Another Cold Snap Coming, Anyone Doing Some Gear Testing?

[blackbishop351]

My problem was that while hiking I am fine with one pair of socks. By the time I get to camp my feet are usually wet or damp. Then I mess around camp for an hour or so cooking and setting up. I would change my socks right before I got into my hammock to keep my sleeping clothes dry. By that time they were pretty cold and took a long time to warm up.

I guess my point is that if they are chilled before you get in, then they are going to take a long time to warm up. Or you need to change your sleeping insulation around to account for it.

I was worried about the damp feet thing on the Rogers trip - my feet sweat a LOT - but the two pairs of Smartwool kept them plenty dry. That and the cold air being really dry to begin with.

Now that I think about it, not only is it a mystery that my feet didn't eventually warm up Saturday night, but it's equally as puzzling why 45 minutes outside got them cold in the first place. Especially since they'd been warm the entire trip up 'till then, which consisted of HOURS of standing around in the cold....

[Coffee]

I should have planned on cold weather testing tonight instead of tomorrow night. weather.com is saying that with wind chill it is going to be -12 F tonight in Cincy. Super Bowl plans got in the way of getting my gear ready for tonight.

Oh well tomorrow's scheduled low with wind chill of -4F will have to work.

Something about that, just sounds crazy.

I don't think I will have those temps with my current hiking plans. But I really want to know what my limit is.

[Just Jeff]

I've snow-hiked a few times in lightweight boots...my conclusion is that winter boots are best for winter hiking. Sort of...I'm ok while I'm hiking as long as I'm not sinking down into the snow, but if I piddle around camp for too long my feet start getting cold. Just not enough insulation on the bottom.

Fortunately, when I'm alone I hop into bed before I get chilled. But if I'm standing around talking to people, like on a group trip like Rogers, my feet get chilled and I have to start moving again.

I'm amazed at the difference a hot water bottle makes in the footbox, though. But why dump out the water in the morning? It's already halfway warm enough to making breakfast!

[The Breeze]

I'm amazed at the difference a hot water bottle makes in the footbox, though. But why dump out the water in the morning? It's already halfway warm enough to making breakfast!

because we packed up and run didn't do breakfast just more weight to carry out no about 1.5 mins in the old jetboil and you have coffee when you are hiking on.

[slowhike]

check out the temp, wind speep & wind chill on mt mitchel, nc.
http://www.ils.unc.edu/parkproject/webcam/weather.html
better yet check it out in the morning.

[Coffee]

I finished setting up the hammock outside. Going to go in when it is time to sleep. Man it is cold outside.

[Coffee]

Well I made it 4+ hours with weather.com saying it was from -2 to -8 with the wind. I know feel really confident in my setup for my hike. I was not using anything that I am not planning on taking with me for my trip.

I could of made it longer, but some condensation issues that I need to fix and my insomina got the best of me.

[Just Jeff]

check out the temp, wind speep & wind chill on mt mitchel, nc.
http://www.ils.unc.edu/parkproject/webcam/weather.html
better yet check it out in the morning.

Holy crap - that's almost as cold as our Mt Rogers trip!

(It read -49F wind chill when I looked at it)

[slowhike]

Holy crap - that's almost as cold as our Mt Rogers trip!

(It read -49F wind chill when I looked at it)

almost<g>.

[blackbishop351]

Holy crap - that's almost as cold as our Mt Rogers trip!

(It read -49F wind chill when I looked at it)

Was that before or after you got too warm, stripped to your skivvies, and removed all your bottom insulation but a 1/8" pad, Jeff?