2 socks plus those toe warmers are key. I had a couple sets last trip up there a couple weeks ago. It must have gotten in the teens at night with the wind.

-although usually the problem for me is my feet sweat so much and then at night they're cold because they're wet. Why it's key to dry out your soles and/or socks at night.

[Edited on December 12, 2012 at 5:10 PM. Reason : s]

12/12/2012 5:09:32 PM

So what size packs do you guys use for backpacking? Looking for my first one after borrowing a buddy's for a trip last weekend. I don't plan on going ultra minimalist like the thru hikers in this thread and I can't afford super light weight gear at the moment anyways but I am definitely going to err on the "less is more" side of things Probably going to be using it on weekend trips mostly.

12/20/2012 8:46:07 PM

Even if you don't go ultralite, keeping your pack under 30lbs is just a good rule of thumb. It's easier on your body without sacrificing too much utility. Also, make sure you go to somewhere like REI to get properly fitted for a pack.

12/20/2012 9:15:38 PM

Quote :

"So what size packs do you guys use for backpacking?"

when i first started, i had a 90 liter external frame

then i came to my senses and got an internal frame, but at 60+5 liters

then i realized that encouraged me to pack too much, and scaled down to a 50+5 liter

when a good sale popped up at REI, i picked up a 40 liter and now i use it almost exclusively (i take the larger pack when traveling abroad)...while backpacking, i never wish i had more space

12/20/2012 9:32:53 PM

spent 9 days living in a wall tent in MT backwoods hunting elk. hell yeah!

12/20/2012 10:01:17 PM

^^ Thanks. That gives me a frame of reference. The pack I used last weekend was an 80L I believe and to be honest, I couldn't imagine filling it up for a weekend trip even with my bulky heavy gear. I will probably go for the 50-60L range I think.

12/21/2012 8:19:11 AM

I have a 25L (day hikes) and 60L. I think 60 is good for winter. I'm planning on picking up maybe a 35-40L for summer as my 60L encourages me to take too much stuff.

12/21/2012 9:41:52 AM

I'm currently getting in shape to hike Mt. Washington (NH) in late January. I've hiked it before in nice summer weather, fairly cold late fall weather, but never in dead on snow covered winter. I hiked a smaller presidential last year with hardboots, crampons, etc and it was fun, but 10x harder than in decent weather.

Should be pretty epic!

12/21/2012 11:06:46 AM

Quote :

"I think 60 is good for winter. I'm planning on picking up maybe a 35-40L for summer as my 60L encourages me to take too much stuff."

good point...that's what it boils down to...i'd consider 40L good for 3 seasons...for winter, something larger is probably pretty useful

i don't do as much "true" winter backpacking as i'd like, but if it's freaking cold, the extra layers/thickness is going to fill up 55-60L without packing more than is necessary, i think

12/21/2012 2:58:04 PM

Yeah that's true. I filled up my 60 a couple weeks ago and it was freaking cold. One thing I always forget to bring is a digital thermometer. I always want to know actually how cold it is. We knew it was below freezing though because our dog's water froze haha.

12/21/2012 3:07:06 PM

Quote :

"So what size packs do you guys use for backpacking?"

I have an Osprey 70L. It's one of the deluxe models with mold-able belt. Unless I'm carrying stuff for n00bs in my group, it's rarely ever close to full for a weekend trip. I bought it with the hopes of doing longer trips.

12/21/2012 3:53:54 PM

Has anyone used euro hike gear? Admittedly I'm ignorant but it looks ok online and the price is right. Is this like the British equivalent of Coleman gear?

12/23/2012 8:33:01 PM

http://sport.woot.com/offers/sierra-designs-backpack-your-choice-2

is this a good pack?

1/2/2013 1:24:46 PM

http://www.amazon.com/Sierra-Designs-Revival-50-Backpack/product-reviews/B004KQHA7Q/ref=cm_cr_dp_see_all_btm?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

1/2/2013 1:31:56 PM

Doing a day hike/possible over night this weekend. Is there still snow in the mountains? Was thinking somewhere around graveyard fields. Taking my parents up for a day hike then possible continuing then staying overnight somewhere. Would like to find some snow if possible.

1/2/2013 1:43:39 PM

^^^ i think sierra designs has only recently (last year or two) started making backpacks again, but i could be wrong in that...even if they are, it's not a bad thing, necessarily...i think their gear is usually pretty good

packs are definitely something that you should try on before buying, if you can...$80 is a good deal and worth the risk, IMO, though you'll quickly find out if you wasted your money after a weekend trip

i'm a sucker for packs...i kinda want that one, just to try it, but my wife would not be happy with yet another pack in my closet

i'm doing roan mountain the first week of february!

[Edited on January 2, 2013 at 1:48 PM. Reason : carats]

1/2/2013 1:46:33 PM

Quag, any good packs that you want to offload to put toward a new one?

1/2/2013 2:25:37 PM

honestly, i don't think i have any spares...i have my two main packs (a mountainsmith 55L for winter camping and the 40L for the other 3 seasons)...and then i MIGHT have one more in the closet (i forget), but i tend to keep it for when we have friends go backpacking who don't already have their own pack

that said, i'll double-check when i get home...for a while there, i had several while i was figuring out which ones worked best (for me)

1/2/2013 2:35:47 PM

I started work on a new penny stove last night

hope this one works better than the first!

1/2/2013 5:00:47 PM

After all my years of camping I still haven't had a desire to make one. Maybe this will be the year. I just see the struggle people have with them in the wind and how long they take to boil water. It always seems to me like the cons outweight the few pros.

1/3/2013 9:15:48 AM

oh jeez, hopefully we won't get that argument started again.

Looking to get out and do some snow hiking/camping in the next few weeks. Any nice places that are remote enough to be away from people yet civilized enough that I don't have to worry about driving 3-4 hrs there and finding closed roads, etc.?

Also, does anyone have any experience with the MSR miniworks water filter? Ideally, I think I would like to buy the platypus gravity system, but funds are a little low at the moment after buying some other gear and I found a good deal on a used MSR.

1/3/2013 2:45:03 PM

Haha I wasn't involved in that one. All I know is I'll take the extra 10-12oz for a jetboil and have a much nicer experience. I rarely camp more than 4-5 nights any more and it's my vacation so I like to have my coffee and tea quickly.

I've tried both. I own the platypus gravity and it's amazing. Much quicker than a filter and you can let it sit and filter while you have a snack. The MSR isn't bad though for a filter. If you got a deal on it I'd save the cash. The platypus really works well when you have 2+ people using the same filter.

Just upgraded my tent to a Copper Spur UL3. It's a bit over 4lbs with the footprint but it's for my girlfriend, dog, and I. So split between 2 people a 44 sq ft tent with 2 vestibules at just over 2 lbs per person isn't bad. Previous tent was the Fly Creek UL2. While it was great it was way too tight for 2 people and a dog.

[Edited on January 3, 2013 at 2:59 PM. Reason : s]

1/3/2013 2:58:56 PM

Planning to do the Mt. Mitchell trail from Black Mountain Campground on the 19th then hike the whole Black Mountain Crest trail. Hoping for snow and ice!! Anyone been up to Mitchell lately? Any snow?

1/8/2013 9:31:34 AM

here's my second penny stove (sans penny)

I haven't sealed it with JB Weld yet nor have I tested it with a fuel

1/8/2013 7:54:48 PM

Was checking the weather in the area for my own trip and ran across this. Doesn't look like any snow is due any time soon, though.


"01/08/2013 at 0800 hrs Mount Mitchell is open up to the park campground. The summit will remain closed due to hazardous icy conditions. Be aware that most trails have ice on them; if hiking, traction devices are highly recommended.
Current conditions: 38 degrees under mostly sunny cloudy skies; northwest winds at 8-10 mph. "

1/9/2013 6:22:18 AM

^
http://www.hikewnc.info/besthikes/appalachian-ranger-district/mount-mitchell

There's some reviews of people who did the hike. The last was on the 4th. Seems like it's pretty icy up there and possibly even some snow. We're planning on starting at Black Mountain Campground and hiking the 5.3 miles up to the summit then doing the 12 mile Black Mountain Crest Trail. We're going to be bringing trekking poles and some boot traction just in case. I'm hoping they'll be some snow before next weekend though!

http://forums.backpacker.com/cgi-bin/forums/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=692107219;t=9991162114

Some more good info. Sounds like there was snow up there a couple weeks ago. Although looking at the weather now it's supposed to be 67 on Saturday and raining and above freezing the next couple weeks.


[Edited on January 9, 2013 at 9:36 AM. Reason : d]

1/9/2013 9:13:56 AM

anyone use traction cleat strap-ons (hah) for your boots while hiking? i'm thinking of picking up something for roan mountain in a couple of weeks, just in case

i've heard good things about yaktrax from friends who live in vermont and use them all the time during the winter...and the reviews on amazon support this...the reviews on rei, however, are less than flattering

they're on the cheap side, being $20-30 (depending on where you buy them)...but they also seem to be the lightest, most flexible, and simplest of the systems (and without any sharp edges)

http://www.amazon.com/Yaktrax-Traction-Cleats-Black-Small/dp/B001CZJIOQ/
http://www.rei.com/product/760281/yaktrax-pro

1/9/2013 9:40:20 AM

Yeah I almost picked up some Yaktraks then I read the reviews on REI. The rubber isn't' that great apparently. We decided to go with these instead for $60:

http://www.rei.com/product/774966/kahtoola-microspikes-traction-system

They're half-way between Yaktraks and actual crampons. 5/5 stars on REI and 5/5 stars on Amazon with 174 reviews. Can't beat that.

I ordered a large and a medium from REI (i'm a size 10.5 right inbetween the 2). I'm going to see which one fits better then return the other.

1/9/2013 9:57:49 AM

^ yeah, that's what's surprising...because the reviews on amazon for the yaktrax pro is 4.5/5 with 386 reviews...the yaktrax walkers (which are too light duty for backpacking, IMO) are 4.5/5 with 438 reviews

let me know which size you like in the kahtoolas...i wear 10-10.5 (depending on the brand and style of shoe), so i'll probably wear whatever you end up keeping

1/9/2013 10:16:48 AM

Thought I'd post this. If anyone's a member of meetup.com we started organizing trips in the Charlotte Outdoor South group. Here's our next one:

http://charlotte.outdoorclubsouth.com/events/98393442/

1/10/2013 11:51:41 AM

^^Got both in today. They both fit but the mediums feel snugger. The larges are a little floppy on the bottom. They're great though. Haven't gotten to test them out yet (it's 75 in Charlotte) but we're hoping for some ice/snow on Mitchell next weekend. Temperatures are below freezing and there's a bit of rain expected so who knows. Better to be prepared then not. I'm glad I went with these over the Yaktraks. These seem a lot more heavy duty. Not to mention I got them from REI.

This is what it looked like 2 weeks ago: (not me from backpacker.com):

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tjq5vIRhmvg/UOeJY7S-nyI/AAAAAAAACn4/7uUomOQe8ak/s1024/IMG_1450.JPG

http://forums.backpacker.com/cgi-bin/forums/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=692107219;t=9991162114

1/12/2013 4:38:06 PM

The major con to yak trax or micro spikes is that they can shift and roll off your foot if you're going up steeper stuff. Just be aware are careful of that

1/13/2013 4:57:39 PM

^Yeah that's what I'm thinking but after reading a lot of reviews those micro spikes are pretty tough. I don't want to make an investment into real crampons until I know I'll actually be doing some ice climbing (think that's next winter).

They fit on pretty snuggly:


[Edited on January 13, 2013 at 6:25 PM. Reason : s]

1/13/2013 6:24:08 PM

I picked up a set of ICEtrekkers this week to use on Old Rag up here in Shenandoah. They worked flawlessly. I've used microspikes in the past and like them as well, but the ICEtrekkers weren't as awkward in transition between ice and rock. While at REI three different employees came up to me unprompted to say they were the best they had.

https://www.icetrekkers.com/product/diamond

1/13/2013 7:38:38 PM

^ so you got the diamonds ($42) and not the "regular" ($20) icetrekkers?

regular: http://www.rei.com/product/839645/kako-icetrekkers-chains-traction-system
diamond: http://www.rei.com/product/806475/kako-icetrekkers-diamond-grip-traction-system

1/13/2013 9:43:50 PM

yep, the diamond model

1/13/2013 10:59:09 PM

Has anyone done any of the John Muir/Yosemite PCT sections? I am pondering a big hike this summer, and I always wanted to do some West Coast

1/16/2013 4:25:18 PM

^check out the Sierra High route too. Much more of a technical hike than John Muir, but also allegedly much less crowded (fewer bears too). Seems pretty epic, I've wanted to do it for years

1/16/2013 4:57:43 PM

Does anyone know of any rivers that have canoe/kayak shuttle services that allow for overnight rentals for camping along the riverbank?

I imagine the liabilities of offering such a service must be rather high, so I understand if something of that nature is a rarity.

1/16/2013 10:45:36 PM

Woohoo Mount Mitchell is going to be fun this weekend with all this snow!

1/17/2013 11:11:22 AM

Quote :

"Has anyone done any of the John Muir/Yosemite PCT sections? I am pondering a big hike this summer, and I always wanted to do some West Coast "

I went to Yosemite last summer but wasn't able to do any hiking (just passing through on a road trip). The park is incredible and I'm planning two trips this summer to really get out and explore, one in May for the lower elevation areas and one in August to hit the higher elevations. I haven't planned out all the details, but I'm sure I'll spend some time on the JMT/PCT and can report back when I return.

1/17/2013 12:13:21 PM

^^I too am stoked about camping in the snow this weekend. My group decided on Linville Gorge, which I have never been to before, and they are calling for 6-10 inches today/tonight.

1/17/2013 1:31:01 PM

Ah nice Linville will be awesome.

1/17/2013 2:02:23 PM

I will just say that we did Mt Rogers during Snowpocalypse a few years ago, and a few people were definitely not prepared for the amount of snow and cold we got. Just be careful.

1/17/2013 6:23:47 PM

Yeah it's going to be clear and sunny all weekend. Not too worried. Although there will probably be a lot of ice/snow on the ground and cold temps at night.

1/18/2013 9:56:58 AM

it's a long shot, but does anyone use a glove system wherein you have several (separate) layers?

i was originally looking for something when riding the motorcycle, but realized i wanted something for backpacking in a couple of weeks and stumbled across some folks saying that their favorite windproof (not waterproof) system is a nylon or poly shell (windproof by design) over a thin wool or fleece inner glove...this allows for breathing, but still stops wind relatively well

i have some lavawool (wool/poly blend) for the inner layer already, but i'm having trouble finding anything affordable (i don't really want to spend $30-50) for the nylon shell

seems that the shell should be cheap, but of course the usual searches turn up stupid expensive water/windproof gloves that, for the most part, don't break apart into layers

so i'm really just looking for the shell...suggestions?

1/20/2013 1:49:22 PM

Most quality gloves are a system with a shell and a liner. You can buy shells separately but more commonly as mittens. Search Rei, altrec, backcountry

I use these for cold hiking/climbing and I bet they're about right for cold weather motorcycle use. You can find them for about $100 on sale. They include a lightly insulated goretex shell with insulated quilt like liners.
http://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/or-gear/gloves/alti-gloves.html

1/20/2013 6:05:08 PM

Not much snow at Linville except for a bit leftover in the shady parts. Tried to enter in from the Pinnacle trail on the southern end of the gorge Friday, but lost the trail hiking at night. Hiked back out and camped by the car, then drove to the falls and ate breakfast in front of the falls. Drove over to tablerock and hiked to the Chimneys and camped there, woke up to this.



The Nat Geo map for the area sucks. Half the roads to trail heads are private drives and there are a few roads on the map that just don't exist. Still had a great time out in the woods even despite getting lost. Ended up hiking somewhere in the neighborhood of 20+ miles for the weekend.

[Edited on January 21, 2013 at 1:54 PM. Reason : s]

1/21/2013 1:53:03 PM

Did you try this map?

http://www.linvillegorge.net/images/linvillemastermap.jpg

I think it's the most complete. It's an awesome area though! I've done the ~22 mile loop a couple times.

Mt. Mitchell and the Black Mountain Crest Trail were awesome! I'll post some pics later. Saturday we hiked from Black Mountain Camp Ground up to commissary ridge and set up camp then hiked up to the summit for dinner. Glad we brought the spikes. There was 3-4 inches of snow and LOTS of ice on the trail. Sunday we started on the Black Mountain Crest Trail and made it to Deep Gap Sunday night. Monday we hiked the last ~7-8 miles to Bolen Creek.

Got my snow fix! Found some 1-2 foot drifts!

I really need to pick up an insulator for my osprey reservoir tube. It kept freezing on Monday and we had to just push them back into our packs.

So a comparison of the icetrekkers (regular) versus the kahtoola micro spikes. My girlfriend was wearing the icetrekkers and they did not do too well moving from ice to snow. They aided a bit but were no where near as good as the kahtoola microspikes. I could literally walk up a 60 degree ice wall and they acted like crampons.

Quote :

"The major con to yak trax or micro spikes is that they can shift and roll off your foot if you're going up steeper stuff. Just be aware are careful of that"

After hiking with them for probably 15+ miles going from snow to ice to rock they didn't budge once. Highly recommend them if you're hiking through snow and ice. The ice trekkers were alright but slipped off my gf's feet once. They held up though. They just didn't provide the traction as dedicated spikes especially when it was a combination of snow+ice+rock.

1/22/2013 9:31:20 AM

My penny stove is badass. It burns like a champ!

I'll post boil times for 500 ml of water as soon as I collect that data.

[Edited on January 26, 2013 at 2:12 AM. Reason : -]

1/26/2013 2:09:12 AM