Chapter Three:
Clothing
Image 3.1
It’s a balmy sunny day in the mountains. Maybe 75 degrees. You’re wearing shorts and T-shirt. Then the clouds descend into your pleasant valley and it’s suddenly 45 degrees. Everything turns moist. During the night the moisture freezes (it’s gone down to 32 degrees!) leaving a thick frost on all your gear. Have you packed clothing to keep you comfortably warm and dry as summer becomes winter in less than an hour? It can happen that fast. It’ s bad enough when you’re prepared. It’s a crisis when you’re not.
Wear and pack clothing that will keep you warm and dry in the worst-case scenario.
Layering
This is the modern system that moves moisture away from the body. Of particular concern is the torso inc older temperaures. (Image 3.2)
Image 3.2
1st layer: Next to the skin wear one of the high-tech, knit polyester materials. They wick (draw) sweat from skin to the outer layers of clothing where it can evaporate. Never wear cotton T-shirts! Cotton gets wet, stays wet and robs the body of body heat.
Middle layer(s): Wear layers of pile or fleece (more high-tech, polyester material). These fabrics are warm, nonabsorbent and breathe.
Third layer: The ideal is a breathable wind- and water-proof shell or jacket. Such garments are made of fabric with pores smaller than water molecules (rain) but larger than water vapor molecules (body vapors). Thus, rain is repelled but vapors from the body pass through. Gore-Tex is the major brand. (Image 3.3)
Image 3.3
The non-breathable waterproof shells are less expensive. Look for vents.
Special note
Goose down is a lighter and more compact insulator than synthetic fills, but loses its insulating capabilities when wet.
Shorts and pants
Wear durable shorts (a canvas/cotton mix is good)down to 40–50 degrees. As the air chills, cover legs with lightweight polyester, nylon, coated nylon or Gore-Tex pants. In very cold temperatures wear synthetic long johns under pants. No cotton blue jeans. They are heavy, cold and slow to dry. (Image 3.4)
Image 3.4
Warm weather
Shorts and T-shirts are OK. Shirts made of warm-weather synthetics are better since cotton stays wet from sweat. (Image 3.5)
Image 3.5
Just in case: Take along a waterproof windbreaker or poncho, a synthetic (best) pullover for warmth and a hat with a brim.
In heat and intense sun, wear loose-fitting, light-colored, long-sleeve shirts and pants (dark colors absorb heat). Wear a light-colored, broad-brimmed hat to protect neck and face.
Rain gear
Breathable Gore-Tex or similar material are best(although breathability can be impaired by heat and sweat generated by uphill climbing and/or dirt). Non-breathable rainsuits (look for vents) or ponchos are much less expensive.
Hat
A bare head loses up to 25% of a hiker’s body heat. Wear a warm synthetic or wool hat if it’s cold.
Gloves
Waterproof and breathable gloves are best.
Sunglasses
Your eyes need protection from harmful ultraviolet rays which are intensified by higher altitudes and snow glare.
Lesson
Stay warm and dry! is not just some hiking book mantra. Coming down after a three-day trip in the Sierras, the weather suddenly turned. It was raining at 7,000 feet but we were within ten miles of our car by then and made it back with no problem. At the trail-head we heard it was snowing at the higher altitudes. We counted our blessings and drove home.
The next morning the newspaper reported the tragedy of a hiker who got hypothermia at 12,000 feet and never made it back. He was in the same park and died about the time we were getting wet at 7,000 feet. He was perhaps 8–10 miles away from us at the time. Like us, he thought the warm, sunny weather would hold for his entire trip. Although the article said he was an experienced outdoorsman, he apparently did not pack enough warm clothing. He got wet, his body grew cold and he became unable to walk. By the time rescuers got to him he was gone.
Parting words
Labels to look for
Mail order
Price tags
| Table 3.1: [* Price ranges are approximate.] |
Image 3.4: What makes carrying a backpack bearable and even comfortable is a design that allows the weight of the pack to be born by the hips. Carrying 45 pounds from the shoulders must have been awful before hipbelts, but, indeed, that’s how it was done. About 80% of the pack rests upon the hips. Only 20% or so should be supported by the shoulders. In fact, thumbs should slip easily underneath the straps.