G-WeBconnect

 

Life in Rain: Field Test Results
5-04

Dapper Jim Dandy: All dolled up in new rain gear.
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So, the Boys had plenty of rain in the Adirondack High Peak Region to see what life could be like on the West Coast Trail, Vancouver Island, in July 2004. Here are the results of "g's" field tests for G-WeBconnect.

 

"g's" Backpacking Gear Field Tests: Rain or Shine
Concept
 .
Success or Failure
 .
Proposed Solution


Waterproof Backpack:
In an effort to save weight and not carry/use a cumbersome backpack cover (3-oz), I sprayed my pack with a waterproofing spray 3 times.

  
Failure:
The night we arrived in camp, it essentially rained for the next 48 hours. The pack leaked like a sieve within minutes of the rain beginning.

  
Use a pack cover, dummy.


Pack All Gear and Clothing in Plastic:
I used a combination of Zip-Loc Freezer type bags (1-qt. and 2-Gal.) and plastic grocery store bags to keep items dry.

  
Failure and Success:
Freezer quality Zip-Loc type bags were superior for keeping items dry. Surprisingly, plastic grocery bags did not keep items completely dry.

  
Use only freezer grade Zip-Loc bags. Two-Gallon sized bags are great. Also, bring a supply of heavy grocery store type plastic bags for various uses... like, wet boot inserts to keep socks and feet dry!

Use an Umbrella When Hiking in the Rain:
Using an umbrella instead of a waterproof/breathable jacket and pant shell in warm weather prevents the hiker from over heating when hiking.

  
Success:
In drizzle, rainy and relatively windless weather conditions, an umbrella kept me cooler. Remember, unstable trail terrain may require the use of both hands for support.

  
Packing a light weight, small umbrella in addition to a backpack cover should be the perfect formula for cooler/dryer hiking in the rain.


Replace Orange Colored Duct Tape on Bear Proof Canister with Reflective Orange Tape to Better Locate in the Woods:
Having used white reflective tape to locate my bear canister at nights works amazingly well. A small headlamp picked up the white reflective tape at a distance of about 50 yards.

  
Success:
A combination of orange colored duct tape and white and orange reflective tape was a superior arrangement for locating my food canister in the woods, under brush, or in a gully - day or night.		  


Use of a Bear Proof Food Canister vs. Hanging Food:
My Bear canister weigh 3-lb/7-oz. compared to the mere 10-oz. nylon bag, carabiner, and nylon rope kit used to hang food. But, the bear canister offers a no-hassle and superior form of protecting food - in any terrain!

  


Success:
The bear proof food canister made storing and retrieving food a cinch as compared to the planning, effort and trees availabile to correctly hang food at least 15-ft off the ground. An additional benefit was it's use as a camp chair (only in regions where bears are not likely to enter camp during the day). To protect lid and keep water out of the canister, sit upon and store it upside down.

 

  

Use Orange Reflector Strips on Tent Stakes, Tent Zipper Pulls, etc., for easy locating:
Either in day light or at night, tent stakes, guide wires, zipper pulls, tent poles, and other gear items can be lost/misplaced. Reflector tags make it less likely you'll lose your gear.		  


Success:
Small strips of orange reflector tape proved to be a lightweight and superior device for identifying things at night with the use of a headlamp, and during the day when things can get lost on the ground and in leaves.

  


New Headlamp:
Having used an ultra-light LED headlamp the previous year, I decided to upgrade to a slightly heavier and brighter LED headlamp (Black Diamond Zenix - HyperBright LED Headlamp) for safer night time hiking. Last year, with my former light, I had gotten lost in the dark returning to camp from the latrine. I realized my light was way too dim!

  
Success:
Great news. I had plenty of light when the head lamp was in the HyperBright LED mode! This LED headlamp is light and ultra bright.		  

Clothing:
My goal for packing light was to bring a minimal amount of clothing to save on space and weight for multi-day backpacking.

  


Failure:
The concept is a good one... except when you have a day (or multiple days) of rain! Clearly, having extra dry clothing, including some form of foot wear, makes much more sense.

  


Plan for Vancouver Island's, West Coast Trail (6 days):
4 pairs of socks; 2 long sleeved Cool-Max type T-shirts, 4 T-shirts, fleece leggings, nylon wind jacket and pants, Gore-Tex jacket and pant shells, 2 light weight gloves, water proof hat, umbrella. Make sure all Gore-Tex shells are rejuvenate each season.

Waterproof Footwear:
Warm dry feet are the key to any adventure. Use Gore-Tex light hikers and moisture wicking socks.		  


Failure:
With the first solid day of rain, Roger and my Gore-Tex foot wear were soaked for 2 days. I didn't have additional footwear like sandals. My short, nylon gaiters helped initially to keep rain off my socks. I was short on dry socks. It was never sunny.

  
Plan for Vancouver Island's, West Coast Trail (6 days):
Water proof the exterior of Gore-Tex hiking boots; Purchase water proof ankle high gaiters; bring extra socks; use light weight synthetic wool socks; bring sandals for camp that allow for the use of socks; bring extra heavy grade grocery shopping bags to line wet boots with for dry feet.


Use an Outdoors Research, High Peaks Gore-Tex bivy Sack (1-lb/10-oz) vs. a Light Weight Tent (4-lb/8-oz):
A Gore-Tex bivy sack is light and packs small. Perfect for the ultra-light backpacker.


Failure:
With 2 days of rain, the 'ol bivy sack got a great workout. I didn't hang my 4x5 ft. tarp over the sack to get the REAL experience of FULL exposure to the elements (rain) when sleeping. I stashed an umbrella just outside the bivy sack to use when entering/exiting the bag to prevent rain from entering the bivy sack.

 

  


Using the bivy sack was problematic. I had minor leaking at the seams which will need to be waterproofed before its next use. Because I had left the bivy sack open a crack to allow for cool ventilation in the rain, the entrance and top of my down bag got wet. Storing an umbrella within arms reach worked great for staying relatively dry when entering/exiting the bivy sack. However, it's a real chore doing so in the rain! Especially when you are trying to put on your boots! There's almost no room to store anything inside the bivy sack except a pillow.

  

 
 

Sleeping was AOK. Rolling over was fine. I do wonder what it would be like sleeping in the sack in warm-hot weather. Also, next time I'll use a synthetic bag (instead of down) for easy drying.

Will the bivy sack make it to the West Coast Trail? Time will tell...
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