Sleeping bag for Snowies next weekend

[melinda]

Hi all,
Doing an overnight trip in Snowies in a week's time.
What rated bag do people usually use at this time of year???
Cheers, Melinda

[wildwalks]

Hi Melinda
Great -what a great place to explore.
Short answer is a 'good one'. It is cold, there. There was a masive dump last night across the state - I beleive there where some roads closed overnight.

-7deg overnight at thredbo top station, and looking like it could get colder over the next few days.

Are you planning on camping in the snow? Obviously important to have a good tent and sleeping mat as well, both will make a huge differeance to your warms?
Where and how you set up camp will also make a big differance to the gear you need, and obviously the huge vairiable weather conditions.

Although american a good article on sleeping bag ratings here - this discusses the huge vairables in this simple question
http://www.gorp.com/hiking-guide/travel-ta-hiking-hunting-sidwcmdev_053425.html

I would suggest atleast a -15c bag. If you feel the cold at night maybe something warmer.
But do make sure you tent and sleeping mat are also up for the challange. I am assuming you are going with someone experainced in the conditions - be worth chatting more about where you are planning on going.
I am sure there will be debate on this.

Matt

[ninjapuppet]

I bivied out over the weekend above the snowline using only a 400g half bag + down jacket. It worked surprisingly well as temps dipped below -4. However a massive dump of snow early morning compressed and squashed all the down in my bag and it sure became cold by then!

[melinda]

Hi Matt and ninjapuppet,
Snow shoe trip to Cascade Hut with a group from my club.
Tent is a Hilleburg so, all well there.
Have a down mat to sleep on, so that should be ok but sleeping bags, uummmh!
Was cold in my Mammot Helium (-9C) down in Ettrema Gorge 2 weeks ago. (I really feel the cold!)
Snowies is going to be a fair bit cooler!
Tried using my WM Highlight as a booster bag inside the Helium tonight and that seems to work quite well, so think I'll take both bags!
Usually sleep in my WM Flight Jacket too!
Gee, if this much down doesn't keep me warm, I guess nothing much will!
Any tips???
Ninjapuppet, I know you are a lightweight-er from past posts, I usually keep my weight down too! But wow, a bivy in the snow with half bag and jacket, that sounds COOL! (eeeerggh!!!)
Melinda

[wayno]

wear more clothes in your sleeping bag, thermals, long johns, fleece or even a down jacket...
are you doing the hood up tight and neck baffle? makes a difference.

[wildwalks]

Hi Melinda

A great walk. The area is fairly well protected and surrounded by trees that helps

Sleeping bags work best when the down is fluffy and dry. If it gets wet it is useless. Flufy the bags up as much as you can. Two bags can work well, just use the bigger bag on the outside, again to preserve the fluffing. Some people put stuff ontop in an effort to stay warm, but this compressors the fluf and will generally make it colder. Use the hood, and if cold during the night breath inside the bag for a little while, that warms things up nicely. Cold nights thermals wearing thermals is good. Also to start warm, filling hot water ottos with hot water (make sure the lid is on tight and it is wrapped in something so you don't burn) but that can make a cosy hot water bottle. Sharing your tent with another walker saves weight and helps make the tent warmer.
Sounds like you will have a great walk and a cosy night. A great place to explore in snowshoes.
Enjoy
Matt

[melinda]

Hi all,
Brought a pair of Montbell down pants (they were cheap at the time) for Tas last year that I never ended up taking. Have never used them.
Think they'll get a little outing next weekend too!
Melinda

[wildwalks]

Hi Melinda.
I am not convinced that wearing lots of warm clothes in a sleeping bag make you warmer. Jut based on my personal experience, and it does not make sense, but for some reason the more warm clothes I wear in the bag the colder I get. I tend to just wear thermals and put any other as insulation underneath

The pants do sound very warm, ESP hanging around camp

Matt

[melinda]

Matt,
Some of my mates sleep with nothing on in their sleeping bags and say this works.
I always sleep in thermals in the winter.
I've found adding a (dry) gortex jacket under sleeping mat helps reduce cold from ground a little bit!
Was wondering what it would be like to try emergency space blanket under sleeping mat. Will have to give this a go.
Has anyone ever tried this?

[LeftRightShoot]

Yes I have Melinda... I feel this would only be of benefit with a thin mat like a foamie or self-inflating. I have an exped downmat and have no need for any further insulation from underneath. Make sure it is inflated enough so you do not come in contact with the ground (esp if you are a side sleeper)

I have a thermolite reactor inner and think this is the best thing since sliced bread. I use this primarily with a -5 (comfort) bag. When I was expecting -10, I took a second synthetic bag and used this as an outer. I was too hot most nights.

With respect to wearing more clothes, I would wear a base layer of merino and "stuff" or "wrap" other clothes around cold points such as hips, knees etc.

Another suggestion is to boil 1L of water and put it in a nalgene bottle inside a sock or similar. Place it high up between your legs where the arteries run. This will warm you for around 6 hours and ensure that you have unfrozen water for breakfast.

ll be down there 1st week of Sept attempting to fall off The Sentinel.

[melinda]

Hi cnshulz,
Hoping the Exped downmat will be enough insulation underneath.
Have a few mates that do a bit of cross country skiing and they say down mat is the only one to sleep on in snow.
Will take my thermolite liner.
Hot water bottle sounds like a great idea.
Hope you plan to fall off The Sentinel in a good sort of way.
Melinda

[wildwalks]

Hi Melinda

You will be fine with the down mat. They are yum, almost as good as a hammock

Enjoy

Matt

[Lizzy]

Hi Melinda- I did that walk last year early winter. It started snowing on the walk in and overnight I got a nice snow fall. I was also tossing up what to do about sleeping bags- I ended up taking 2: montbell spiral downhugger #3 and Sierra designs Nitro 30. I had this on top of a CCF mat and neoair in a double wall shelter. Did the trick
Lovely spot have a great time
Lizzy
Found the trip report
viewtopic.php?f=47&t=6840&hilit=cascade+hut

[melinda]

Hi Lizzy,
Just read your trip report.
Looks like you had a great time.
I've been to Cascade Hut a few times but only in the summer.
Really looking forward to this trip!
Think I'll be warm enough.
I'll probably be carrying close to 2k of down, between 2 sleeping bags and down clothing!
Sharing a tent with a mate. So that should help too!
Heard there's lots of snow down there at the moment.
Excited, like a kid!
Will let you know how it goes when I get back.
Melinda

[Lizzy]

How did you go Melinda? Photos please... I bet it was beautiful with heaps of snow
Cheers
Lizzy

[melinda]

Hi Lizzy,
Trip was awesome.
Lots of snow on the Saturday

Fireplace at Cascade Hut

The Sat night at Cascade Hut turned into a bit of a party.
( Have you ever tried a white hot chocolate spiced up with Baileys??? I've decided this is the perfect drink for the snow!)
Clear skies on the Sunday.

Sunday morning

This was my first experience with snowshoes, t'was so much fun!
PS. The 2 sleeping bags was overkill! The Helium and down jacket would have been enough!

[Lizzy]

Awesome!! May have to try to sneak down there again myself before it all melts. Nice substitute- baileys for 2nd sleeping bag . Were there other groups camped there or just your group?
Cheers
Lizzy

[melinda]

Hi Lizzy,
There were 2 cross county skiers there.
One of them was a member of our club, so an old mate.
It was incredibly beautiful both day.
More snow shoeing is definitely on the list.
Infact, I'm thinking about the whole cross country skiing thing!
Any suggestions for where I could practice close to the Gong!

[Lizzy]

Hey Melinda,
I tried out snow shoes on the beach! Maybe cross country skiing would work too...lol

[melinda]

Hi Lizzy,
What beach????
Bet you got a few funny looks from our locals! LOL!
Melinda