WANTED: Sherpa or Psychiatrist

A few years ago my back went out and not long after my knees went looking for it. Neither have returned! I want to sleep in a semi-rectangle (WM Brislecone) but don't want to carry anything heavier than mummy (WM Versalite). Hmmm, maybe I can find a good deal on previously owned, low milage llama.

A psychiatrist would probably be cheaper than a Sherpa. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

My sister and her husband recently bought a couple of pack goats [yep!] and just started training them. They're an Alpine cross and will get quite large, for goats.

I noticed that both bags you listed are down toward a zero rating. A couple of thoughts crossed my mind:

1) Are you frequently camping in sub-freezing temperatures? If not, take a look at the WM Mitylite, 40-degrees and 26 ounces. I've got one, and it's my favorite bag for conditions where a hood isn't really necessary. I've taken it down to 25 degrees, sleeping in a tent and wearing down booties, pants, hooded down sweater, and down mitts (all of which I would have been carrying anyhow.)

2) If you really are camping in near-zero weather a lot, do you really want to give up the hood? Seems like the heat loss from your head might impair the ability to sleep warm regardless of the bag's rating.

Just a thought.

I have a Mitylite for summer in a Hennessy Hammock. Since I started this thread I got a Versalite for the shoulder seasons. The Bristlecone has a hood but I doubt I get one. I refuse to intentionally push a bag beyond it's rating so if I want to be out at 10dF I won't carry the Versalite, I'll carry a 0df to assure comfort. I'll be carrying down camp cloths and will use them for sleeping as an emergency layer, only. I looked into getting a llama but then I'd be restricted to horse trails.

Sounds like you've thought this through pretty good. I just wasn't clear on what conditions you were hiking in; I've seen too many folks who intend to hike only from late spring to early fall by a 15-degree bag "just in case."

Like you, I don't intentionally go out planning to extend a too-warm bag into known cold conditions. (I've got a Megalite for that.) However, I've once or twice had temperatures drop down a little colder than planned, and the addition of jacket and pants made up the difference. So, just for fun, I pushed the Mitylite's limits in my backyard once, using all the down clothing I had.

Now that I've totally exposed my ignorance on your plan, I'll ask one more question: how well do pack animals handle temperatures approaching zero? You wouldn't want to risk losing an animal that couldn't handle the conditions. (And I'll bet you've already thought of this, too.)