RE: [pct-l] bivy sac an option?

I used a bivy sack during the 2nd half of my '97 PCT hike.  I liked it, but
they're not for everyone.
                              

The plusses are weight and cost and convenience.  If you wake up to rain in
the middle of the night while sleeping under the stars,  you can easily get
into your bivy.

The minuses are size and wetness.  They breathe much less well than a tent.
(Tarps are best.)  If you close up your head, you will get considerable
condensation from your breath.  Depending on design, you'll have more or
less exposed zippers.  They leak badly!  I found that in California, this
was not a real problem.  Infrequent rain and lots of opportunity to dry out
made this less of an issue.  But in Washington in '97 we got poured on for
days on end!  There a bivy was inadequate.  It can't be cooked in.  You
don't want to spend time awake in a "body bag."  A tarp was an essential
addition to the bivy for cooking, covering the zippers and spending time
awake.

The obvious point is this.  If you need a tarp with a bivy, why not just use
a tarp?  I think this is a good point and I'm moving my gear towards this
strategy.  But I'll grant that the bivy was very flexible.  It raised the
warmth of my bag, kept bugs out and made even the smallest tarp just fine.
(Your legs can stick WAY out!)  You can have a 35 degree bag, a bivy and a
small tarp and carry only those pieces that you'll need for each section.
It's got a lot going for it.

Brian

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Margo J. Chisholm [SMTP:margo@tothesummit.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 1998 12:31 AM
> To:   PCT
> Subject:      [pct-l] bivy sac an option?
>
> I've been looking at shelter options for my California PCT trip, and
> although I love Ron's ingenuity and creativity, there is only one of me,   
> and I know myself well enough to know that time and inclination will not
> lead me in that direction. Eureka makes a one person bivy that has a
> hoop and vestibule that makes it more a oneperson tent than a bivy.
> Price in Campmor is $79.99 which seems reasonable. Packed it ways 2 lbs.
> 14 oz. Seems like I could use that pretty much the whole length of
> California. Opinions and/or options please. Thanks.
>
> Namaste, m
>
>
>
> --
> Margo Chisholm
> The Freedom Coach
> Partnering you in having freedom in all areas of your life
> 970-704-9336    fax 970-704-9346
> margo@tothesummit.com
> http://www.tothesummit.com
>
> "It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are."
> -- e.e. Cummings
>     
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