[pct-l] Quick Question re: Desert Gear

[Drew Smith]

John - you'll want to be prepared for both blazing heat and icy cold in the
desert in April.  Nighttime lows in the 30s are a certainty, and a few
nights in the mid-20s are likely.  You'll have to judge for yourself how
well your gear will keep you warm in those temps.

Although it may not actually rain, you can expect to be exposed to cold wet
winds off the Pacific on many ridges.  I would definitely recommend some
type of hand covering, particularly if you use hiking poles.  I hiked in
freezing rain with 40 mph winds in the Tehachapis in early May 2014.
Without wind/rain protection I would have been hypothermic in about 5
minutes.

You probably don't need the Whippet before the Sierras, but microspikes are
likely to be useful on the north faces of San Jacinto (Fuller Ridge) and Mt
Baden-Powell, which can get pretty icy.  But I haven't checked snow reports
for these areas, maybe the snow is minimal.

Have fun!
Drew/ Happy Hour

On Thu, Mar 31, 2016 at 11:26 AM John Papini <johnthomaspapini at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hello! I am beginning my thru-hike in six days, on April 2, 2016. I’m
> packing my pack, and have a few questions about when I’ll need some of my
> gear; I don’t think I need everything in the desert. I appreciate your
> feedback! You can PM if you don’t want to bug the whole group with
> personalized responses (unless others have similar questions).
>
> Obviously I’ll mail my snow equipment ahead to Kennedy Meadows - my
> Whippet, and my Microspikes. Unless y’all think I’ll need either of these
> items for any of the short snowy stretches in SoCal? If so, where should I
> mail to / mail home?
>
> Bear Canister - KM
>
> Mosquito Repellent - KM? I know I don’t need in desert, but not sure when
> I will! Before KM? After?
>
> Glove liners & Rain Mitts - KM? Earlier?
>
> Beanie - KM? I have a buff that I sleep in, but when it gets really cold I
> add my beanie. Would I need it in the desert? My bag does have a hood.
>
> Cap 4 fleece hoodie - KM? Earlier? (for warmth I have a long sleeve half
> zip merino and a Ghost Whisperer down jacket. My Sleeping bag is a Montbell
> Downhugger #2 (30 degree rated). I know it gets cold in the desert, so
> perhaps I need the fleece earlier?
>
> Wind Shirt, Rain Jacket, Wind Pants and Rain Kilt - I’ll take through the
> desert?
>
> My LS top is a 145 merino. I also have a 120 half zip merino (lighter,
> breathes more) that I was thinking of taking for the desert, then sending
> home at KM for my heavier weight 145. Not a huge deal, but I figure it’ll
> be nice to have a “new” shirt 700 miles in. Will I be too cold in the
> desert with a 120 weight merino? I have a separate sleep shirt that is a
> heavier 150.
>
> Please, if you have any other thoughts about “milestones” where you sent
> home / received unique gear, please let me know. When can I send my bear
> canister home, for instance?
>
> Thanks again,
> John
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