Bag for CT hike

imported
#1

Will my 15 degree down bag be overkill this summer? My next option is an old NF synthetic that I don’t trust lower than 35 or so. I use it for Maine summers. But altitude will be dictating the temps on this trail I know.

Bluebearee

#2

On July 4-5, 2003 I camped at Middle Mineral Creek in Segment 21. There was a thin film of ice on the beaver pond in the morning. The pond is located below a snow field so there was katabatic airflow, but the weather was clear.

I am an average sleeper and always carry a 20* bag in the Colorado high country.

food

#3

That’s pretty much what I figured and what I wanted to hear.

Bluebearee

#4

I am planning on bring my 45-Ems Thaw. I have slept in temps down to 25 in it. If it gets cold I put on my fleece pants and shit, works like a fleece blanket. I also have a silnylon vapor barrier if it gets way cold. – If it way way cold I’ll be over ther with you in your 20 degree bag… OR maybe Mac’s :wink:

Sue/HH:girl

Hammock Hanger

#5

One of the coldest temperatures I was able to record during my 2003 CT thru-hike was 25 degrees on June 25th. This was near Jefferson Creek, not far from Georgia Pass. I sleep VERY cold and my 25 degree bag wasn’t warm enough at times–even wearing long underwear–especially up high, like near San Luis Saddle.

Eagle Eye

#6

I did from Breckinridge to Silverton in July of 02’ and used a 45 degree go-lite Jardine style synthetic quilt. It was not quite wide enough for my wide frame and so proved to be a poor choice. I am a warm sleeper so silk long underware and a silk jagbag sleeping bag liner got me through… sort of. I had an 18 lb. packweight and my sleep system was my big gear dissapointment of the trip. In my opinion, a 15 degree bag is overkill for the CT unless you were to go in early June. A 25 or 30 degree bag with a jagbag should do you fine unless you are a very cold sleepeer. The jagbag will give you 5-10 degrees warmth and will keep your bag much cleaner. One drop of shampoo will clean it nicely, and it drys in minutes in the dry Colorado mountain air.
But gear talk aside , I just want to take the time to say…GO!!! The CT is a truly fantastic under used hiking trail. Sure, there can be a lot of horse manure on the trail, there is quite a bit of ascending and decending to deal with and water can be very scarce in the dry areas south of Salida, but the pay off is beyond my ability to describe!

Razor

#7

Well now… I have both a 45* synth and 20* down, of which the latter would probably be the choice. Given, it’s been wasshed a few times- and I heard that when you wash a down bag, it loses a couple degrees. Anyone know if that is true? Anyway, Mac always has room for the ladies :pimp

macgyver

#8

Hey Macgyver,

Washing your bag should help restore loft by removing dirt and your body’s natural oils to help the down cluster “fluff” back up. But use woolite or some other mild detergent rather than Tide, etc. which can be harmful to down. But be careful when washing: do it in the tub or a front end loader washer. The spinners in most washing machines can tear up the baffles in a down bag. Finally, toss it in a dryer on low or no heat with a couple tennis balls to break up the down that gets clumped together. Unfortunately, washing a down bag can be an all day process. Can ya tell I’ve been working at an outfitter?

Enjoy the CT!

Cap’n

#9

I agree with Razor. A 25 to 30 degree bag with jagbag should do you just fine. I carry a 20 bag for two reasons. When I push a bag 10 degrees I don’t sleep well and struggle making my miles the next day. When pushing 20 degrees I call that surviving and not sleeping. The other is that last year along Segment 21 I knew that the site could get a lot of cold air drainage, but it was a big flat grassy area with a beautiful view. With a lighter bag I would have climbed out of the cold air drainage, but lost my view. The big 4 in my luxury 20 degree kit weighs under 8 pounds.

food

#10

Just picked up a REI Kilo+20 sleeping bag at my local store, and it seems to be just about perfect for the CT. 700 fill goose down, 2.2 pounds, making it an ultra light value. REI is running a 20% discount on one full-priced item for members, if you purchase before mid-April, 2004. Bag retails for $209, but with discount and a little dividend, I was able to walk out of the store for about $155. It is comparable to the EMS Mountain Light +20, and not quite as nice as the Western Mountaineering Ultra Lite +20, but I will save $150, and gladly give up 7 ounces. Given my brief experience on the CT, I would always bring my +20 F option. Last year, I took a Blue Kazoo, but am trying to cut weight this year. FWIW :cheers

TrailGuy

#11

I’d take the 15 degree or the 35 if can sleep cold (maybe use a liner or wear some clothes). You must be ready for freezing temps on the CT in any time of year. The elevation should be respected.

Tha Wookie

#12

I leave this thread for one day and look what happens! Thanks everyone for the good advice. Yes, Wookie, you nailed it. Given the current choices, and I have no plans or funds to do anything different (my husband thinks 4 bags if more than sufficient), I think I’ll be taking the 15 degree. I sleep cold; I lived at elevation for 10 years in UT, I know what the night air in the Intermountain West is like.

And Mac, don’t worry about HH, she’s really harmless. Down girl!!

I washed my bag when I got back that Fall from the AT. I followed all the directions. bought the expensive NixWax product for down, spent the day in the laundramat (truly), read an entire book. It came out fabulous and looks brand new still! It’s worth all the effort.

Bluebearee

#13

I was planning on bringing my EMS Thaw 45 degree bag this summer. I figured that it would do just fine and should it get cold I could always put on my fleece and should it get really cold I could use my emergency silnylon vapor barrier. (NOTE: I will be using a TENT, not hammock this trip : ( )

If I am understanding you guys right it can and most likely will get cold and a 45 degree bag is pushing the envelope on being warm enough… So I began looking into 20 degree down bags. The two that I have narrowed it down to are the EMS Mountain Light for Women, 20 degree, 2 pounds @ $199.00 (http://www.ems.com/products/product...D=1078197957736) or the Golite Feather +20 bag, 2 pounds on sale for $199.93 normally $289.00.(http://www.rei.com/online/store/Lar…jpg&view=large)

As you can see both bags are similar in price, however, the Golite is on sale. Was it overpriced to start with or is it a better deal?

So should I stay with my EMS Thaw, 45 degree @ 1 pound? OR
Should I stay with the EMS Thaw and add in a fleece bag to total 2 pounds? OR should I go with the EMS Mt Light… or the Golite??? OR should I go lite and just crawl in with Mac if it gets really cold??? :tongue

Sue/HH :girl

Hammock Hanger

#14

HH,

I am not familiar with either bag. Is this trip to Colorado going to take you out of the trees forever? Which of those bags would be easiest to use in a hammock?

I have been experimenting with a hammock kit that is also comfortable for the good weather times when you want to sleep on the ground.

The hammock is a Hennessy (30.5 oz.) with the rain fly replaced with a Campmor extended silnylon poncho (9.4). I had to replace the hood draw string with a smaller line and cord lock to get the hood to close tight enough. I need to carry just two extra lines (.8) to pitch the poncho for a good weather shelter.

The bag is a Big Agnes Zirkle (36.9). Mine is a right zip, but a left zip would be much better.

I use a RidgeRest pad (11.8) cut to mummy shape in the sleeve. When going to the ground I put either a 6 section Zrest (6.0) or the Pacific Outdoor 3/4 InsulMat (17.0) also in the sleeve on top of the RidgeRest. The RidgeRest is too thick to make a good tube in the pack so I am going to replace it with a generic ½" blue pad. I am going to check to see if the new ThermaRest Prolite 3 3/4 pad will fit in the Big Agnes sleeve.

I have slept comfortably in expedition weight long underwear in the hammock and Zirkle at 20 degrees in blowing snow. Sorry fellow Coloradan, but there is no tent or tarp what will keep you as dry as a hammock in extended wet weather.

On the other hand, crawling in with Mac might be your best choice.:lol

food

#15

It can get damn cold in the colorado highlands, even in late july and august. I’ve been using a 25 degree holofill slumberjack for the last couple of years. It’s been a decent bag. Heavy and bulky as hell, but warm enough for early spring/late fall if you mix in a hat and some long underwear.

I just bought an REI sub kilo (+20, $209, 2.2 lbs) to replace it. I’ll be trying it out tonight in the foothills, somewhere on segment three. I’ll let you know how it goes:)

MrSheep