Companion forum thread to:

Ultralight in the Icebox: Post-Trip Report

I like the use of duct tape for nose cover. Who needs Labiosan...

If it's not fun, why?

Edited by mvhammond on 02/07/2007 09:44:01 MST.

Excellent follow-up, Andy. I look forward to the vapor barrier article as I can definetely learn a thing or two from it.

I think I prefer my system for keeping my nose warm...LOL...I do use the polarwrap warm air mask which keeps the respiration condensation sleeping bag issue to a minimum when it's really cold...

I'm looking forward to hearing the latest podcast and share others interest in the VBL system...

Edited by Mataharihiker on 02/10/2007 18:30:15 MST.

>I think I prefer my system for keeping my nose warm...LOL


I think your nose cozy is great. Did you make it or buy it? I have some cold-nose problems after frostnipping mine too many times.

I made it...cut and folded a piece of fleece, sewed a couple of stitches and added a band...it's a real fashion statement, isn't it? It looks like a pigs snout but it works really well and the price was right...LOL...

Anyone interested in vapor barrier clothing might want to have a look at Stephenson's Warmlite website. They have been making vapor barrier clothing since the late 1960s. Their laminated fabric, however, is not ultralight.

Dan,

The Stephenson's Warmlite VB Fuzzy Stuff Clothing is not overly heavy. My L VB top weighs 5.4 oz and my M VB Bottom (no zipper) only weighs 4.4 oz. In a sleeping system, these may well add about an additional 10 degrees F to the low temperature range. Additionally, if using down for your clothing and sleeping bag loft (if your clothing is dry), you should not have much issue with vapor entering the fill material and lessening loft.

Rich

Edited by naturephoto1 on 02/19/2007 17:25:35 MST.

I loved Carol's observation on pack weight .... once you get it down to a minimum level people tend to add a little back in.

The difference is that you really have to WANT that extra ounce because it's really hard to convince yourself to add it back in.

Once hitting 5 lbs it's a lot easier to be really comfy at 5.5 lbs than it would have been before.

Perhaps it's just a matter of perspective?

What Skurka has accomplished is very impressive. We can learn a lot from his trip and the second time around maybe do it better? I have posed some questions and raised some issues with my FORTY BELOW thread on the winter hiking forum. That was the temperature that Skurka missed by about two weeks.