulating) snow has settled into a more compact, cohesive (though stratified), and for the most part stable mass that is “usually” free of avalanche danger (a few conditions, here) and easier to walk on (not through as in winter and the need for snowshoes). Spring in the Sierra might be from Easter through thaw (with regard to snow issues) and its on-snow conditions could be said to include warm, longer days with hot sunshine, suncups, below freezing nights (until the thaw starts when nighttime temps hover at freezing or above), hard morning snow surfaces “good” for walking on, slippery slopes (up, down, and across) that make you happy you brought your Kahtoolas and boots, water everywhere, raging creeks, mud below snowline, sun and retina burns, and a lesser risk of hypothermia/exposure. This is the safest time to be out on snow enjoying the “winter wonderland” that snow creates! “Winter,” in contrast, means short days, long nights, “workable” cold, loose, powder snow, storm systems and winds, and greater risks of hypothermia and exposure. Winter is a different animal than Spring, especially at 11,000 in the Sierra (wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Dittli?)

  It is safe to insist, Stay out of the high sierra and off all its steep slopes while it is still receiving feet of new snow. This could be from mid-November to mid-April. Even  experienced and trained rescuers will fly rather than ski or snowshoe in to locate the hasty foolish.

  Now, simply put, a tent provides protection from the external environment and comfort within an internal environment. Overall size of the tent is dictated by how much room you need to accomplish your daily-life’s activities like dressing, cooking, studying your maps, calling home, drying out wet clothing and gear, going to the bathroom in a blizzard, etc. while stuck inside for those longer winter hours or during periods of storms (these can last from less than a day to many days on end).

  Protection & comfort listed:
  - Layers of fabric provide a little insulation (between fly and tent body) and, thus, hold in heat a bit (doesn’t last long, but is comforting while you’re moving around).
  - Layers of fabric provide a barrier from the cold wind that is trying to take away your body heat.
  - The waterproof layer away from the tent body allows condensation to build “out there” rather than on a wall you can touch (that will get you wet—never allow yourself to get wet in the winter environment!).
  - Almost-to-the-ground Fly sheet blocks wind-driven rain and snow from blowing up on the inner, non-waterproof ceiling of the tent getting it and you wet.
  - Nylon inner-wall material (vs. mosquito netting in the summer tent) keeps some more wind out and heat in.
  - Easy-to-set-up aluminum, shock-corded and lubricated pole systems that reach from the ground on one side to the ground on the other side keep the tent from collapsing under a two or three-foot over-night snow load (remember, “decent” snow storms can dump faster than an inch/hour! If you can’t see the tree in front of you because of heavy blowing snow, it is falling at least this fast).
  - Enough poles crossing over the top of the tent making for smaller unsupported wall and roof fabric panels will support snow best.
  - The smaller the unsupported fabric panels, the less “wind-flappage” (non-technical term).
  - Wind flappage makes noise (that may keep you awake at night), contributes to tent anchors pulling out (causing more flappage and leading to tent collapse), causes seams to separate and allow moisture in, and makes for further tent fabric stretching (already happening when it is raining or snowing because nylon does this when wet) that will allow further tent roof compression under load. As the fly stretches and is loaded by snow, it probably will start touching the inner ceiling fabric. What this will subsequently cause is condensation to accumulate on both surfaces at the same time (especially when you are cooking inside with insufficient flow-through ventilation) and you may get water dripping on you from above or at least running down the walls (this is especially true of all single-wall tents in the cold).
  - Doors at each end allow cooking in one vestibule while gear is stored in the other.
  - Seamless tub floors keep moisture out that might ruin your sleeping bag. Durable floors endure issues of the floor freezing to the snow overnight when pulled up in the morning.
  - Big zippers can be opened easier and tend not to freeze readily during storms.
  - Multiple tie-outs help tremendously in the winds of snow storms and you sleep better knowing everything is tied down!

  What all this means is what you use in the summer will not provide the needed safety, security, and protection for winter/spring conditions. Under ideal winter conditions, you can get by with a 3-season shelter, but what I have described above is a 4-season tent. We have seen ponchos, capes, bivys, single-walls, 1-pole, 2-pole, and 2 and a half-pole shelters used in late winter with disastrous results. That is why we bring another 4-season tent for folks to bail into when theirs collapses in the middle of the night!

  Of course, you can dig snow caves. They work great! Nice and warm and cozy (conditions apply). But keep in mind, the well-constructed ones may take two or three people a few hours to dig and you tend to get pretty wet in the process.

  If you appreciated this info, let us know and we’ll add more practical stuff to help you with your planning. The high trails need not be avoided in the winter or spring. Just know what to expect and plan for safe passage!



  Ned Tibbits, Director
  Mountain Education
  www.mountaineducation.org

  From: Kim Fishburn 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2012 10:53 AM
  To: johnmuirtrail at yahoogroups.com 
  Subject: Re: [John Muir Trail] Winter tent

    
  If you have the money I still recommend the Stephenson. Its lightweight, and great at shedding wind. My only real complaint about the tent is the Aluminized Liner. You won't want to be in the tent once the sun hits it and it warms up. It does however prevent much condensation from forming, if any.

  http://www.terragalleria.com/parks/np-image.dena11632.html

  http://www.terragalleria.com/mountain/info/ice/mk2.html


  The guy that has this website was featured at the end of Ken Burns documentary on the National Parks. If I remember right Ken found this guys website and used it as a reference for locations for filming. 



------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  From: Bill Cathey <b.cathey at yahoo.com>
  To: "johnmuirtrail at yahoogroups.com" <johnmuirtrail at yahoogroups.com> 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 3, 2012 11:18 AM
  Subject: Re: [John Muir Trail] Winter tent


    
  Thanks, Kim. That's something I've considered for the future, when I have more experience. But, for now, I would probably feel more comfortable using a tent. I only started backpacking last year. If I take some type of course, I would like to have using tarps properly be part of the skills covered.

  bill

  On Oct 2, 2012, at 11:14 PM, Kim Fishburn <outhiking_55 at yahoo.com> wrote:


      
    Some people here in Minnesota just use a tarp and bivy.





----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    From: Bill <b.cathey at yahoo.com>
    To: johnmuirtrail at yahoogroups.com 
    Sent: Tuesday, October 2, 2012 9:54 PM
    Subject: [John Muir Trail] Winter tent


      
    I'm thinking of trying out some winter camping this year. Does anyone have any recommendations on winter tents? Along with the Sierras and Yosemite, I'd eventually like to do some camping in locations such as Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and the N. Rim of the Grand Canyon, if that makes a difference when selecting a tent.

    I see that REI has one of their 20% off for members sales coming up, so I'd like to take advantage of it, if possible.

    Thanks for any info.

    bill








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