Its winter again - some cautions

Hi All,
well Winter kinda gave us a test ride over the weekend in the central Cascades. We have some residual snow on the mountains and the next week it will be in the 20s every night.
SO <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I know others will chime in about this.
1) Be sure your shells are waterproof.
2) Take a sleeping bag thats up to the weather.
3) Take some closed cell foam to put under you.
4) Take adequate insulation - some of which can handle dampness.
5) Waterproof your boots.
6) carry over gloves to keep your warm gloves dry.
7) Mitts are warmer than gloves
8) take extra socks - that can handle the dampness
9) carry extra fuel - 2-4 times as much.
10) Do not take some weak knee'd weenie stove that only works inside on nice days (Read - home made alcohol stove)
11) Might be a good idea to tell someone where yer going - although I never do <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
12) carry a couple of lighters
13) theres nothing gonna find yer truck like a gps, leave tracklog turned on, carry lots of batteries.
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

How about:
1) pack your gaiters
2) don't forget your snowshoes and shovel

Many years ago I went on a trip in the Black Hills in April. It was 80 degrees the first day and we went in in shorts. By noon the next day it was cooling off and clouding over. By 6 pm there was 2" snow on the ground and we post holed it out the next day in 12+" of snow and blizzard conditions. Had to shovel the car out and a good portion of the way back to the highway. Spent two more days in a hotel in Rapid City as the interstate was closed because of the storm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

And, don't leave your GPS by the side of the road when ya take off, eh.

But seriously folks- heed Jim's advice and don't post any of your "good ideas for winter" without first reading the special sticky for this forum. You may have the skills of Jim Bridger, but that doesn't mean everyone else reading this forum does.

We don't mind dumb questions (no such thing, really) but we do mind dumb answers.

Jim Bridger? How about George Donner <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Or maybe Alfred Packer? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Packer

I discovered Alferd (or Alfred) Packer at UC Boulder while dining here during my bicycle racing days.

Of course the name may be in bad taste <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

How's this for thread drift???

OK, you asked for it-the ultimate thread drift--

Two cannibals are sitting around a fire, eating a clown.

One cannbal turns to the other and says...

"Does this taste funny to you?"

ps, bring a warm hat, a flashlight or headlamp and extra batteries, it gets dark early.

Having heard the clown joke a million times fine, but for some reasons appending with this just brought tears to my eyes I'm laughing so hard.. Must be because today was the first
day I had to get to work before the sun came up.

Sorry for hijacking your thread Jim..

Ok
So two bears are sitting around polishing off a trail runner. The one says the the other ""I'm a vegitarian I'm a vegitarian," yeh - like we care"... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

????????????????????????????

MNS
"????????????????????????????"
________________________________

Theres the myth in the bush that people who eat bear are more apt to be eaten by a bear, and that people who don't eat bear hope the great bear spirit will protect them, thus the joke that bears don't care whether you eat animals or not.
It lacks something without the photo.
It a Gary Larsen
Jim

If you have never been out when it gets cold, go with some experienced folks, especially if there is snow on the ground, or camp close to your wheels that will start in those temps.

My trip last weekend started with mild temps, hiking in shorts and shirt. The next day, rain jacket on and off, with 4" of snow on the ground to plod thru later in the afternoon for a couple hours to make my nights destination. My boots were water resistant enough to not let my socks get sopping wet. Still in my shorts in the Sierra. Gotta love it mama!:)

Hiker duane
I think we need a bit more of that story. You were caught in snow with nothing but shorts? Why was that? You knew that snow "could" hit before you left didn't you? So how much clothes did you have?
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Jim, before I left, I knew there could be a 30% chance of snow/rain. When I picked up my permit at the TM permit office in Yosemite, the forecast was 4" snow o/n and another 8" the next day, my second day out. I need some light rain pants, I brought my 4 oz, windpants, which I wore for a little bit the second day out when it was light showers. I hiked in my shorts most of the day as I was fine in the 4" of snow which I ran into the last three hours out. Lunch was cool, but I put my vest on then. I had my BD Hilight tent, 15 degree WM down bag, Mont Bell down liner pants, WM down vest, Golite Coal syn jacket, wool cap, polartec gloves, 4 oz. Gramweinie rain jacket and a extra pair of dry Smartwool socks, I was pretty tired but went the last 2.5 miles to where I wanted to camp where I found a snow free site, big enough to pitch my tent. My first day out I did 18 miles, my most ever and 11 the second day. The third and fourth days were nice and sunny as was the morning I hiked out. In my shorts.:)