How bad before you call off your trip?

[Cali]

After this summers heat wave, I no longer camp in high temps. It is miserable laying in a hammock in 90+ degrees with 100% humidity and no air movement.

Also, high winds and extreme cold will keep me at home. I like my gear and don't want it ruined by a widomaker or just a tree that can't take the wind as MAD777 states above.

[K0m4]

I was in Montreal when the remnants of Irene came through. I wouldn't have wanted to be out in that. Except if I was testing myself if I could hack it. If I would have had plans to go out somewhere where hurricane Sandy was coming through, I would have cancelled it.

Other than that, I seldom get the privilege to cancel trips if I'm going to go at all. I've come to appreciate the weather for what it is in later years.

[fishbait]

I learned in Boy Scouts (oh so many years ago) that if you go camping, it's going to rain. I don't even bother to look at the forecast any more.

Son, that's an understatement if I ever heard one. We've had some severe
T-storms, roll through a camping trip, when the weather was predicted as sunny for the next five days.

[Miguel]

I agree with others....that's a great forecast to test your gear....a little possible rain but probably not too much. I'm not a big fan of real high winds and close lightening. My wife and I actually love hiking in bad weather with our rain gear. I wouldn't hesitate with your forecast.

[bacall79]

As stated early it would be a great time to try out you gear. Anything that you learn now could be used for future trips.

[dkurfiss]

What is worse thing that can happen? You walk in day one...it rains next two so you stay in one spot and enjoy the rain on the tarp. Sounds like a good relaxing trip to me

[sargevining]

High wind would keep me home, and temps below 30*. , Too many dead trees in the forest and it doesn't make much sense to prepare for lower 30* in Texas---

As for rain and high temps, the gray stuff in the trees is rain and it was near 100*:



It rained harder than that the next night.

Best sleeping weather I'e ever been in.

[BugHunter]

Many years ago, someone gave me a book on winter camping ....... the first chapter started with, "There is no such thing as bad weather, only poor choices in equipment and clothing!"

[BrianWillan]

I know it's impossible to cover all of the scenarios; but generally speaking, how bad does the weather forcast have to be before you'll cancel a trip?

I'm planning a 3 day/2 night hike to the Irish Wilderness in Missouri later this week. Day 1 is sunny, day 2 is 40% chance of rain, day 3 is 50% chance of rain. I have a great hammock/tarp set up and good rain gear/shoes but I'm on the fence. I don't fancy hiking any real distance in the rain...still I dont' want to give up the trip. It got me to thinking about when is the forecast bad enough that we cance?

How about you?

PS I'm leaning on going any way

Gideon

I don't give a whole lot of faith in weather forecasts beyond the next 48 hours. In my view, if I was going to get a chance of rain for the last 2 days of 70% or more, I would be inclined to postpone the trip. I personally dislike hiking in the rain.

That being said, it seems to be tradition for the group hangs in Ontario to get more water proof testing of tarps than UV testing. In other words, it usually seems to rain part of the trip on a group hang.

Cheers

Brian

[Deadphans]

I would be all about it. Gives ya a chance to test that pricey rain gear. What about cold temps?

I find the Pitter patter of rain against my tarp and the rocking of my hammock to be a recipe for sleep. hiking in it isn't so bad as I have a decent rain jacket.