[pct-l] Failed Bag/Tent Combination

[m.karon at comcast.net (Marshall Karon)]

If you finish by the end of September, you will probably be just fine - even
till mid October. Rain will surely fall, but often not daily; so you can dry
out. As others have written, it often doesn't matter whether you have a tent
or tarp, just keep away from the sides and make sure the bag stays dry.

Besides the rain you do need to handle the cold. Frozen boots are no fun.
Carry extra plastic bags to wrap boots, socks, etc. and then sleep with them
inside your bag so they don't freeze.

Be sure to have a good pad - the foam ones will degrade in  a thru-hike, so
replace them, especially in Washington. Being cold from underneath was my
main problem.

Marshall Karon
Portland, OR
m.karon@comcast.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Keener" <jkeener@pct04.com>
To: "Pacific Crest Trail" <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 9:15 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Failed Bag/Tent Combination


> Greetings:
>
> I camped at Point Reyes National Seashore in Marin County, California this
> weekend at a place called Glen Camp. Don't know the temperature, but there
> was frost on the ground and my Tarptent, and puddles had frozen over.
There
> was fog in the air and the ground was super-saturated due to recent
deluges
> in the area.
>
> I was very cold when I got in the bag (Marmot Helium - rated to 15F) and
> never did warm up well. Lots of condensation - on the tent and the bag.
The
> bag got wet from the condensation. By 4 a.m., I was shivering. Got up, ate
> and hiked.
>
> This was okay for one night. But I'm concerned about Washington. The idea
of
> putting that bag away wet and getting back into it without its being dried
> has me very concerned. I'm looking for ideas.
>
> I still like the Tarptent a lot and plan to carry the Helium on the JMT
part
> of the trail, but as I wrote, I am concerned about Washington.
>
> Peace,
> Jim
>
> http://pct04.com
>
>
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