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Field Notes: Careening into Winter

This topic has 31 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 3 months, 3 weeks ago by AK Granola.

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Oct 24, 2023 at 8:26 pm #3791756

Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies

Companion forum thread to: Field Notes: Careening into Winter

Join Ryan Jordan and a demon virus on a trip that brings early-season winter to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Oct 25, 2023 at 7:20 am #3791771

Chris K
BPL Member

@cmkannen-2-2

Being sick in the backcountry is miserable. Thanks for getting out a good field report despite the bug.

Couple questions for you, Ryan:

Do you often drink coffee late in the afternoon? I’m guessing you are adapted to it, but man, I can expect fitful sleep, or no sleep, if I drink coffee late in the day.

And… what thermometer are you using?

Oct 25, 2023 at 9:03 am #3791776

Terran Terran
BPL Member

@terran

Doesn’t sound fun. It makes a good story.

I’ve tried using a small tarp between the inner and the fly. Mainly for shade. It may help with the cold. It’s an odd shape though. Perhaps something could be cut to fit and help keep the heat in. Some polycro or a space blanket.

Oct 25, 2023 at 3:44 pm #3791823

d k
BPL Member

@dkramalc

I’m curious; does your HRV increase or decrease with an oncoming illness?

Oct 25, 2023 at 4:40 pm #3791827

Eric Kammerer
BPL Member

@erickammerer

I’m curious what you use for “expected temperature” vs. “season”. Lately, I’ve been playing with using the worst-case MeteoBlue “Cold Nights” value for the month of the trip, and the two months before/after the trip for “season” on the assumption that seasons don’t always line up nicely with historical averages. “expected” is whateverthe forecast calls for. I think this should be sufficient to thrive under reasonably-expected conditions, and survive the new historical low.

Oct 25, 2023 at 5:11 pm #3791829

Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies

Chris – I can drink a *small* cup of coffee in the afternoon with no impact to my sleep. Maybe 4 to 6 oz, and I try to make that cup a darker roast (lower caffeine).

The sensors we are using for tent testing are SensorPush HTP.xw’s.

Oct 25, 2023 at 5:13 pm #3791830

Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies

Terran – that’s an interesting idea, I like the idea of a space blanket, nice and light. But fixing it to the shelter so it doesn’t flap in wind may be an issue…?

Oct 25, 2023 at 5:14 pm #3791831

Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies

DK – HRV decreases as your body becomes stressed. You want high variability. Think about it this way: a happy heart skips around, and is “jumpy” (high HRV). A stressed heart beats steady and laboriously (low HRV).

Oct 25, 2023 at 5:15 pm #3791832

Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies

Eric, I usually use Meteoblue’s consolidated models feature to look at the models predicted the worst (lowest) temperatures – which are often in the range of 10 to 15 degrees lower than model averages. I plan some type of contingency for this extreme and if it gets worse than that, I have a bailout plan.

Oct 25, 2023 at 5:59 pm #3791838

David D
BPL Member

@ddf

Shoulder season, I plan for record lows which are pretty easy to find. Late Sept last year 2 weeks apart I woke up to unexpected record lows but was ready.

Oct 25, 2023 at 6:15 pm #3791839

dirtbag
BPL Member

@dirtbaghiker

Looking at your picture of your tent pitched. I see the tarp on the right side of it? Which tarp is it and how did it fair in the winds? That area looks fantastic!! Just Gorgeous!!! Any video to share? I don’t feel bad for you at all that you had to move your desk away from the window, just so you know!! Haaaaa.. Awesome! Thanks for posting this.

Oct 25, 2023 at 6:31 pm #3791841

dirtbag
BPL Member

@dirtbaghiker

@Chris K.. How about decaf coffee?? I usually make a hot one in the evening with a packet hot cocoa.. Im actually at work right now and decided to whip one up.. testing this mug for upcoming trip.

Oct 25, 2023 at 6:35 pm #3791842

dirtbag
BPL Member

@dirtbaghiker

On that, Ryan. Is that your coffee mug I see? Snow Peak? What are you using?

Oct 25, 2023 at 6:45 pm #3791843

Charlie Brenneman
BPL Member

@cwbrenneman
Locale: Primarily Desolation Wilderness and Sonora Pass to SEKI

Totally agree on the temps. Recently did an overnight in Desolation Wilderness and lows were just under 40 but after a couple hours in camp with pants, fleece and 3.3oz down puffy I wish I had torrid pants and my 4.7oz jacket!

How do you think my Dipole DW would have done on your trip? Looks like similar sloped walls and the solid inner tent appears in pics to have a bit more coverage than the notch?

Oct 25, 2023 at 6:59 pm #3791844

Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies

Dirtbag – the tarp is a 7×9 DCF made by Hightail Designs. I use this when I want to save weight and just need something to get out of the rain/snow in camp for cooking, etc.

Yeah, I like the idea of decaf + cocoa. How is the Via decaf? I’ve not tried it yet.

The mug is a double-wall ti mug that holds about 7.5 oz of fluid (max). Should be available in our holiday merch drop this fall:

Oct 25, 2023 at 7:00 pm #3791845

Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies

Charlie, the Dipole DW would have been much warmer. I’ve been using one this fall as well. I regularly measure temperatures inside the Dipole DW that are 8 to 12 °F warmer than outside temps. There is a small mesh window at the top of each sidewall, but overall, much less mesh than on the Notch’s solid inner.

Oct 25, 2023 at 7:09 pm #3791846

dirtbag
BPL Member

@dirtbaghiker

Ahhh.. Nice mug there! Very cool. The Starbucks decaff is ok. Kind of is what it is. Its a dark roast, and I happen to have boxes of them laying around so its what I take. I also mix it with a variety of different hot cocoas, so there’s that too.

Oct 26, 2023 at 5:22 am #3791860

David Hartley
BPL Member

@dhartley
Locale: Western NY

I had a visit from COVID back in mid September – I went back and looked at my HRV and didn’t see a big drop. What I do see is a steady rise in resting pulse that starts before overt symptoms, peaks at roughly 10% higher than normal, and then steadily drops back down as I feel better.

Oct 26, 2023 at 5:35 am #3791861

Ken Larson
BPL Member

@kenlarson
Locale: Western Michigan

Ryan how do you do the heart rate variability (HRV) test in the field?

Oct 26, 2023 at 7:14 am #3791869

Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies

Ken – I use a fitness watch and chest HRM. Most of the higher end watches have this capability now.

Oct 26, 2023 at 8:40 am #3791886

John P
BPL Member

@jbrowningp

Ryan, what were your impressions of the NEMO Tensor Extreme? I had my 4th NEMO Tensor insulated fail at a seam, and this time NEMO agreed to send me the Extreme as the warranty replacement.

Oct 26, 2023 at 11:04 am #3791926

Hopearotie
BPL Member

@hopearotieyahoo-com

Thank you for the beautiful pictures and writeup. Sickness sucks, but sickness on trail REALLY sucks!

Oct 27, 2023 at 5:50 am #3791980

Terran Terran
BPL Member

@terran

A little chia in your chocolate will help you out in the morning.

Oct 27, 2023 at 10:12 am #3791990

Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies

I’m really liking the NEMO Tensor Extreme. It’s more stable (less wobbly) than previous tensor versions and it is very warm. I’ve slept directly on snow now in below freezing conditions and it’s plenty warm! I’m excited to use it through the winter.

Oct 27, 2023 at 4:31 pm #3792015

JCH
BPL Member

@pastyj-2-2

So we find ourselves in a world where a camping mat costs $250+ !

It may be a great mat, but Holy Heck! :)
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