Overnight touring gear

TheDoughAbides

TheDoughAbides

Active member
Hey all,

I'm going on an overnight touring trip up trailridge road (RMNP) for a snow hydrology class this semester. I have most the touring essentials (at set up, avy gear, tech outerwear) but I'm not sure what I'll need sleeping/backpack-wise. Unfortunately I have to miss the pre-trip dinner where we will discuss gear essentials, but fortunately I have a wealth of bc knowledge right here in this community!

I am assuming that shelter (tents) will be provided by the school. I currently have:

-old REI 55 liter backpack

-exped inflatable sleeping pad (packs down very well)

-synthetic 15° bag (does not pack down well)

I'm thinking i should go get a touring specific overnight backpack and a 0° or warmer down bag, at the very least. What else would you guys consider alpine winter camping essentials and what would you recommend for backpacks and sleeping bags?

Thanks!
 
Bring a tarp big enough that can completely fold over you and your gear. If the weather is good you can just sleep under the stars with a tarp underneath. If weather is bad you fold the tarp over. If weather is like hurricane bad you’ll probably all want to huddle together in a tent.

Bring a extra foam sleeping pad. Lightweight and can be tied to the outside of a pack. Not only will it be great to sit on for dinner, lunch, and breakfast but you can also put underneath you expad pad. Never hurts to have extra insulation under you when sleeping outside in winter. Inflatable pads are also notorious for leaking air in winter. I honestly would not trust a air pad below 10 degrees. But that’s also because I use to winter guide in northern MN where it can hit -40 easy. I’m assuming in Colorado it probably won’t hit that.

The other thing to talk about is pee. You can pee outside or you can pee in bottle in your sleeping bag. I know people who swear by both.

If you go with a bottle two thing to remember. You will never want to use that bottle for anything else ever again (which is why I wouldn’t use a nalgene). And two always make sure you tighten the lid. People I know who use bottle usually get a Gatorade bottle and just toss once the trip is over.

I would go with a better down bag. Especially if your going up in the mountains where it’s gonna be a little dryer. If your bag was rated a little colder or if you take a summer bag and put it in the 15 it would work. Also know as the double condom method. More gear to carry though.

Extra dry socks. Always take off your damp wet socks before you go to bed and put on dry ones. Keeps you warmer and feet cleaner.

Also whatever you wear during the day you should sleep with in your sleeping bag so it dries out during the night.

About 20 min before bed boil up some water. Once boiling fill one of your nalgenes and tighten it good. Wrap it a insulated sleeve ( I have an old sock cause I’m cheap). Then stick in the bottom of your sleeping bag for like 10 mins and it will be a heated bag.

This is the most pro winter camping trick you can do.

Also when you wake up super thirsty it will be all cooled off and good to drink.

Hope this helps.
 
thanks dood. i will definitely be employing the boiling hot nalgene that night and the extra foam sleeping pad. probably gonna look for a 0° down bag to rent as well.

I guess our gameplan right now is to dig a hole, put a tarp over it, and then sleep in said hole. should be interesting.
 
13894467:TheDoughAbides said:
thanks dood. i will definitely be employing the boiling hot nalgene that night and the extra foam sleeping pad. probably gonna look for a 0° down bag to rent as well.

I guess our gameplan right now is to dig a hole, put a tarp over it, and then sleep in said hole. should be interesting.
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Yeah the hole thing is standard winter camping. Build up the sides so you have wind protection. You can dig a big hole and then have everyone in the same hole.
 
Like everyone said, you can most likely skip the tent and just use a tarp. You could probably even just build a snowcave and block out the entrance with your packs from the wind if theres going to be a lot of snowfall so you don't have to keep shaking the snow off your tarp. Also the hot Nalgene trick and spare dry socks will be your best friend. Have fun!
 
Update:

Yesterday we did a training trip up on cameron pass. It went pretty well but I was sort of dismayed to find that my professor, and the rest of the class, didn't bring avy gear and aren't planning on bringing avy gear for the overnight trip. I think thats kind of ridiculous. The prof said we wouldn't be in any avy terrain but mentioned that our exit route is in a few slide paths. I'm considering backing out, what do you guys think?
 
13898409:TheDoughAbides said:
Update:

Yesterday we did a training trip up on cameron pass. It went pretty well but I was sort of dismayed to find that my professor, and the rest of the class, didn't bring avy gear and aren't planning on bringing avy gear for the overnight trip. I think thats kind of ridiculous. The prof said we wouldn't be in any avy terrain but mentioned that our exit route is in a few slide paths. I'm considering backing out, what do you guys think?
Click to expand...

Sounds sketchy..

I don't like the idea of "you cant get into an avalanche if you're not in avalanche terrain" Especially with a big group that might be inexperienced and could divert from the rest of the group.

It sounds like the plot of a shitty movie just waiting to happen.
 
Do any of your other classmates have a avi setup? If so maybe just see if they seem competent and talk about the chances of shit happening.

If there is truly no one else who has gear, it might be better to bail.

Your teacher sounds like he doesn’t have much B.C. experience.
 
13898409:TheDoughAbides said:
Update:

Yesterday we did a training trip up on cameron pass. It went pretty well but I was sort of dismayed to find that my professor, and the rest of the class, didn't bring avy gear and aren't planning on bringing avy gear for the overnight trip. I think thats kind of ridiculous. The prof said we wouldn't be in any avy terrain but mentioned that our exit route is in a few slide paths. I'm considering backing out, what do you guys think?
Click to expand...

Kind of reminds of a scenario like the 2003 avalanche on Cheops in Rogers Pass, you might want to read up on it because its actually a somewhat similar scenario. Group of school kids on a X-Country skiing trip mostly staying at valley bottom just happened to cross a major slide path at the wrong time. Totally depends on your comfort level, but I would probably stay out if they were going to be passing active slide paths with literally no chance of finding anyone if there is a burial... just my 2 cents
 
13898424:50Kal said:
Do any of your other classmates have a avi setup? If so maybe just see if they seem competent and talk about the chances of shit happening.

If there is truly no one else who has gear, it might be better to bail.

Your teacher sounds like he doesn’t have much B.C. experience.
Click to expand...

yeah there are at least two other people who have avy set ups and a lot of bc experience. but there are also some people who dont have any skiing experience at all.

the weird thing is that he definitely has plenty of bc experience as well! hes pretty well established in the snow hydro world and travels to mountain ranges all over the world to conduct field research. one of his buddies who came along with us on sunday had just spent 15 days crossing a glacier in iceland.

thanks for all the advice guys! weve decided to push the overnight trip off for about 5 weeks. in the meantime im gonna pressure everyone in the class to buy or rent avy gear!
 
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