One Night Stands - Surviving an Accidental Night in the Wilderness

Ok, how do you do it?

I have read some books and packed gear on some of my extended day
hikes, but am getting tired of lugging so much along on a solo hike.

I used to carry a Coal Parka during summer hikes, plus a lighter
jacket, and was wearing long pants.

Then I carried no parka, but a silnylon vapor barrier sack (from
owareusa.com ) that I could use as an emergency bivvy, and outerwear
that I would be more likely to use at rest stops, or if it got really
cold during the hike.

Now that it is summer, and I am hiking in shorts and not carrying much
at all in the way of outerwear, I am thinking I should carry about 25
ounces worth of sleeping bag "just in case."

The scenarios I am trying to cover are:

1. Sudden cold rain and wind, no injury, able to hike out: just put on
whatever outerlayer I have (if necessary) and hike out. The outerlayer
might be a Schoeller type layer (highly breathable, some rain
resistance), or a windbreaker (Golite Bark). Insulation might be a
vest of some sort.

2. Injury (ankle) with sudden cold rain and wind, but still able to
eventually hike out: can't hike fast enough to keep up warmth, so the
layers become more important. Now I'd like to have a full polartect
sweater, or synthetic, with a more rain proof garment (Marmot Precip
or Patagonia Dragonfly) and some pants to put over my shorts (Marmot
Precip or Golite Bark). The amount I am willing to carry is
counterbalanced by the amount of discomfort (chilling) I am willing to
endure.

3. Lost or exhausted, or injured and too late to hike out: put on all
my clothes and hunker down in a sleeping bag weighing not more than 25
ounces, in a silnylon vapor barrier bag used as a bivvy sack (NOT as a
liner).

The permutations of gear are endless, and for a normal hike, almost
all of it (except a medium weight Marmot Driclime base layer with the
sleeves cut off, that I can use to add a little core warmth) goes
unused. I am thinking about throwing out most of my outerwear and just
carrying the vapor barrier sack and light weight sleeping bag. Those
two items weigh less, together, than overlapping and redundant
outerwear. Of course, it is hard to wear while hiking!

Any ideas? I think I'd like to be a little more prepared than a space
blanket, but less prepared than someone planning to sleep out....

"Florian" <Florian.Boyd@> wrote in message news:<D8nRa.7487$EZ2.474@nwrddc01.gnilink.net>...
> >Any ideas? I think I'd like to be a little more prepared than a space
> >blanket, but less prepared than someone planning to sleep out....
>
>
>
You really have to try, to make it this stressful..
I usually hike in synthetic shorts, and a cotton T. I have in my
pack, a pair of synthetic long pants, a fleece jacket, a windbreaker
which fits over the fleece, and a poncho. I also have a pair of X
country gloves, a pair of fingerless gloves, a fleece scarf, an ear
band, a hat, and a pair of short gaitors. This all fits into the lower
portion of a small pack, leaving plenty of room for two 1000ml
nalgenes and numerous snacks.
Oh yeah.. A spair pair of socks, and a teeny pack with iodine,
asprin, bandaids and what not.. A pair of binocs, some sun block, a
map and compass, my camera, with monopod, etc..
The poncho is US military, and can be used in numerous ways as a
shelter, or personal protection. I have a liner, which makes it into a
field-expedient sleeping bag, but I seldom lug it along. I probably
should, tho..

"micweb" <will_webberm> wrote in message
news:ab78fe5b.0307161449.47443abb@c om...
> Ok, how do you do it?
>
> I have read some books and packed gear on some of my extended day
> hikes, but am getting tired of lugging so much along on a solo hike.
<SNIP>

I'm suprised no one has mentioned an incredibly cheap but useful item:
Leaf/yard size plastic bag. Buy the heaviest best quality you can find.
Caver's routinely carry them as emergency bivy bag. In fact if you're
careful, you can light an 8hr candle in one (danger = children, don't try
this without parental supervision!), and warm up.

I found several sizes of "body" bags at my local hardware store. There
are heavy plastic and come in sizes from about 5' by 3' to 8' by 5'.
Other than being a bit slippery, I used on to good effect last year on a
6 day solo trip. Slept on it most of the time and crawled inside one
rainy night. Their only drawback is that they are very effective at
trapping sweat.


--
Jeff Wilson

jrwilson@copper.net



"And now these three remain; faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love."

....... Seek harmony and balance in the mountains.
Find harmony and balance within.....

Nice list! We have a lot in common.




"Ronald Donahue" <ronahue@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:76xRa.59238$3o3.3939717@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> When day hiking in New England or the higher areas out west (Yellowstone,
> Yosemite, RMNP,etc) from June through September, I carry the following in
my
> pack:
> First Aid Kit (which includes matches and fire starting equipment)
> Swiss Army Knife
> Extra shoe laces and some Velcro straps for gear repairs
> rain gear (tops and bottoms)
> gloves
> hat (sun protection type)
> Zip-Lock bag with wool socks, poly long johns and top
> gators
> fleece vest
> bug juice
> sunscreen
> pepperspray
> 5 energy type bars
> 2 liter Platypus
>
> These items along with things like binoculars, camera, and bird guide are
> always in my pack. In winter the gloves and hat change to winter version
and
> the vest to a fleece pullover, then I add fleece pants and a light (3
> season) synthetic bag. The load is a bit heavy for day hikes but I feel I
> could survive several days in the woods with this equipment. I have used
all
> of this gear at some point on various hikes except the matches and the
> sleeping bag.
>
> Ron Donahue
>
>
> "micweb" <will_webberm> wrote in message
> news:ab78fe5b.0307161449.47443abb@c om...
> > Ok, how do you do it?
> >
> > I have read some books and packed gear on some of my extended day
> > hikes, but am getting tired of lugging so much along on a solo hike.
> >
> > I used to carry a Coal Parka during summer hikes, plus a lighter
> > jacket, and was wearing long pants.
> >
> > Then I carried no parka, but a silnylon vapor barrier sack (from
> > owareusa.com ) that I could use as an emergency bivvy, and outerwear
> > that I would be more likely to use at rest stops, or if it got really
> > cold during the hike.
> >
> > Now that it is summer, and I am hiking in shorts and not carrying much
> > at all in the way of outerwear, I am thinking I should carry about 25
> > ounces worth of sleeping bag "just in case."
> >
> > The scenarios I am trying to cover are:
> >
> > 1. Sudden cold rain and wind, no injury, able to hike out: just put on
> > whatever outerlayer I have (if necessary) and hike out. The outerlayer
> > might be a Schoeller type layer (highly breathable, some rain
> > resistance), or a windbreaker (Golite Bark). Insulation might be a
> > vest of some sort.
> >
> > 2. Injury (ankle) with sudden cold rain and wind, but still able to
> > eventually hike out: can't hike fast enough to keep up warmth, so the
> > layers become more important. Now I'd like to have a full polartect
> > sweater, or synthetic, with a more rain proof garment (Marmot Precip
> > or Patagonia Dragonfly) and some pants to put over my shorts (Marmot
> > Precip or Golite Bark). The amount I am willing to carry is
> > counterbalanced by the amount of discomfort (chilling) I am willing to
> > endure.
> >
> > 3. Lost or exhausted, or injured and too late to hike out: put on all
> > my clothes and hunker down in a sleeping bag weighing not more than 25
> > ounces, in a silnylon vapor barrier bag used as a bivvy sack (NOT as a
> > liner).
> >
> > The permutations of gear are endless, and for a normal hike, almost
> > all of it (except a medium weight Marmot Driclime base layer with the
> > sleeves cut off, that I can use to add a little core warmth) goes
> > unused. I am thinking about throwing out most of my outerwear and just
> > carrying the vapor barrier sack and light weight sleeping bag. Those
> > two items weigh less, together, than overlapping and redundant
> > outerwear. Of course, it is hard to wear while hiking!
> >
> > Any ideas? I think I'd like to be a little more prepared than a space
> > blanket, but less prepared than someone planning to sleep out....
>
>

"Ronald Donahue" <ronahue@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message news:<76xRa.59238$3o3.3939717@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>...
> When day hiking in New England or the higher areas out west (Yellowstone,
> Yosemite, RMNP,etc) from June through September, I carry the following in my
> pack:
> First Aid Kit (which includes matches and fire starting equipment)
> Swiss Army Knife
> Extra shoe laces and some Velcro straps for gear repairs
> rain gear (tops and bottoms)
> gloves
> hat (sun protection type)
> Zip-Lock bag with wool socks, poly long johns and top
> gators
> fleece vest
> bug juice
> sunscreen
> pepperspray
> 5 energy type bars
> 2 liter Platypus
>
> These items along with things like binoculars, camera, and bird guide are
> always in my pack. In winter the gloves and hat change to winter version and
> the vest to a fleece pullover, then I add fleece pants and a light (3
> season) synthetic bag. The load is a bit heavy for day hikes but I feel I
> could survive several days in the woods with this equipment. I have used all
> of this gear at some point on various hikes except the matches and the
> sleeping bag.
>
> Ron Donahue
>
>
> "micweb" <will_webberm> wrote in message
> news:ab78fe5b.0307161449.47443abb@c om...
> > Ok, how do you do it?
> >
> > I have read some books and packed gear on some of my extended day
> > hikes, but am getting tired of lugging so much along on a solo hike.
> >
> > I used to carry a Coal Parka during summer hikes, plus a lighter
> > jacket, and was wearing long pants.
> >
> > Then I carried no parka, but a silnylon vapor barrier sack (from
> > owareusa.com ) that I could use as an emergency bivvy, and outerwear
> > that I would be more likely to use at rest stops, or if it got really
> > cold during the hike.
> >
> > Now that it is summer, and I am hiking in shorts and not carrying much
> > at all in the way of outerwear, I am thinking I should carry about 25
> > ounces worth of sleeping bag "just in case."
> >
> > The scenarios I am trying to cover are:
> >
> > 1. Sudden cold rain and wind, no injury, able to hike out: just put on
> > whatever outerlayer I have (if necessary) and hike out. The outerlayer
> > might be a Schoeller type layer (highly breathable, some rain
> > resistance), or a windbreaker (Golite Bark). Insulation might be a
> > vest of some sort.
> >
> > 2. Injury (ankle) with sudden cold rain and wind, but still able to
> > eventually hike out: can't hike fast enough to keep up warmth, so the
> > layers become more important. Now I'd like to have a full polartect
> > sweater, or synthetic, with a more rain proof garment (Marmot Precip
> > or Patagonia Dragonfly) and some pants to put over my shorts (Marmot
> > Precip or Golite Bark). The amount I am willing to carry is
> > counterbalanced by the amount of discomfort (chilling) I am willing to
> > endure.
> >
> > 3. Lost or exhausted, or injured and too late to hike out: put on all
> > my clothes and hunker down in a sleeping bag weighing not more than 25
> > ounces, in a silnylon vapor barrier bag used as a bivvy sack (NOT as a
> > liner).
> >
> > The permutations of gear are endless, and for a normal hike, almost
> > all of it (except a medium weight Marmot Driclime base layer with the
> > sleeves cut off, that I can use to add a little core warmth) goes
> > unused. I am thinking about throwing out most of my outerwear and just
> > carrying the vapor barrier sack and light weight sleeping bag. Those
> > two items weigh less, together, than overlapping and redundant
> > outerwear. Of course, it is hard to wear while hiking!
> >
> > Any ideas? I think I'd like to be a little more prepared than a space
> > blanket, but less prepared than someone planning to sleep out....

I use to carry "everything but the kitchen sink", but then I became
lazy and started going on dayhikes with just; a snack(carb), lunch,
water, bug spray, mace, an outer shirt and a sm. first aid kit...but
then I got lost(misread my map), paniced for about 30 secs. I paniced
mostly because I know I did not have enough to get through the
night(warmth wise)...with the help of my partner we managed to find
our way out, but we had to do a lot of back tracking which used up all
of our meager supplies...we only had a few drops of water when we
emerged from the the trailhead. Now, I go fully loaded for
emergencies.

It's interesting that most of the things that I carry I actually use to make
my hike more comfortable. I did a hike up Hallett Peak in RMNP a few years
ago, the hike up was hot and sweaty but when I got to the top the
temperature was about 45 degrees with a strong wind. Now my idea of a great
day hike is to climb aggressively to the peak and then spend several hours
just lounging around, have lunch and take a little nap and then make a nice
slow descent. So on this day when I got to the top I put on my long john
bottoms, fleece vest and rain gear and was very comfy for the rest of my
stay. While others had to hurry of the peak and out of the wind. This is one
reason I don't consider carrying "emergency" gear a burden.

Ron Donahue


"Diane" <dlukesbellecim> wrote in message
news:bb2b236f.0307171202.38b16bb6@c om...
> "Ronald Donahue" <ronahue@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:<76xRa.59238$3o3.3939717@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>...
> > When day hiking in New England or the higher areas out west
(Yellowstone,
> > Yosemite, RMNP,etc) from June through September, I carry the following
in my
> > pack:
> > First Aid Kit (which includes matches and fire starting equipment)
> > Swiss Army Knife
> > Extra shoe laces and some Velcro straps for gear repairs
> > rain gear (tops and bottoms)
> > gloves
> > hat (sun protection type)
> > Zip-Lock bag with wool socks, poly long johns and top
> > gators
> > fleece vest
> > bug juice
> > sunscreen
> > pepperspray
> > 5 energy type bars
> > 2 liter Platypus
> >
> > These items along with things like binoculars, camera, and bird guide
are
> > always in my pack. In winter the gloves and hat change to winter version
and
> > the vest to a fleece pullover, then I add fleece pants and a light (3
> > season) synthetic bag. The load is a bit heavy for day hikes but I feel
I
> > could survive several days in the woods with this equipment. I have used
all
> > of this gear at some point on various hikes except the matches and the
> > sleeping bag.
> >
> > Ron Donahue
> >
> >
> > "micweb" <will_webberm> wrote in message
> > news:ab78fe5b.0307161449.47443abb@c om...
> > > Ok, how do you do it?
> > >
> > > I have read some books and packed gear on some of my extended day
> > > hikes, but am getting tired of lugging so much along on a solo hike.
> > >
> > > I used to carry a Coal Parka during summer hikes, plus a lighter
> > > jacket, and was wearing long pants.
> > >
> > > Then I carried no parka, but a silnylon vapor barrier sack (from
> > > owareusa.com ) that I could use as an emergency bivvy, and outerwear
> > > that I would be more likely to use at rest stops, or if it got really
> > > cold during the hike.
> > >
> > > Now that it is summer, and I am hiking in shorts and not carrying much
> > > at all in the way of outerwear, I am thinking I should carry about 25
> > > ounces worth of sleeping bag "just in case."
> > >
> > > The scenarios I am trying to cover are:
> > >
> > > 1. Sudden cold rain and wind, no injury, able to hike out: just put on
> > > whatever outerlayer I have (if necessary) and hike out. The outerlayer
> > > might be a Schoeller type layer (highly breathable, some rain
> > > resistance), or a windbreaker (Golite Bark). Insulation might be a
> > > vest of some sort.
> > >
> > > 2. Injury (ankle) with sudden cold rain and wind, but still able to
> > > eventually hike out: can't hike fast enough to keep up warmth, so the
> > > layers become more important. Now I'd like to have a full polartect
> > > sweater, or synthetic, with a more rain proof garment (Marmot Precip
> > > or Patagonia Dragonfly) and some pants to put over my shorts (Marmot
> > > Precip or Golite Bark). The amount I am willing to carry is
> > > counterbalanced by the amount of discomfort (chilling) I am willing to
> > > endure.
> > >
> > > 3. Lost or exhausted, or injured and too late to hike out: put on all
> > > my clothes and hunker down in a sleeping bag weighing not more than 25
> > > ounces, in a silnylon vapor barrier bag used as a bivvy sack (NOT as a
> > > liner).
> > >
> > > The permutations of gear are endless, and for a normal hike, almost
> > > all of it (except a medium weight Marmot Driclime base layer with the
> > > sleeves cut off, that I can use to add a little core warmth) goes
> > > unused. I am thinking about throwing out most of my outerwear and just
> > > carrying the vapor barrier sack and light weight sleeping bag. Those
> > > two items weigh less, together, than overlapping and redundant
> > > outerwear. Of course, it is hard to wear while hiking!
> > >
> > > Any ideas? I think I'd like to be a little more prepared than a space
> > > blanket, but less prepared than someone planning to sleep out....
>
> I use to carry "everything but the kitchen sink", but then I became
> lazy and started going on dayhikes with just; a snack(carb), lunch,
> water, bug spray, mace, an outer shirt and a sm. first aid kit...but
> then I got lost(misread my map), paniced for about 30 secs. I paniced
> mostly because I know I did not have enough to get through the
> night(warmth wise)...with the help of my partner we managed to find
> our way out, but we had to do a lot of back tracking which used up all
> of our meager supplies...we only had a few drops of water when we
> emerged from the the trailhead. Now, I go fully loaded for
> emergencies.