cross-posted from: https://iusearchlinux.fyi/post/1294232
So we did the trip! Winter gear shakedown in place of a Wind River trip that got weather’d out. We did 8 miles in to Alaska Basin (9500’, trailhead at 7100’) in the rain/snow on Friday. Stayed up in the basin overnight, temperature dipped to 30 F (at least - maybe was colder overnight, but I moved the thermometer into the tent). Weather was overcast but no precipitation on Saturday for the hike back out.
Lower elevations still have autumn
Beautiful weather
Fresh black bear tracks (I think)
Basin lake
More Alaska Basin
Good morning snow
Some kind of pawed critter (coyote?)
Gorgeous day back out
Things I learned for backpacking in the rain/slush/snow: hell yeah dry bags kept the gear from getting damp from a day’s worth of rain and snow. I need a better fleece solution. I also need a better puffy solution and a better camp shoe situation. My boots were waterlogged (which was fine while hiking, they are not waterproof, but no way am I going to wear them around camp) and the Crocs flats I brought did Not provide any protection from cold/wind/snow. My random Columbia Sherpa fleece is way overkill for hiking and doesn’t dry quickly. My (non technical) down jacket got soaked in the back when I put it over the fleece. My wool gloves also got wet and became useless. Yikes.
Other things I learned: it was really nice being out there in different weather, in a different season, with no one else (except my husband) around. I loved it. Would do again. Also I am glad we nixed the Winds trip, the weather would have been worse and we would have had a much harder time of it. Getting this experience was good, before we got hit with it on the trail unexpectedly.
Great pics! Sounds like a good shakedown hike, lots of useful feedback. Fleece-wise a cheap, run-of-the-mill 100 wt 100% polyester fleece should weigh 8 oz or so and do the trick. For camp shoes drop the crocs and use bread bags as liners inside whatever you’re hiking in. Swap the wool gloves for polyester as it absorbs less water. How’d your puffy get wet?
Hm, I’ll have to try the bread bags, interesting idea. I’m planning on leather gloves with waterproofing wax next time, I use them all the time walking my dog in the winter (and playing, and picking up…) and they are surefire. I’m afraid anything knit will be insufficient.
Puffy was dumb. I have a lightweight dridown puffy that I didn’t bring because it’s not warm enough for the conditions, so I brought my 32 degrees heat puffy. Unfortunately it’s not treated At All, so any moisture is bad. I changed my shirt in camp but I put the fleece back on and the puffy over it, and Torrentshell rain jacket over that. The fleece was apparently waterlogged from sweat, so that’s how the puffy got wet. I didn’t realize the fleece was so damp. I definitely need to rethink my warmth management strategy for active vs camp.
For cold and rain consider Showa gloves (originally made for fishermen), I picked some up on eBay for under $20 and use them for biking in winter.
Oh cool! Thanks!