How do I get better sleep at 10k elevations and up?
I am not asking like a pussy who expects to be hotel-comfortable; I like the outdoors for the challenge, but I sense I still haven't dialed it in. I've slept at 10,000 feet in 40F weather, 12,000 feet in 45F weather, and 10,050 feet in 35F weather. All three times sucked.
>climb high, sleep low
I did this when going up White Mountain. I slept at 12,000 feet and the next day went up to 14,000 feet. That night I was just tossing and turning and I actually felt like I didn't get any sleep.
>is it the cold, the altitude or both?
I suspect it's a bit of both.
My first sleep at 10,000 feet in the sierra nevada was fucking chilling and kept me up mostly because of how cold I was. this was when I learned the temperature rating on a sleeping bag is not the same as the comfort rating.
>air mattress and sleeping in layers
my last time doing it, I brought some long-johns, some thick wool socks, a balaclava, deerskin gloves, an exped synmat xp7, and my old 40F sleeping bag. This time it was weird because I still hovered between shivering cold and tolerable, and I still didn't feel like I slept well.
Now, is my problem just incorrect temperature regulation? (buying a fancy bag fixes it)
or is my problem that at 10,000+ feet you just won't sleep well?
As i stated earlier, I'm not asking for home-comfort, I will be happy achieving what other smart backpackers achieve at 10,000+ feet.
thanks for all the helpful advice!