A couple decades ago ( <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />) I was perfectly comfortable on the snow in the -20s. I shared a tent with one other hiker and a dog, and used one of those heavy, reflecting 'survival' blankets as a floor cover. For pads I had one of the standard, half-inch blue foams and an open cell egg crate which was probably two and a half inches, certainly no more than three inches, thick. Of course, the sleeping bag was a heavy one, had a liner, and I wore lots of extras. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

This wasn't lightweight backpacking...but my point is, it was fairly easy to be comfortable with what seems now to be some pretty basic equipment. Still, it seems the colder it's gonna be, the heavier the pack.

It helped a lot to have everything packed on a toboggan pulled by the dog... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

FB