The ONLY Gear That Matters When You're COLD and WET!
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- Опубліковано 14 тра 2024
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Gear I used on this trip:
Rain Jacket: geni.us/Gv15
Umbrella: geni.us/xFNeT
Rain Kilt: geni.us/VH93JC
Rain Cover: geni.us/BLctKzr
Dry Bag: geni.us/6MW3
Tent: geni.us/lVbV
Tarp: geni.us/TNKVk
Sleep System: geni.us/PvuH
Sleep Pad (Nemo Tensor All Season. Still Unreleased)
Pack: geni.us/9WSlG8y
Cook Pot: geni.us/UD9ebpz
Stove: geni.us/eFQukK
Trowel: geni.us/VUndA
Battery Pack: geni.us/ptM4Xm
HeadLamp: geni.us/ldPZ
Nikwax to reapply DWR coatings: geni.us/EBdvk
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![How to Survive INSANELY WET weather [Mistakes Were Made]](/img/n.gif)
Check out Garage Grown Gear: geni.us/m2tzeVo
*Gear I used on this trip:*
Rain Jacket: geni.us/7BYPG
Umbrella: geni.us/pDMZsn2
Rain Kilt: geni.us/tlqM8cr
Rain Cover: geni.us/AN73
Dry Bag: geni.us/T0CN9Ll
Tent: geni.us/9VI3GLm
Tarp: geni.us/VSed
Sleep System: geni.us/ft1U
Sleep Pad (Nemo Tensor All Season. Still Unreleased)
Pack: geni.us/3pBiA
Cook Pot: geni.us/yfCYqCh
Stove: geni.us/3MrUHA
Trowel: geni.us/evIJfd
Battery Pack: geni.us/uVqBML
HeadLamp: geni.us/3ThMg
Nikwax to reapply DWR coatings: geni.us/zc43
@mylifeoutdoors - last year I encountered hypothermia twice on a canoe campout on the Allagash Waterway. I am still so frustrated at the situation, but researching the condition is helping me better prepare for future outings.
We had to pull over during the day due to hard rain and wind and one of our Scouts (who had wilderness first aid training) had us walk around under a tarp to get warm, sing and do simple jumping jack motions, all while water was boiling. When the water was hot we drank heated gatorade and cocoa, which lifted our body temperature and morale.
I wonder if we, as a community, can offer more tips like this to mitigate when things go south. BSA Scouting has provided plenty of experiences and skills to aid in these kinds of lousy weather conditions.
Meanwhile I still have my sights set on completing the 100 miles on the Allagash river, hopefully next time with more moose and less cold rain!
Get fisherman's rain gear. As a professional fisherman and part time day hiker, yes inget some looks....until I get undressed and I'm completely dry and comfortable. I've used both the outer pvc types and the inner pvc types, both are much more effective then non pvc rain gear that you are using at the most important thing you put it on for. We where bibs too which is great on hikes because like you said, you get wet from the brush and the bibs stop that and also allow you to remove the hot jacket but still keep your shirt dry with brush up to the armpits.
The north Atlantic is a rough sea so rain isn't the only water we get hit by. It's often cold too. Our fowl weather rain gear is unparalleled for that reason. Oh and our boots are good and will keep your feet dry. In combo with thr bibs, it's basically like wearing waders for stream fishing. Rainbow mountain, 17,000 feet outside cusco Peru in snowy conditions with my bibs on was super comfortable. Oh Llama wool is also the shit and very cheap. Warmest wool on the planet.
get a gatewood cape.....rain and pack cover and a shelter....take along a day use poncho to set up, or take down your shelter...
I recommend you a thermal rescue blanket.
04:53 - Tealight Candles.
One tealight candle will take the chill out of a tent in conditions just like you experienced. They're small and cheap (between 10 cents to 25 cents depending on how many you buy at a time), but man do they work. It can raise the temperature inside of your tent by 15 degrees which is a game changer.
Keep it low so that the heat will rise and use a UCO lantern or a soda can that you've cut open for safety. You're not going to be sweating, but it's just going to take the chill out of the air.
And that's why I don't believe in pack liners, but pack covers. Pack liners don't keep the pack from getting soaking wet and taking on water and that ends u weighing more. Cover the outside of the pack and protect everything in one shot.
And if water is getting in your tent, then you don't have a tent.
You're carrying a shelter. A tent would keep any elements from coming in. A shelter is just a fair weather cover. That's when saving 1lb turns your camping experience into a survival experience. There is no excuse for water coming into a tent.
Exposure to the elements is the #1 killer of hikers. Not bears, not snake bites, starving.
This is one reason I will not go stoveless or no-cook on a trail. Even if you need to spend a couple hours in your bag warming up....a hot beverage, even hot water, will go a LONG way toward restoring body temp and morale after a day of walking in the cold rain.
I generally dislike fussing around with stoves but also carry them in colder weather. I figure at a minimum it gets me a hot drink at night to keep my core a little warmer.
@@neilquinn I live in a country where hypothermia is a very real threat at all times of the year (I've personally had mild hypothermia at least four times) and for that reason I consider a stove to be an essential survival item. The single most reliable and safe way to treat or prevent mild hypothermia is by drinking a hot liquid, and in the context of hiking in the wet and cold, drinking a hot drink is likely to be the ONLY available tool for treating or preventing mild hypothermia.
@@BurfieldPhoto1 I'll keep carrying it. Which country out of curiosity?
@@neilquinn New Zealand
@@BurfieldPhoto1 spent a month there in 2018 and loved it
Many years ago, I read an account of a trout fisherman that froze to death in the snow after falling into the water and getting wet. They traced his steps. And saw where he had tried to start a fire two or three times, but apparently his hands were shaking so bad he couldn’t strike the matches. They figured he could have survived if he had pulled the thermos of hot coffee out of the back of his backpack, and drank some before he tried to start the fire, I’ve never forgotten that story.
I believe people stop thinking correctly when their life is on the line, once you become hypothermic and in shock, your cognitive skills are as shot as your shaking hands
Jack London wrote a short story called "To build a Fire." Recommend.
When someone is hypothermic their blood flow to the brain is significantly diminished (the blood gets retained in the core in the bodies attempt to conserve body heat) confusion, fumbling hands, and drowsiness are normal symptoms of hypothermia.
@@Commonsensepreps👍 Absolutely!
I've done some 'home-grown-seat-of-pants' experiments (tending towards being hypothermic .. albeit under 'comtrolled' conditions 🤞😏).
It's quite sobering how quickly it sets in and one starts to 'slow down' .. both physically and mentally.
@thomasmusso1147 that kind of training is very valuable, most people never experience those kinds of harsh events, and they have no way to prepare or to know how they will react in those conditions
I went to survival school in the military. (Fairchild AFB) You can survive a cold rainy night with just a way to get yourself off the wet ground, a poncho, and some birthday candles.
Did it suck? Massively.
Did I get good sleep? No
Was I ok in the morning? Yes
Have heat/fire always available. There is no reason not to carry something. Even a can of sterno is far better than nothing. If you can heat water, your chances of making it just went up. Adding something to the water, like cocco with sugar, can give you both heat and fuel to recover. Then, you can work on a better plan to go forward.
Military survival is not camping. It is how not to die when outside, with an option for very angry people chasing you. Backpacking is fun that can turn into much less fun if things go bad.
Both are subject to a simple rule. Don't be stupid.
From experience, I know that stupid hurts....
Great video. Thanks
Old school SAS taught to our special-ops in Korea. What are barbies doing playing in the woods?
Well I was out in the woods. No gear; but I had these birthday candles because I'm in the Air Force.....@@EllieA-sf3ne
@EllieA-sf3ne Consider performing an online search for "tea light candles". They are effective at warming small, enclosed shelters, including a quinzhee or quinzee snow shelter.
@@michellebrooks3512 The Air Force has had survival schools going back to the AAF days during World War 2.
oh I know. but the wife is an AF brat and You just have to tease them.@@cmc5394oparva
Its insane how close discomfort and danger are to eachother
That's when you're mentally strong enough to handle discomfort...
Over 50 years ago, when I was just a teenager, my friends and I would go camping in the rain just for fun. We would get someone's parents to drive us up into the mountains and leave us for several days. Back then we didn't have all the fancy gear available these days, plus we didn't have the money to buy it anyway. But we were teens with all that energy. We learned fast that keeping dry was the most important thing. And learning where to find dry stuff to burn was the second most important thing. Even though we all had white gas camp stoves, like Primus stoves, they were just good for heating food and drink. It was really a lot of fun and I learned a lot. Today, at nearly 68 years old, it would be much harder to learn. So now I always keep dry blankets in my vehicles, usually some food, and if I'm driving somewhere that I might get stuck I make damn sure that I have warm stuff for all the folks in the vehicle, usually sleeping bags, with enough food and water for 3 days. It may seem silly but about 15 years ago one of my customers lost a brother who froze to death in his car on a Chicago city street. His battery apparently froze and the car wouldn't start. So I'm prepared when driving over Cascade mountain passes. Staying dry and having dry stuff to change into or get into, will keep you warm and save your life.
that's solid advice. Thank you sir.
Knowledge first and foremost.
Preperation second, and as essential.
When you get to be our age survival means staying a few steps ahead of the game. Because there's no way for us to catch up! Lol
👍👍👍 .. better safe than sorry.
Some years back, during a South African Winter, the main road pass ('van Reenen's Pass') through the Drakensberg (Mountain Range separating the 'Highveld' Plateau' of 5000 feet from the KZN 'Midlands' and Coast) was completely blocked by snow for almost a week .. in itself, an extremely rare occurrence.
An extremely popular route, especially during holiday seasons .. Winter too, as Winters in the Coastal Holiday City of Durban are very mild. An easy 6 - 8 hours, depending on the mode of transport from Johannesburg to Durban.
More than a few vehicles were trapped in the Pass by the uncommon volume of snow and some of the occupants froze to death before they could be rescued. The all too common mindset .. 'we will be in a heated car and Durban is warm, so won't need anything more than a light jersey or jacket'. This was ok until their fuel tank ran dry and the car heater stopped working.
Yep, better prepared than not.
😮 frightening
I enjoyed this more "narrative approach" to talking about gear, lessons, and experience. More like this, please! ❤🙏
Glad you liked it! It was fun to edit…but not to film 😅
@@MyLifeOutdoors not sure what it says when this video and the hydrophobic down video are two of my favorites. Maybe I just like it when you're hypothermic?? Seriously, though, good job keeping your head, and glad it turned out okay.
Felt the same way. Feels like a good half way point between Steven's older more trip orientated videos and more recent gear-centric videos.
If this was me, I would have taken a zero day with a good book in the tent... Rain on the tent is a beautiful sound... Kilometers can be made up over the following days.
I agree...taking a zero always worked for me. If you know its coming and will be prolonged its good to shelter in place. In this case, I would have set up my tent other than that mud hole.
I believe Steven was restricted by his permitted campsites, he didn’t have the choice to choose where to set up camp or how long he could be at each spot. Reservations dictated his trip
@@MatthewRMacKinnonScrew the permit. He was very nearly a hypothermia case.
@@MatthewRMacKinnon .. There is "always" a choice .... Stay alive and survive .. Hypothermia is no joke and relatively easy to avoid .. DON"T take Risks on a wet mountain .... Permits and reservations are not a concern over life and death ...
@@tadghsmith1457that was his choice. He either could have stayed in one spot and waited out the rain or wear more synthetic underneath to keep him warm as he moved and stopped even though he got wet.
Just a word about rain gear: yeah, the tall brush might've quickened the process, but "wet-out" happens eventually with breathable rain gear. The water-repelling nature of fabrics like GoreTex or other breathable membranes is due to its very close-knit matrix-like structure. The water's surface tension in its liquid form prevents it from leaking through the weave but in it's gaseous form (perspiration), it can escape because unlike a liquid, a gas doesn't have surface tension.
But that only works up to a certain point. As water accumulates on the fabric, its weight starts pressing it more and more into the fabric, until the pressure defeats the surface tension of the droplets and "forces" the water between the fibers. At this point, water starts wicking into the fabric from the original point / points of ingress. Rubbing against vegetation helps this process as the contact surface pushes the water into the fabric.
Great explanation! That means old style rubber coated raincoats should work much better in really raining conditions.
@@NoSuffix They would and they wouldn't. You certainly wouldn't have as much of a problem with water getting IN but you'd have more problem with the water already INSIDE.
It's amazing how much you can sweat when you're exerting yourself, and even on a cold rainy day, your clothes would get soaked through from perspiration, so armpit-zips are your new best friend.
Either way, if you're hiking all day in pouring rain, you're. Going. To. Get. Wet. Wearing wool underwear (undershirt and pants) is good, as wool retains SOME of its insulating properties when wet, but the only way to stay 100% dry is to stay 100% at home in constant downpour. Not saying you can't hike in it, just that you'll get wet eventually anyway.
It's important to a) keep your insulating layers (down jacket, sleeping bag) completely dry and adapt the hike to the conditions.
@@Senki207 Good to know. I always check the forecast and make sure the weather will be very decent before venturing out.
@@NoSuffix You can venture out in pretty much any kind of weather (hell, there are guys working on the Arctic), I've done my fair share of rainy or snowy hikes too.
It's more about adapting the hike to the weather, than relying solely on gear / hiking only in good weather. Shortening the hike, choosing easier terrain or routes with known places of natural shelter are all part of the process.
Never experienced water coming in when using goretex. Sure after a day of raining it will stop breathing properly (and condensation + sweat will make you wet, especially when wet meets cold) but I've not had anything come through. Modern waders are also goretex and you can stand waist deep in water the entire day no problem. That being said some of the ultra-light stuff might have this issue (not using ultra-light myself but a very light goretex rainjacket).
I'm glad you were safe. For the future, eat something before you dive into your sleeping bag. You need fuel to warm back up. It doesn't require starting up your stove. As a Wilderness First Responder who assisted a hypothermic companion, I can tell you that works. And if you can stay at your site and wait out the weather, all the better. I hunkered for two days in a New Zealand storm and it made all the difference.
Right, but if you can crank on the stove for a couple minutes, a hot cup of tea or oatmeal, and catching some of the heat off the stove while heating it goes a long way to getting you warmed up sooner. Also, if you have a well insulated container with you, heating enough extra water for a couple more cups of tea later makes for a way more comfortable evening.
They were WAY past the little bit eating could help. They should have started exercising in their sleeping bags. You need to move fast to warm back up. Don't stop until you stop shivering. Eating like a pig ain't gunna help ya at the point they let themselves go too.
The first thing to be eaten in a NZ Army field ration pack is the tubes of sweetened condensed milk. High energy, high suger food makes a big difference. Especially in NZ bush where you get 4 seasons in one day. I've been sunburnt in the morning - 30 degC and snowed on in the afternoon ( mid summer - 500 mtrs )
@@kd5nrh Yes. When I was hiking in a group with an individual who became hypothermic, we pulled out the emergency energy source we kept in our first aid kit--jello mix that we added to hot water. I'm thinking now that I should put something like that in my own first aid kit for just that purpose.
@@johnsullivan6709 That makes sense. See my other comment about an emergency energy source.
The part of this experience that was particularly dangerous was the lack of ability to think clearly. Like Mike Tyson said, “Everybody’s got a plan until they get punched in the face.” That’s the punch in the face from hypothermia. Clearly, you know all the right things to do, the issue was not being capable of thinking of them in the moment. That’s what kills people. Glad you made it!
Oh good more praise for Mike Tyson the deeply evil monster.
@@tattooninja I quoted him, didn’t say he was an awesome person or anything. You can quote people without praising them. For instance, I quoted Hitler the other day to help someone with a history paper. Certainly not praising him.
@@KyleGraham19 How much of your time do you spend rationalizing sharing the worst possible thoughts from the worst possible people like this?
YAY SPORTSBALL!!
#BeepBoop #NPC #IQ40
yep, hypothermia will severely affect your ability to think.
@@Thehappyhammockhiker Kermithy Frog
The waterproof coating on the jackets did not rub off. They do not rub off in perfectly uniform fashion as shown. This was a coating failure. Many of these coatings are good for a time but with constant exposure to water they will simply no longer work. Sad fact is, many of the things we would like to think work, do not. Goretex is one of them. Various rain gear is another. I've had rain gear fail on a couple occasions and I wasn't going through spots that would theoretically rub off the coating.
Hypothermia:
Cooling of the body's core. In a situation where you begin to feel cold, as in first signs of shivering etc, you are at the first stage of hypothermia. This is the easiest stage to solve it so this is the time to call the ball and fix it. It only gets harder and more dangerous from here on.
1. Get out of wind and or rain
2. Get out of wet clothes. You are better naked than in wet clothing
3. Remember, it is the body core temp cooling down. If you can drink a hot beverage do so. However, if you are so far gone that you cannot quickly get the beverage made, then you may have to go directly to warming in your sleeping bag.
4. Eat some food for fuel. Fats are good here.
5. A dry sleeping bag is critical here. Get all wet clothes off, even if it means having none. Get in the dry bag and keep it snug against you. If you have an emergency blanket, wrap that around you too but be very careful of condensation on the inside of the foil. It could ruin your dry environment. Since you probably don't have a Wiggy's bag, you will want to prioritize keeping your bag dry.
6. If able, heat water to not only drink, but to keep in your water bottle so you can keep it in your bag as a heater.
When you are recovering you will come to a place where you are essentially no longer cold and feel better. Now, WAIT longer. Your body is still in the building back phase. Packing up and getting back out into the cold right away will result in quicker relapse.
You forgot vapor barrier liner. I carry grocery store veggie bags as a backup under socks & gloves & hat. VERY large difference, though far from comfortable or convenient. Typically I just do feet between liner & outersock. Only done hands/head once. Pretty dire situation. Helped a lot.
what gortex are you talking about, cause the membranes are very waterproof and I can tell you they do work well even on submerged waders
@@Aestheticnerdlife Goretex has two key aspects: 1) Waterproof and 2) Breathability. You may find that it is waterproof but it is not breathable. That is a total fabrication. Several entities have tested it and it does not breathe. So your waders pass the waterproof test, great. Now, for all the shoes and rain jackets etc that people buy because they can "breathe", they are being ripped off.
If this happens again with the shivering, eat snacks to stimulate thermogenesis and have some sort of fire or hand warmers. Once you get hypothermic even to a low degree you can depend as much on your body heat to warm up a sleeping bag. That's why you want an external heat source since your internal heat isn't up to par. Even lighting your stove in a tent can help and hand warmers can be put on your left armpit or left side of neck due to the arteries. But snacks in those situation should not be underestimated because of the thermogenic factor. It would have helped y'all to stop shivering much faster. I imagine you know most if not all of these things but I still feel it's my obligation to say these things. I've been hypothermic before while alone in 27°F temperature at 12 a.m. in the woods so I know how serious it is and how much snacks help in those situations. And I had all the equipment and knowledge to avoid that but I was being reckless and was overconfident.
I always carry 5 grocery store vegetable bags in my pack. 2 feet. 2 hands. head. Vapor Barrier Liner, definitely saved my biscuits (or at least saved me from having to Jack London a fire for 2 days.) They go inside your hat & socks & gloves. Hopefully between 2 layers, but if only under one, oh well. REALLY helps. Makes a 20 to 30 degree difference.
Great point. Eating more is crucial. Even with great gear, you need your "furnace" to warm you from the inside.
When backpacking in cold and wet conditions nothing beats alpaca wool. Any wool will retain at lest 60% of its insulating properties even when wet. However, alpaca wool is lighter, insulates better, and sheds water better than merino. Merino is better for tight weaves that block the wind, but for backpacking alpaca wool rules. With alpaca wool gear even if the worst possible thing happens and you get soaked to the bone, you will still have the ability to retain heat. I recently went on a solo Uinta Highline trek with rain and/or thunderstorms on 6 out of the 8 days, with 3 days where it almost didn't stop raining, including powerful wind, driving rain, and thunderstorms as I crossed high mountain passes. I wore a merino wool long sleeve shirt, and alpaca sweater, and possum down gloves with a waterproof nylon poncho and Frog Togg pants for rain gear. The alpaca sweater never got more than slightly damp, and combined with my wool shirt (and poncho to block the wind) kept me super warm in every weather. My poncho was not a breathable fabric, but it didn't have to be because ponchos vent so inherently well (sometimes too well in the wind). Alpaca wool isn't as lightweight as down, but it is close. Plus the additional safety from hypothermia in wet conditions that you get from wool makes it well worth a few extra ounces.
I'm on blood thinners for a medical condition and found myself in the backwoods one night when a really, really unseasonable cold front hit. I was in a hammock and started shivering uncontrollably. You're right on the edge of panic. For some reason, one of the guys I was with had a few dozen glove warmers still in his pack from a previous trip. I was literally shoving a half dozen into my bag at a time to get enough heat to stop shivering. I'd fall asleep and then wake up shivering... and a half dozen more got shoved in. I did that all night to get through the night. When I got back, I upgraded my bag and bought a couple of Swiss military wool blankets. One gets tied down over the top of my bag now. I don't care about the bulk - I have no desire to ever repeat a night like that again. Thanks for the video.
One of the guys should have climbed into the bag with you. No homo.
Compact thermal wear that can be layered and can protect from the cold. The issue you had was being wet and cold at the same time and is a nasty mix. Those ternary heat packs can be a life saver and can be tucked under your arm pits.
Really heavy and questionable solution.. Buy a top quality down bag, silk liner and down mattress, instead of clumsy blankets!
Weighs and stoves a minimum and isolates at least ten times better..
Big believer in fleece and wool w/ good barrier layer. But a US winter down korean war bag in a US gortex forest bivy is my number 1 for nasty weather.
One more time then off to bed: not sure why I'm the only one who Vapor Barriers up in a pinch, but you should 100% have 5 grocery story veg bags in your first aid kit etc. They can save your life even without gloves and a hat (2 feet, 2 hands, head.) Sucks, but it probably adds 30 degrees.
Finally a US backpacking trip that feels like one of mine, except we got no bears in Scotland! One reason I don’t use a down bag or jacket is too many nights spent in soaking gear, especially before rolltop stuff sacs were invented. At least synthetic keeps some warmth even when soaked. As for DWR, that’s only the first defence it will wet out after an hour of heavy rain even fresh from the factory, you need a base layer that is warm when wet, for me that’s merino. I don’t know any jacket that keeps you really dry for more than 3 hours of heavy rain even the $500 ones. But getting out of the wet and as warm as possible is absolutely key.
I've cycled +ten thousand kilometres in all sorts of weather, through Scandinavia/Northern Europe at minus 15 - 40°C and days with storm and endless rain. I've always felt comfortable in down bags and wouldn't use anything else. Only once had to spent a long hour drying a wet sleeping bag over my stove, in tiny Akto ...
Drinking a hot beverage as soon as you stop is really very effective. Don't wait until you're cold. I've never had ordinary outdoor waterproof gear keep me dry when it was raining heavily. The only exception is Army ECW Gortex gear. I suppose other gortex may be just as effective but I haven't owned any. Growing up in Oregon, you end up wet while hiking around in the spring, winter, fall and part of summer. You keep moving until you're at shelter. You get everything off and dry off. Many times, if I was hiking around near my house, I would take a shower when I got home because some of it is sweat and some is water dripping from things which isn't always clean and the plants always get their fibers into you. It may seem counterintuitive to shower to get dry but that's what you do if you can. On multi day outdoor events in the rain, you shouldn't go far enough to get soaked, you should have significant shelter and you should have a fire. Use walking sticks to knock water off of overgrown vegetation if you can't avoid it and spend more time in shelter than traveling. Wear wool and gortex, never wear cotton. Take lots of hot chocolate. It warms you up more than most things. Always have a beanie made of fleece or wool. Always take off your shell layers when you're starting to get hot and when it stops raining. Keep a trash bag with your dry stuff inside and a mesh bag with your wet stuff. If it's dripping wet, hang it outside your pack. Once you're down to one change of dry clothes, you're stuck at camp until you can get everything dry again. A clothes line under a 2/3 a-frame configuration tarp facing the fire will help get the clothes dry, keep your firewood dry and partially shelter the fire. You have to carry extra clothing and food. You can't go light or cheap or small with the shelter items. You need room inside your tent to operate without touching the sides or being too close to the low point where condensation is going to pool up and it's nice to have a sponge just big enough to soak up water on the floor and get all the water out. You need one or more tarps that are at least 10x10 and 1000 lb chordage to pitch it or it will sag and pool on top of the tarp. Rain camping isn't for the weak, inexperienced or reckless. Believe it or not, snow camping is easier and safer.
Boil water and fill it in a metal water bottle (or thick plastic bottle which can stand the heat)
Wrap a towel around the hot bottle and put it in your sleeping bag.
It keeps warm for 5 to 7 hours.
In very cold winter conditions I use 2 of these bottles
I have a tip! I usually put my Nalgene water bottle with hot water inside of a thick sock and then inside my sleeping bad. That way you can both dry your socks and stay warm!
I used this last spring in Tahoe last year using a SmartWater bottle and it saved the night.
A while back a friend needed a hot Nalgene. He had full shot, I had a sip of whiskey. We both became ill, throwing up. He got it so much worse. He began to shake and become cold. A group of friends (8 of us on the trip) got him into his bag and tent and with a Nalgene filled with hot water. His shaking eventually stopped and he warmed up. But we were a day's paddle away from any sort of help. It helped emmensely.
Yup. And when I'm in cold wet weather do the same and carry water bottle beneath insulating layer when walking. Also if in country that is often wet I don't bother with wbf. Instead concentrate on insulation that works wet or dry. Examples include fuzzy rubber/shark skin used by kayakers/sailors or primaloft sandwiched between silnylon layers that have mesh hems to allow drainage
hot water bottles are also a great way to dry shoes during winter hiking. I have a titanium bottle with me then wool sock around it and put it in my boots to heat then up and get out the moisture
I once went winter backpacking in on the AT. My shoes and socks were soaking wet, but I was OK while I hiked. I stopped to set up camp and make supper. After eating I crawled inside my sleeping bag but still felt cold. I remembered reading about the vapor barrier system, so I grabbed a garbage bag, cutting holes at the bottom for my head and arms. Took off all my layers, put the bag on, head and arms thru holes. Put my layers back on, felt warmer instantly. I think the plastic next to the body helps keep the insulation drier and warms the thin layer of trapped moisture. I slept great, could even get out of my sleeping bag WITHOUT that cold blast. Made breakfast and packed up. As I started to hike, I had to stop to remove the garbage bag.
Survival tip. Carry a beeswax candle or two. That way when you started to be too cold you could have wrapped that tarp around you and burn the candle on the ground. You could regain some control over your temp and get a little more dry before giving it to the bag. There are several videos about using candle to create micro environment like this. Even the heat from a couple of small tea candles in a Altoids tin under a tarp can give you enough to begin thinking clearly again.
Use/find beeswax too if you choose tea candles. Not the paraffin!
That is called a palmer furnance and is typically done with ponchos. The smaller the mini "tent" you create the better it works.
There are two major risks with it and that are your synthetic gear catching on fire and you inhaling too much smoke. I am interested why you specifically recommend beeswax. I was warned specifically not to use this in bear country since the scent could attract...well bears
In this situation I would have heated up water in the vestibule and put a hot water bottle into my sleeping bag.
Chuck a dozen hand warmers in your pack
"cold you could have wrapped that tarp around you and burn the candle on the ground."
...and melted a dyneema tarp.
@@wisenber dyneema burns so fast it basically just goes POOF
I used to have a dyneema stuff sack for my cook kit but one night a breeze came up and blew it over the fire while I was making dinner. POOF
In a good enough storm, all hardshell jackets will inevitably wet out. When this happens it compromises the waterproof breathable membrane's (Goretex layer) ability to remain breathable and allow evaporated moisture (sweat) inside the jacket to escape out and then you get wet from the inside as sweat and moisture build up.
I live in the PNW so we deal with a lot of moisture. What I've found most effective is using a super lightweight windshell jacket with only DWR on the outside and no waterproof breathable membrane in combination with a lightweight fleece. This combo will wet out fairly easily, but because I have a fleece layer on underneath I stay warm and because the windshell is so lightweight it dries out SO much faster and easier than a full on hardshell jacket.
I don't even bother. I just bag & pack the outerwear, Vapor Barrier Liner my feet, then haul ass without stopping. Put on the outerwear when you get the tarp up. You are gonna get wet no matter WHAT. So make sure you have as much dry shit when you stop as possible. There''s almost always a rock you can get under for lunch etc.
Running hat+ running jacket + hydrophobic air gap layer (70-110 grams of high tech BS like polartec Alpha or something dumb like a fishnet baselayer) with nothing else is pretty much my "I screwed up while running" rain gear. At 35 F, torrential rain, and high winds; I have at least an hour and a half to get somewhere better. The system is not about keeping you dry. It's about keeping you warm enough when wet. High tech muppet shirts and fishnets minimize surface contact--> you don't get that much extra unwanted evaporation or conduction. They also dry real fast when not getting dumped on and don't hold much water.
The synthetic running hat is a quality of life/morale thing. It'll stay on in 60 mph winds and keep a lot of rain out of your face. If rain is out of your face, you feel more inclined to move forward.
-Things I wish I knew in high school when they had us doing interval workouts in freezing rain wearing cotton shirts and nylon shorts.
I experienced something like this a week ago. I got surprised by a thunderstorm on a hot day an hour before reaching the camp site and it got dark within minutes. I just set up the outer tent and hoped it would stop raining after a while . I hadn't driven the tent pegs deep enough and after an hour a sudden wind blow smashed the outer tent to the ground, exposing all my stuff to the rain. Part of it was wet already by that time but the tent falling made my sleeping bag become wet for like 25% which is equivalent to 100% if you need to sleep in it. The inner sleeping bag was partially dry and usable so I just used that. Three hours later I woke up shivering quite a bit. The only gear I could find that was still dry was the inner tent that I never got to set up. Had it not been there and had the rain not stopped after eight hours I would have had to look for help. In hindsight the solution was only 25 meters away, a hunting tower that wasn't locked in any way and that could have been used to keep myself dry and even sleep in. I did carry four big plastic bags and actually used one to protect the sleeping bag initially before I set up the tent. Lessen learned: keep some of your gear and unused clothes in a plastic bag when it's already raining.
That must have totally pissed you off once you saw that the next day, in daylight! That was like a troll from mother earth hahahaha
A dry bag is a good choice
Keep all of your gear and clothes in a dry bag at all times if you’re incapable of seeing a thunderstorm coming. Even if you are capable. All it takes is one slip to soak everything.
And pack in a logical order! I've made that mistake before😊
Consider changing your tent construction to Scandinavian style, where inner and outer tent always set up together..
You'll always have a dry place in regards to the weird USAmerican/British style where every is either soaked or risk of blowing away..
Been there done that, got the pneumonia. Getting wet on a camping trip is horribly miserable. Great video, you got very lucky with the bear. Thanks.
Another way to keep water from getting in the tent is dig a drain all around the tent after you set up so you'll be prepared if it starts raining. At both edges of entrance dig about 45 degree angle so the water drains away from entrance.
One of your best videos yet. A sober reminder that both hypo and hyperthermia are bigger killers than bears. So many great and practical insights in this video. Thankyou 😃👍🇦🇺
I would say most important is wool base layer. I always take a wool beanie, gloves, spare wool socks and underwear as well as an extra wool shirt. Also, a puffy jacket is essential but NEEDS TO BE KEPT DRY! So a fully waterproof dry bag is super important. I know a lot of people just like trash-compactor bags or packliners, but I always use completely watertight compression dry bags to pack my gear in.
Yes. Or at least some kind of covering or wrap that keeps the dry stuff dry.
I cool off pretty quickly. My heart goes to very low rate when physical activity ceases, and so if I'm in the mountains, even in summer, I'll have at least a puffer jacket, compressed and probably pants, just in case I sit out in the cold for the majesty of it. It gets COLD at night in the san juans.
It is probably worth explaining the important reason why wool insulation items are such an important asset (and likely why they were listed first): they continue insulating even when wet! That way one has something that can breathe and often even dry while on the body while not making hypothermia markedly worse.
And a decent poncho
Normal wool is too itchy for most people, merina wool though is not.
@@DemiGod.. Most of the backpacking gear is Merino wool (or alpaca or other similar), a blend, or treated. I didn't specify Merino, but that was kind of implied for ultralight backpacking gear.
One nice thing to have on your pack --which I learned only recently from a friend who I went hiking with-- is Chamois. We were on a 3-day hike . It was raining non-stop on the 1st and 2nd day of the trip. The chamois which one of us brought, super helped in getting off a big hefty percentage of water out of our tents and also when we needed to pack up our gears and start the hike the next day. It's good to wipe down your gear before packing it in so you could limit the amount of unwanted water to carry in your pack. The chamois doesnt have to be the whole thing, you could cut it in half and bring that with you if you want it lighter.
That's an excellent idea. I'm gunna add that to my pack next time I hike
Ive been rocking shamwow towels and pieces hiking and camping for 25 years.....best ever to dry off even then wet and wringed out
Excellent idea, I use the household type of viscose cloth.
Harrowing. Glad you're good now. Thanks for posting this. I think I learn more from videos where things go wrong than videos where it all goes according to Hoyle.
Looked like Glacier NP? Gorgeous. You know, I may well have chosen to stay at the campsite no matter what you originally told the Park Service. Easier to ask forgiveness than permission sometimes. Unlikely the next hikers were coming due to the weather, regardless. & you just tell them you wanted to be cautious.
I remember hearing something like this years ago:
If you can, stay out of the wind.
If you can't stay out of the wind, at least stay dry.
If you can't stay out of the wind & the wet, at least stay warm.
If it's windy, and you're wet & cold: stay moving.
Several years ago, I had hiked several miles near the WI/IL border on a day hike on the Ice Age Trail. I had staged my vehicle at the endpoint, & gotten a Lyft from Janesville, WI to my starting point. It was a gray day in the low 50s. It was spring & there was still some snow on the ground here & there. About a half hour before sunset & a half mile from my vehicle, the trail was flooded a couple hundred feet across. I looked but there was no good way around it. The water was still like glass. I could tell from the vegetation poking out of the water, that it wasn't that deep. Looked like the culprits were beavers. I thought about hiking backward a couple miles to a road & getting a cab again, but man, my vehicle was only 2500 feet away & I'd forded lots of streams & even rivers before. I had a set of dry clothes in there too. About halfway across, the water was waist high, & then I somehow hooked my foot under a submerged root & fell headlong into the water. Soaked head to toe, but no big deal...just 7 or 8 minutes' walk yet. By the time I got there, I was shaking so violently, I couldn't even get my key fob out of my pocket, so I just mashed buttons until a door opened. I think I had the heat on for 15 minutes before I could function enough to change out of my clothes. THAT was a life lesson for me!
Amazing the key fob worked. Or did you have it in a waterproof bag? Thx for sharing. I’m learning a lot from this discussion.
@@susangraham157 As best as I recall, my key fob was in my front pocket when I got wet...it was a Toyota key fob & worked wet! I remember having my cellphone in my hand, & I was able to keep it & 1 forearm above the water while my head & the rest of me went under. Safe travels!
Being wet and cold is exceptionally dangerous and it can creep up on you. When I was about 16, I was working outdoors on my father's farm. It was a hot sunny day and I was in a T shirt and shorts. Then a thunderstorm came. The rain fell hard and fast and was almost hail and freezing cold. I was about 1 mile from home and instead of getting out of the rain I decided to walk and got wet through. I was basically hypothermic by the time I got home. I was struggling to walk and knew I was in trouble.
Here in the PNW it's temperate rainforest weather ie. Cool and wet.
But even high humidity like heavy fog/cool-cold weather will suck the heat from you.
Temps close to 0 Celsius, water and wind are the most dangerous. Give me -20 Celsius any day, much drier and predictable. I'm glad you had a shelter and a dry sleeping bag to get into. This was a great video, I love the story telling style of trip documentation. Keep up the great content!
This is why British soldiers are so damn tough. Britain might not be as cold as Norway or Canada, but it's regularly near zero, 100% humidity, windy and pissing down. Those are HARD conditions and why the SAS and SBS still train in the southern Welsh mountains which are all under 1000m. Horrible conditions.
It's all fine and good at -20 until you get close to the coast and it just pouring rain even at -20C. Layers upon layers of wool. Nothing stays dry
Thanks for the video. Had a similar experience on the Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier some years back. A few thoughts:
1. To re-warm your core, make some hot drinks on the camp stove. That's the first thing I did when getting to camp.
2. Ditch the rain jacket, rain skirt, umbrella, and pack cover for a poncho from Wilderness Innovation - it will cover you and your pack from head-to-toe w/ a WATER PROOF (not DWR) barrier and ventilates better than ANY jacket.
3. Water proof shoes are for car camping. No water proof shoe can withstand a day of wet backpacking - you're feet are GOING to get wet, but the more breathable the shoe the faster your feet will dry out when the rain stops.
I can confirm your point 1 and 2 but not 3. I have those classic leather boots with goretex membrane. And only had them wet out once in 20 years. I have been through several days of heavy rain, including walking through wet fields of grass and puddles and mud, but they stayed dry.
@@jimihenrik11question 1: do you use hiking gaiters to keep water falling into your boots?
Question 2: that can’t be the same pair of boots that lasted you 20 years is it?
Question 3: how much a pair of these cost?
i've always wondered about waterproof poncho vs rain jacket. thanks for the tip.
@@jimihenrik11 old school leather hiking boots (without goretex liner) rocks! too bad they don't make "lightweight" versions. lol
1-Can confirm the Poncho thing with over 35 years ( so much better than rain jacket and pants and all DWR finishes eventually get saturated )
2-the hot drink thing is mostly about how you feel and dos not revers actual hypothermia ( you just cant drink enough )
3- the rain always end up running down my leg and getting into the boot ,, I always have sum hiking sandals for really wet conditions , they drain wonderfully but they must be the kind that can be used without socks because the socks will hold the water to your skin
4- everything in your pack must be in zip lock bags and or dry sacks no exceptions !
5- mesh gear lofts in the tent to dry wet clothing
Great video. I switched to non-breathable fully waterproof rain jacket with mechanical venting for this reason.
You can carry two rain jackets with one for comfort and the other for survival.
Far too often, recommendations on gear selection are thrown around without sufficient consideration for environmental factors that can drastically change the standards of what is "good enough", whether in terms of warmth, durability, functionality, etc.
A piece of gear or resource that you didn't need on 90% of your trips suddenly becomes critical the one time the weather or terrain didn't align with your expectations. In some cases this can be the difference between life and death. Don't plan for the "happy path". Nobody chooses to be in a bad situation, yet still it happens. So you must plan for the unexpected and make sure your gear and your knowledge are sufficient to at least let you survive it.
Content like this that shows people the realities of hiking, backpacking and camping outside the narrow scope of the "happy path" that so many content creators, gear manufacturers and even some "expert" users portray and plan for is very important. Thank you for showing it unfiltered and being willing to demonstrate your mistakes as well as your successes.
I can feel the cold and wet even through the screen. That's why I always check the forecast and make sure the weather will be very decent before venturing out with my family. We are definitely not Die-Hard type hikers/campers like you guys.
This is perfect timing for me, thank you! Next week I'm going to be hiking the first 100km of the E10 (one of Europe's long-distance hiking trails) on the island of Rügen, and the forecast is calling for rain and cooler temperatures later in the week. Thanks for reminding me to pay attention to keeping my kit dry.
I would recommend you to keep a bottle of hot water in your pack. Not only will a cup of tea feel nice in dreary weather, you can also use it as hot water bottle in your sleeping bag. Use a single wall bottle to heat up the water directly in the bottle.
From being in a similar situation to that outlined in the video I now carry disposable hand warmers that I place into the foot area of my sleeping bag(rolling up the bag around the hand warmers) I do this as soon as I make camp for the night. By the time I've had my meal and decided to go to sleep the sleeping bag is toasty warm. Good luck btw.
Glad you guys are safe and thanks for sharing your experience. It helps other hikers a lot to be aware of the dangers of not only bears but especially hypothermia!
Thanks for this great and honest video. We definitely learn from these experiences! I had a similar experience here in Switzerland. It was around April and in the Alps, so still cold up there. It started raining about an hour before we set up camp. It was that sort of rain that was snow higher up, but had become rain at the altitude we were at. Everything I had was soaked. Stupidly, as I also like testing gear, I set up my 'home made' tarp first. It did nothing and wasted my time whilst I got colder and wetter. Finally got my proper tarp up and my hammock. Very quickly learned that my 'home made' drip lines also didn't work so well as my hammock (and down) quilts/underquilts got increasingly wet. Shivering, I considered carrying on hiking. So glad I didn't as, the next morning, saw the route I would have taken was muddy and steep. Could have been serious in the dark. Ended up in my emergency bivvy, curled up in a ball on the ground, with the tarp just over me. Another thing I learned that trip was to use appropriate cord. Before that trip, trying to save weight, I swapped a lot of normal bankline, paracord weight stuff for dyneema. With cold, wet hands, handling the dyneema felt like handling metal wire. So now, if there's any risk of real cold/wet, I think about the ease of handling my gear as well. Thankfully we don't have so many bears here (I think one or two). I've seen wolf tracks though!
I had some days like this in Maine that made me even happier about using a hammock. Most of the problems you had to find solutions for were automatically solved by my setup. I awoke to pee one night to find 2 in. of water underneath me. Not a problem if you’re 2 feet off the ground. Tarp goes up first and comes down last. All unpacking and packing goes on under the tarp. Just before I hit the trail, I drop the tarp around my shoulders and zip it up (it doubles as my cape) and walk away. I have one tarp made of sil-nylon and one made of dynema. Both intrinsically waterproof. No coating to wear off.
Using a footprint or ground sheet would NOT have helped in this scenario. As I have learned from Cliff Jacobsen a world-class canoeist, and have tested myself in similar scenarios .... packing a plastic sheet that is 12 inches larger that the tent floor, and placing it INSIDE the tent so it makes a 12 inch bathtub, does work, as it keeps the ground runoff sandwiched between tent floor and the plastic sheet, keeping you and your gear dry.
Additionally, while it's not LNT friendly, in an emergency situation, trenching around the tent will help, as will pitching tent under your tarp as previous subscribers have mentioned.
I think your videos and content are awesome! Thank you for doing your great work, and thank you for being vulnerable and transparent sharing your story, so others can learn and possibly save their lives by bringing awareness. Thanks!
What you really needed was, first, a tarp to shelter from the rain, then food, a snack to help you warm up, followed by a dry wool base layer to change into, and then your sleeping bag. When you're really shaking, it can be hard to get a fire started, so just go with shelter, food, clothes, rest. Once you get warm enough to stop shaking, go ahead and set up camp and start a fire.
Your first mistake was going above the tree line with bad weather coming in. When you need quick shelter, a tent is problematic. Carry a light tarp, or a space blanket, for emergencies.
Appreciate you sharing this problematic trip and how you dealt with all the issues and stayed safe.
I always have hand warmers in my backpack for cases where i need to warm up a bit
This is where the space of a bigger tent comes into play. Also the importance of synthetic sleeping bags especially when drumming rain creates a mist of fly sheet condensation inside the tent.
Do synthetic sleeping bags dry faster than down?
@@beckwilde synthetic will not collapse like down. Though I've travelled thousands of kilometres in Scandinavia and Northern Europe with tent and down bag, during days with endless rain and heavy wind. Never had any issues with down, weight/isolation value are outstanding.
I like how you keep it real and you show how things aren’t working out and what does you show it.
Dude, never in years of camping in any circumstance have I had a wet tent bath tub. Legs can get wet, but always go into your tent and sleeping bag warm, be active and have that residual heat in your body by eating and moving before getting into your bag. Great stuff as it makes people think! 👍
Yip the tent is a complete fail, as is the raincoat!
Unfortunately this video shows failed gear and poor understanding of material in wet weather. The statement about the waterproof boots failing is funny. Unless you have gaiters etc over the top of the boot it doesn’t matter how waterproof they are, they will still fill up just via socks and water running down legs lol. Considering the gear this guy has access to this video surprised me.
@@andrewknox1967the wet brush leading to wet pants/socks and therefore wet feet is a bad one for sure. I have waterproof boots and wear gaiters and a rain skirt to stop it. That's not even 100% effective as things eventually wet out but it's the best line of defense I've found. Having some wool base layers that can keep you warm while wet is important too
Waterproof footwear is a waste of time for more than a short while....it will eventually get damp from your sweat, and vapor can't exit
Excellent video and heavy rain, whether expected or not, is something that all of us hikers need to consider in our preps. Ignore the haters giving you grief. Any video like this that gets us thinking more about how we would approach the situation is a good one!
My friends and I had a similar situation last week at Glacier National Park. Keeping critical gear dry, continuing to eat snacks while hiking and putting on an insulating layer like fleece under the wet ted out raincoat was key.
Amazing, last weekend I had a very similar situation. I was hiking up a mountain (Graubünden, Switzerland) with my girlfriend. The weather became very rainy and even hailed a bit. I had not brought the proper pants, and they became soaked. My rain jacket became saturated and started letting moisture in. I was able to stay "warm" by moving fast, but eventually my body couldn't keep up and i started getting brain fog. I told my girlfriend we needed to make camp asap. As soon as I stopped moving, I started shaking uncontrollably. Luckily she has better gear on andhelped me get the tent up quick. I ditched my soaked clothes and jumped into my sleeping bag. It took me about 45 min to get warm. I learned a lot on that hike. I will not go hiking any more in cold and wet weather again, unless there are more safeguards, but as you demonstrated, it's very difficult to stay dry if there's enough rain.
Did you wear woollen underwear/middle layer? Makes a huge difference to synthetic fabric..
I wish! I foolishly wore cotton as my middle layer. @@OmmerSyssel
I know most people don't carry Nalgene bottles anymore but a good trick is to boil water put it into a Nalgene bottle and put that into your sleeping bag. Not sure if smart water bottles would hold up to boiling water.
Agree ,Nalgene a must for cold weather hiking/ camping,in my opinion.😊
.. Most backcountry backpackers that I know DO carry Nalgene bottles or even military styled bottles,, multiple uses and far more durable than smart water bottles or the like .... those are commonly carried by through hikers and ultra-lighters on long trails ,, if extreme weather becomes a problem they get off trail at the nearest town ... usually 1-3 days away ...
We love testing out our gear on rainy days when hiking & camping in Oregon in the winter. I have learned to bring a military poncho It does not wet through. Wear it and find out how to modify it so it fits better especially the hood . I sewed tensioning straps onto my sides to bring it in (the squeeze buckle type)
Also even when the forest is soaked it is still possible to make a great fire but it takes willpower to get it going. A flare or a duraflame can save you some hardship in getting it started. Tip you can take a partial duraflame log. Easy to brake in half if you stomp on it with it leaned up on a curb or just buy the miniature ones
If you Hammock camp it is worth it to bring a full hammock sock that goes over your insulation and hammock. I survived wonderfully in one of the worst sideways storms I have ever been in.
Was able to spend 12 hours in comfort.
Bring something to read or music because going to bed at 530pm makes for a long night.
Did 34 days hike through France with close access to much of what we needed along the way, although we ended up wet and tired and put ourselves in some tricky situations at times while sleeping in the tent most of nights. This video is so good and informative as what actually happens when you're out in the open with only the possibility to rely on your gear. If it fails, you gotta finds ways. Waterproof jackets are to a limit
What a crazy experience. I had a similar one. I was in a cold stream in the fall and my buddy freaked out crossing it. I went back to get him and then I became really cold. We were able to stay at shelter for the night and make progress for the next day. Thanks for reminding us what is important. 😊😊
Great pointers.
In my experience, DWR, Gore-Tex etc. always fail sooner or later. 100% waterproof fabrics, although heavy, are the safest way to go.
I just finished a hike on Crow Pass in Alaska over the weekend. Very similar situation on our last day (luckily) with major elevation gain towards the end meaning we were hiking towards the cold (Hiked from Eagle River to Girdwood). Moving was the only thing that seemed to keep us warm but eventually we needed to get dry. Was incredibly lucky that at the top near Crystal Lake there was an outhouse big enough for 2 people where we made food and used the hot bags to warm our hands and core temperatures. I also found that eating hot foot as soon as possible helped too. Once we began the decent we started to jog and that really got us warm, I couldn’t imagine another day on that mountain, if the outhouse wasn’t there the tent would have been our last resort, so I couldn’t agree more with this video. Oh and thank you for all your videos, I’ve watched so many in preparation for this specific hike and some of your other ones may have just saved my life over the weekend!
That is a great hike. I love it every time I go. But I've never hiked that direction, always from Girdwood to Eagle River.
@@taqukaqyupik2802 Yep yep! It’s a classic, seems to have every obstacle and environment in one! If you get a chance the opposite way is a great challenge, definitely recommend doing it over 3 days and 2 nights though.
Hey, I really enjoy your site. Because you get to the point quickly. And you're saying things that other sites are not saying.
Thank you for trying out and comparing various gear. This was a brutal camp. I'm glad you both survived.
This is why I like watching the guys who take everything they need with them for warmth and if possible camp next to their trucks/cars. I like it also when they set up a tarp first and bulid their tent in dry conditions when its raining. 😊 Clamping is not a sin, lol.
If you experience mild hypothermic symptoms your best bet is to start getting your heart rate up, avoid going straight to bundling up. After your heart rate is up, get some water, natural sugars, then get in your insulation.
This. A sleeping bag retains heat (generated by your body) and insulates against external cold. If you’re already cold, just getting in the bag won’t help much.
I also noticed you were wearing Alpha Direct in the tent which is ‘active insulation’ and doesn’t do much if you’re not moving and generating heat.
I know this video is about staying safe and the dangers of unpreparedness but wow, the views you got because of the rain were stunning. The waterfalls into that bowl is something I've never thought to imagine much less seen with my own eyes.
This is one or your best and most appreciated videos. Thank you for the great advice. I enjoy equipment reviews, tips and tricks, and general ultralight backpacking videos as well as the next guy, but few of them offer information that will SAVE YOUR LIFE when conditions get really bad.
Glad you liked it. Thanks
Thanks for sharing your precious experiences.
In my experience rain gear only lasts a few hours before losing its impermeability. Only gortex 3 layer works in the Pacific Northwest for any length of time. Wear wool under layers. Wool stays warm even when wet.
I notice that you've chosen lightweight gear, and I absolutely understand the appeal of not having to carry a heavy load. I just wanted to share my perspective that sometimes a bit heavier gear can provide more protection against the cold and rain. Of course, the choice is always a personal one and it's most important that you feel comfortable and safe with your selection.
I disagree. Carrying versatile gear is more important than the weight. He was well prepared for this situation because his gear was adaptable and he was able to carry more layers and keep them dry.
My personal experience has been that lightweight is not as durable and less adaptable. I love lightening my pack with lightweight items, but I make exceptions when it comes to shelter, my sleep system, and my rain gear. Yes my pack does gain a few pounds, but to me it’s worth it. I’ve been caught in severe weather changes. Heavy rains and winds, hail, snow, freezing temperatures, and they haven’t stop me from enjoying the outdoors. There is beauty there.
@@dittmannaxel I do not go "ultra-light" like some. I think my base is like 12lbs right now for conditions that would be expected in this video.
What I love about lightweight gear is that you can carry more different things.
I carry 3 pairs of wool socks and underwear for occasions like this and an extra wool mid layer. The mid layer weighs 5 oz.
I would rather have the right gear and a dry wool base layer to feel more safe by carrying other lightweight gear than carrying heavy gear.
I am an eagle scout and a seasoned hiker that has been through much of what you said you experienced as well. Over time, I have found that carrying lightweight gear, but optimizing it for various predictable conditions is the best option for me.
Rain gear, IMO is one of the least important things for long term hiking. I will ALWAYS go UL on rain gear to swap for extra wool base layer.
Tent, I go UL, because it is one of the biggest gainers. The main problem with that could be durability, but that is the case with much in backpacking.
Also the other main problem that has not been mentioned is obviously $$$$$$$!
I am lucky enough to have enough money to buy good versatile gear. But it is a huge trade-off. Like the old saying goes, "light, cheap, reliable/durable" . . . choose 2.
Also, sleep system. Totally agreed. I go Cadillac with that! LOL. Can't enjoy a trip if you can't sleep!
@@danielcluley870he was not prepared for rain in a jacket like that.. dwr doesn’t do much at all, membranes with at minimum 20000h/s is the only thing you should be using.
This video, and many of the comments, was very helpful and is causing me to rethink how I’ll handle extended rain and cold. Thank you!
Great advice. One thing im doing as a new hiker is packing my pack in a way that when it rains first thing out is tent as its last in. And like wise in my dry bag my clothes go in first then quilt then lastly my puffy. So in setting up camp I toss up tent. Then get inside open dry bag and put on puffy and set up quilt. But yes in heat of moment you must keep wits and keep everything around you dry otherwise you run risk of next day being even wetter from the start
I'll never forget when we banked our raft that I found I couldn't get up the bank without dragging myself. The cold had hit me and I hadn't realised. We'd capsized twice so I was quite wet through and through. But it was the unexpectedness of the physical failure at that moment that sticks in my mind. I didn't see it coming. I landed like a land crab much to peoples amusement who observed it all. All worked out in the end 🙂
Spent 3 weeks in Iceland. Spent many all-day rain hikes and all night rain. Came in prepared and loved it. Switched out duplex for x mid solid and versatile for torrentshell were game changers!
Nice :)
Thanks, this is well worth thinking about. I'm more used to hiking in the UK, where rain tends to blow over quickly and the real problem is the mud, which can lead to falls. That's when you realise there's no substitute for a good pair of trekking poles and being prepared to take a different route. As for being soaked, that's never really happened unless you count the sweat build up from my jacket wetting out.
Thanks for sharing how much your learning.
I think this is the time to mention that if you are proper cold it is going to take a long time (in this case apparently 4-5 hours) to get warm if you jump into your sleeping bag cold.
My go-to if I'm cold is to do jumping jacks or push-ups after having set up camp, just before jumping in. As we see here you can be fine when you are moving around, but when you stop moving you get cold. So get moving again, get your body temperature comfortable before you lay down. This only works to a point, if you are hypothermic in a survival situation with limited food and so on, it won't help you, but if you were warm enough 30 minutes ago because you were moving, chances are that'll you'll be fine if you start moving again.
That or make yourself a hot meal. Heat up water to put in the sleeping bag with you in some sort of container that can handle the heat. Just something to help you get comfortable.
Jumping jacks are an essential tool. And energy rich food. You have to get your core temperature up a bit before going into the sleeping bag. Takes a very long time for the shivers to do the same, and it's miserable. Worse, you get disoriented because of the hypothermia. Once you've tried it, you really don't want to experience it again.
RE: jumping cold into cold sleeping bag. Add turning your stuff sack inside out, putting your boots in it, and throwing them to the bottom of your sleeping bag before you get in so they won’t be frozen stiff in the morning.
@@kennethjackson7574 That would have been a pretty bad idea in this situation. Stuff sacks generally aren't water proof, so all the moisture in the boots would go into the insulation of the sleeping bag, which in this case is down, making it insulate much worse. Better to sleep warm and wake up to cold boots than sleep cold all night.
@@valdemarjrgensen8072 Perhaps I should clarify. When I was young nearly all my backpacking was on snowshoes or cross country skis. I did use waterproof stuff sacks, and Holubar made sleeping bags six inches extra long to accommodate boots. I’m not talking about cold boots, it was, at least, a long-established way to keep leather boots from actually freezing to where you couldn’t get them on.
@@kennethjackson7574 any experience with a tiny tea candle, placed inside to heat/ dry your boots?
Great honest film , been in this situation a few times due to days if rain and it's knowing what to do and as quickly as possible. And yes as you said you forget everything else and sort yourself out before the worse happens. People really think everything stays dry kit wise but never is the truth, rain water whatever always gets in somewhere.
I bought a bathtub liner for a tarp situation before I got a tent that included it. I think you just convinced me to bring it along anyway. Lite af and could save my sleeping bag, and therefore me. Sleeping quilt will also be in dry bag...
This video and comments have been great! Thanks!
This is why I'm all about my hammock setup. It's probably a little heavier, but it keeps you off the wet ground, and you can leave the tarp up while you pack everything else up.
Was going to comment exactly this.
Love my amok draumr hammock
Hammocks are great, as long as you’re under the tree line!
Hammock campers unite!
No trees, no hammock
Softshell rain gear will wet out in rain like that. Hard shells like gortex and other materials don't wet out but you need to be able to vent or your sweat makes you wet on the inside. OV has a good podcast that explains it really technically. Glad you were able to get warm
Link please!
Even with the best rain gear you can get wet because you are moving and water finds it’s ways into various area.
Great content! Glad you’re safe and everything went well ! 👍🙏✌️ thanks for sharing your footage with us ! 🐻🏕️⛺️🌲💧☔️🌧️🌂
I LOVE the HotHands super heat packs. I was so glad I brought them to Yellowstone with me last year and I will definitely be bringing them with me next week too.
Surprised you didn’t mention some hand warmers. Lightweight and indispensable if you need to give your body’s a jumpstart on getting warm in your bag. Living in Southeast Alaska I have yet to find a breathable jacket that can stay dry in constant rainy wet conditions.
I was thinking the same!
I always bring a disposable handwarmer or two
Look into clothes made of Ventile, might suit your needs
I have mentioned before, I went up mount Kinabalu. I had boots, gortex clothing and backpack. The guide had a transparent plastic waterproof phoncho and a umbrella. It rained all 8 hrs going upto base hut (and all 2 days). After 3hrs or so, I was totally wet underneath my gortex. My backpack had a pint of water in the bottom. My guide however was dry as if he just popped out to the shops. Ok he was sweating wet but not as drenched as I was.
I have for a while, something I need to get, a plastic rain Mac for those days of rain forecast. Yes I might sweaty but I'm hoping I won't be drenched, cold and wet.
I'm new and still learning about all the outdoor gear and exactly how to prepare for the worst. My channel is more about camping right now, but I also want to get into backpacking. I come to your channel to learn and get ideas on what gear I would need. Thank you brother. Cheers.
Excellent practical advice!
Just back from a hiking trip in Scotland, weather was great in general but still a couple of 'full 100% rainy days'.
The need to keep stuff dry, can't be overstated too much. Especially when conditions are towards/beyond chilly.
I used separate dry bags for my sleeping bag and spare clothes and had a rain cover for the backpack which worked fine.
Next time I'll still will bring an extra pack liner though (luxury Dynemacheap trash bag), just for extra peace of mind.
Those couple of extra grams outweigh the possibility of soaked gear in a way that's of the chart imo.
Wow, you're really telling a story! Excellent video and editing. Sorry the weather didn't cooperate and glad you made it through ok. Cold and wet is scary, for sure. Plus, a bear in camp! Yikes! I do feel like even the best gear will "wet out" unless it's truly some kind of plastic. Then, you'll soak yourself with sweat even if you're not really generating heat. No evaporation can occur off your body. All of your precautions were excellent, including the extra tarp. How nice that must have been. Was exiting an option? What would be the tipping point? On every multi-day trip, I always make sure I'm well covered head-to-toe, including hands (I carry bread loaf bags), and I'm sure all the important stuff is single or double bagged. ☮❤🤝
Definately understand the rain jacket wet-out challenge. We're trying out a SilPoly rain jacket from LighthHeart Gear...not breathable at all but should not wet out. Has huge pit zips. Not seeing many other jackets made out of SilPoly yet, but it's an interesting approach vs the more common supposedly "waterproof" and "breathable" jackets...we'll see.
Despite all the rain that hike looked beautiful!
Fantastic experience! These rough days/nights are what helps us become wiser and prepared for the next adventure ❤ you learned sooooo many valuable lessons from your journey! That's why your out here living your dreams!! Until your next adventure!!
Cheers from Montana!!
I’m glad you are ok and made it through such a challenging situation. Cold rain is no joke. Is that the Tarptent Stratospire Ultra? I’m hoping you will do a full review. I’m also curious why it got so wet on the floor. Even if you are in a puddle there’s hope for some protection on a wet site. Your tent reviews are always very informative so looking forward to comments etc. Thanks!!
Im speaking with TarpTent to try and determine exactly what happened. I do plan to do a video in the next month or so.
I regularly go walking here in the wet UK and have come to the conclusion that anything that claims to be breathable and waterproof is actually neither. The best thing that has kept me dry is a £1 festival poncho. It's loose so can cover a small pack so no water ingress where the backpack straps are touching your top. Plus being loose sweat is just not an issue and it's light and easy to put on and take off in seconds. Only downside is they are very easy to tear so take several. I also wondered about your sleeping bags as their are options that allow several bags to be zipped together so as to huddle together and conserve heat and warm up quicker.
Great video, I find that tall brush is very effective at pushing water thru membranes even if you have treated the fabric.
I had the same experience. When wet and cold it seems to be fine while you are moving or doing anything physical (like rowing a boat as in my case). When I stopped to make camp I started shivering uncontrollably. Luckily I went in the sleeping bag with my wife and recovered in 15-20 mins.
I hate it when the “ultra lighters “ say my Turkish towel is a luxury item. A small towel in a ziplock bag is priceless! Even for sweat. A quick body wipe down before getting in a sleeping bag or quilt is priceless….yes I still use and love my sleeping bag!
With my wife after a long day of trekking, we started looking for a good spot to camp in a cold weather. We split from the rest of the team so we spent 30 minutes looking for them. At the moment we decided to camp there she was already shivering and feeling bad, I tried to transfer some of my body heat but my body was already cold at this point. So I boiled some water and gave it to her, her body came back to life thanks to that.
That's exactly what I thought during this video... When they finally stopped, wouldn't it help immensely to get warm food or drink in you even if it was just warm water? Glad that worked for you.
@@CraigSheppardMaybe not an option any more when they were already "shivering uncontrollably"?
@@hildegardschroder330- You can always eat something, even when shivering. Always carry snacks, (candy, trail mix, whatever) that you can grab and eat in a pinch. Their problem was that they were so cold they were not thinking clearly.
@@lukasmakarios4998 Sure, but that's not the point. I was replying to the previous comment, so obviously my comment was about preparing warm food/water, not shoving a granola bar in your face.
You're probably right about the "not thinking clearly", though.
Your body heat is an exactly right thing to try. From other boating techniques - try to make steam bath, so it is perhaps more difficult in the tent than in a boat cabin
This situation is all too familiar here in the PNW, where it rains in buckets. I always bring at least one UCO candle lantern and extra candle or two depending on the forecast. First order of business in a down pour is to cover the pack and immediately setup a tarp. Followed by pitching the tent and fly and lighting up the candle lantern in the tent, it’s not a furnace but it helps with condensation and a bit of heat. I also like to carry a few hand warmers just in case and if worse comes to worse wrap up in a mylar blanket. Yes these add weight but I’ve been in similar situations without some of these goodies and it sucks! Glad you made it out safely.
Rain and mud is why I hammock camp. Chilling in a hammock listening to rain is the best thing about being in the woods
The only thing that kept me reasonably dry for a full day of heavy rain and wind is almost new GoreTex (most likely other similar fabrics would do it too). Going through bushes and/or tall grass will make you wet though, at least on the front of your legs (trekking poles can help keep grass off the pants). Not sure if water actually get through the fabric or if the cold from the wet grass outside just build up condensation on the inside. Even more worn GoreTex and similar will keep most water outside and clearly be beneficial (talking about wet and cold conditions here) when it comes to keeping me warm.
My preferred outfit for conditions like that is wool long sleeve top and bottoms, at least when hiking in a group where there inevitably will be some stops and delays. When hiking alone (and in good shape) I might go for synthetic instead depending on how cold and how much wind I expect. Having something between me and the GoreTex is essential IMO to keep warm. Any wet waterproof fabric will cling to the skin which can be really uncomfortable. Ultra/medium light waterproofs is my preference but thicker stiffer fabrics work better in really wet conditions.
If you want to stay warm in really wet/cold weather, then waterproof jacket and pants are necessary IMO. Non-waterproof shoes drain much quicker, but you get new water in constantly which might not be much of a problem when hiking but will get really cold really fast on breaks. I'll always go for waterproof gaiters and waterproof shoes or even mid height shoes in conditions like that.
Totally agree with the video that when getting to camp it's essential to get the shelter up really fast. If in bear country I'll skip dinner and eat snacks on short breaks or while hiking until I get to camp. If bears aren't an issue, then I'll cook in the tent. Having a tarp like they did in the video can also be a great help, both in camp and on breaks during the day. I've had multiple rainy days in a row on several occasions. It's never fun, but I've never gotten my sleep system wet. If you get puddles inside the tent you do something wrong IMO. As he said in the video - look for slight inclines. It's not hard to find. Make a small trench to lead water away if necessary.
Fancy coated clothes are nice for short trips or as wind blocking layer in sub -10C. All are quite bad for a weeks trip. All you need is a rain poncho and chaps as using those you are soaked in sweat. Of course if all you do is sit in the rain gear, gore-tex works fine.
Was this at GNP? Specifically up to the Hole in the Wall campsite?! I did that very same trip and had similar conditions on our way back down to Bowman Lake. The chest/shoulder high brush was definitely a factor in soaking us to the bone (as you mentioned). Really appreciate your tips and have implemented some of the vary same strategies while doing my own trips. Keep up the great work! We really appreciate it.
Same question I had regarding if it is Glacier. Certainly looks like it to me!
Thank you for sharing this story!
I stumbled across your channel while researching ultralight backpacking. I’m wildly impressed by the quality of your videos, and your knowledge. Everything is highly informative, no bs, just straight to the point. I’ve been binge watching your content lol.
Looking forward to much more from you!
I had a hypothermia scare too. We were paddling in rain that started after we headed out. I should've gone ashore right away and put on rain gear but I stupidly did not. By the time we reached our campsite I was shivering. We had trees so we whipped up a tarp, I changed into dry clothes and made some hot tea. I won't make that mistake again. I scared myself.
This is why I've actually come to discourage people from buying down jackets, even ones with hydrophobic down. I love my enlightened equipment torrid apex jacket because it's actually lighter and warmer than all the down jackets I've owned, and even if it were to get completely soaked, it would still retain most of its warmth. I consider it to be a potentially life-saving piece of gear, especially as I do most of my backpacking in harsh, cooler climates above 10,000 feet.
If you're using a pack liner though is there really any chance the down jacket gets wet? I'm also highly suspicious that any synthetic jacket would actually be warm if soaking wet.
In theory yes, but sometimes mistakes are made, such as water pooling into your tent. Having gotten my torrid wet before, yes, it absolutely retains its warmth. It is a fibrous sheet of insulation rather than plumes of insulation. Because of its construction, it can't stick to itself and loose loft like down or most synthetic insulations that mimic down. @@neilquinn
@@TheFraziers That's true. Risk of getting stuff wet while already in the tent is certainly possible in bad weather.
Love the Torrid Pullover!
In the PNW there is no dry when the rains come. Everything gets wet. There…is…no…dry
Also, when choosing a rain cover for your backpack, buy an orange/red one.
Really nice when your hiking trip overlaps with the local hunting season (and you perhaps have a dark colored rain jacket).
Someone recently recommended to bring a washing line to dry stuff. Especially when there's lots of rain with short sunny spells in between he said this van be a life saver: everything like trees and rocks will still be wet making it difficult to hang out wet gear to dry. A simple line can allow you to do some quick drying. Haven't tried, but I'm convinced and there will be a line in my next pack
Great job on this review and thanks for sharing your advice. I'm going to buy the MSR tent.