/out/ - Outdoors » Thread #482717

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Anonymous Sat 21 Mar 2015 09:09:32 No.482717 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By: >>482741 >>482798 >>482802 >>482901

Hey /out/, I'm trying to see if I can't hike around Crater Lake, OR pretty soon. Thing is, it'll be snowing there and I have no experience with that. Gear also needs to be updated accordingly, money isn't too much of an issue. It's about a 30 mile hike that will probably take me 3-5 days. The only camping/hiking I've done has been in warmer weather, I'll be by myself...I'm nervous but I probably won't ever get another chance to do it in my life, or at least in a very long time. Is this even a good idea? Thoughts on gear necessities? I've been doing homework on it all day but I need direct input. Thanks.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 21 Mar 2015 11:22:07 No.482741 Report

Quoted By: >>482844

>>482717
>It's about a 30 mile hike that will probably take me 3-5 days.
That sounds like a reasonable assessment in fresh snow.
How much snow are you expecting? What kind of snow? Have you considered bringing snowshoes?

In either case, here are some things from top of my head:

>bring gaiters (and I assume your footwear is waterproof)
>don't forget your sleeping pad
>headlamp

Will you bring your own food/water/fuel?
Give us a gear list what you plan to bring. Including clothing.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 21 Mar 2015 13:42:20 No.482798 Report

Quoted By: >>482884

>>482717

Make sure you plan your route based on good topographic trail maps. Try to plan your trip and your camping spots according to water sources if you can. I know its a lake, but how often is the trail close enough to the lake it can be used to refill your water periodically throughout the day?
Of course, a lightweight compact hiking waterfilter is good to have
Aside from maybe having snow as a water source as well. Proper clothing and sleeping bag for whatever the weather/temperatures will be.

This is totally doable OP. Im jealous. if i had the chance I would do this. Sounds awesome. You'll have an great time!

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 21 Mar 2015 13:51:24 No.482802 Report

Quoted By: >>482844 >>482884

>>482717

OP I've done some short 2-3 day solo backpacking trips myself. Its pretty fun. Nothing to be scared of as long as you stay smart. Have fun and explore but don't do foolish dangerous things while you're by yourself out there. And chances are you will run into other hikers along the way that make a nice momentary break from the solitude.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sat 21 Mar 2015 15:57:49 No.482844 Report

Quoted By: >>482864 >>482871

>>482741
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=42.896088552971065&lon=-122.14187622070312&site=mfr&smap=1&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text

-What kind of snow I'm not sure yet, and I'll ask the park rangers about snow shoes when I call them today.
-Yes I have gaiters, headlamp. Can get sleeping pad
Water's a big question here. I'l have to carry enough for the whole trip, how much per day is a safe bet in this kind of weather (snow, temps in the 30s/20s)?
Also is fuel advisable/necessary? If so, could I melt snow and drink that?

Now my gear is pretty lacking so far, never having done hiking/camping in the snow before and being a pleb in general. So far I have:
-large internal-frame hand-me-down pack, dubiously branded "Outdoor Products." I haven't taken it out hiking yet
-a couple good LED flashlights and a headlamp
-generic old BudK knife
-several pairs of thick Dickies work socks
-German milsurp hooded jacket (I soaked it in waterproofing chemicals) with milsurp underliner
-a couple undershirts and boxers
-coleman propane tank with lightweight burner
-lightweight cookware/utensils

What I need to buy/replace that I know of:
-sleeping bag, I wouldn't trust mine in these temperatures
-tent, only need a one-man but again, good for snow
-my boots are milsurp Vietnam-era, tested and durable but definitely not waterproof. What should I get instead?
-food, should a fuel source and hot meals be a priority? My guess is yes. If so, suggestions?
-how should I carry 3-5 days' water?
>>482802
I won't have access to the lake as it's several hundred feet below the trail, or any potable water other than snow.

As even I know it's inadvisable to do a trip like this with a bunch of new gear that I CAN'T BUY ONLINE because of my itinerary, I'm planning on testing it out first for a night or two, somewhere that isn't a snowy volcano lake.

I think I'm most concerned about the cold and the snow, I mean can I just pitch a tent on some snow, is that how it works? Thanks /out/

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 21 Mar 2015 16:29:39 No.482864 Report

Quoted By: >>482884

>>482844
>can I just pitch a tent on some snow,
I'd remove the snow, but yeah, basically. I want to stress the importance of a sleeping mat/pad (honestly no idea which is the right term for those in English) again. You will lose the most warmth through the bottom, so don't even bother going without a sleeping mat.
>weather forecast
So, shit weather then.
I'm not sure if I would recommend that with your current equipment
Your clothes sound a bit lacking. You didn't mention any pants. You don't need some fancy $500 mountaineering pants, but I wouldn't go in jeans. And get some longjohns. Wool, synthetic, doesn't matter. What about a fleece or wool top? Do you only have the underliner and cotton shirts? That seems too little. Try to avoid cotton if you can.
Also: gloves, some kind of winter cap, something for your neck.
>footwear
Whatever waterproof hiking shoes you can get. It doesn't seem like you need a lot of ankle support, and with gaiters it's okay if they're low. I suppose you don't have to buy quality if you don't plan on doing something like that more often.
>Also is fuel advisable/necessary? If so, could I melt snow and drink that?
Carrying more fuel and melting snow might be a bit more effective in terms of weight. Not sure about that.
And you should bring some fuel anyway (unless you're planning, are allowed, and confident to use open fire), or don't you want to get some warm tea and a soup?
>I'm planning on testing it out first for a night or two
That's sounds like a good idea. In regards to your clothing, I would test it out for a day or so in similar weather. Do some physical activity, get sweating, stop moving and see how fast you get cold. Start walking again and see how that all works out.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 21 Mar 2015 16:42:25 No.482871 Report

Quoted By: >>482884

>>482844
>hot meals
I like to bring powdered soup, couscous, oats, honey, chinese/fast cooking noodles, vegetable broth, a tomato paste tube, plenty of spices, maybe powdered mashed potatoes. Some garlic cloves, lard, maybe bread spread and bread. Tea bags. Salami or bacon. Oh and nuts/raisins/cereal bars.

Bread/oats/cereal bars with tea in the morning. Bread with lard and salami/bacon for lunch and something warm in the evening.

Water will be your biggest problem, I think. You won't need THAT much when you have no ascents to do, but your water and fuel consumption will still be pretty high. Cooking, drinking (warm tea), possibly washing your dishes and brushing your teeth.

I'd say 200ml every morning for a cup of tea, ~500ml every evening for a warm meal and another liter drinking over the day is a minimum value you can start your calculations off.

If you're allowed to use open fire there and can get one up and running (which I doubt in that weather - most wood will probably be wet), your weight will quite drastically decrease.
Keep in mind though that it will take you quite some time, so you'll have to stop and set up camp earlier.
And try to keep your backpack weight under 15kg.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sat 21 Mar 2015 17:06:38 No.482884 Report

Quoted By: >>482889

>>482798
>>482802
>>482864
>>482871

OP here, thanks for the responses everyone. Looking through all the snow backpacking checklists I'm finding, I'm not sure this would be safe for a solo trip with no prior experience. I have a flare gun but I'm reading that I'll need beacons and probes, because there are avalanche dangers in the park. Also, unless I can find all this cold weather gear at a thrift store I'm not sure I could keep it under even $500, and even then I'd find that hard to justify for a one time thing, as I won't be doing much cold-weather outdoorsing after this. I'll keep looking and researching but my gut tells me this would be a bad idea as a first-timer's solo trip, even though I'm in good enough shape.

tl;dr might be in over my head on this with no prior cold-weather experience, going solo, and a lot of new gear to buy.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 21 Mar 2015 17:23:01 No.482889 Report

Quoted By: >>482895 >>482996

>>482884
>there are avalanche dangers
I didn't know that. That changes things quite a lot.
I thought you were going on flat terrain through a couple of inches snow.

Honestly, under these circumstances I wouldn't go without any avalanche experience. Maybe call the National Park and ask for current conditions; I can't find any avalanche warning service for that region online.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 21 Mar 2015 17:29:35 No.482895 Report

Quoted By: >>482996

>>482889
I looked a bit more and this page
http://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/winter-safety.htm
links to this

http://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/upload/2010-avalanche-bypass-handout.pdf

for areas which are dangerous. And the mount shasta page says circumstances are favorable.

I'd call the national park and ask.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 21 Mar 2015 17:41:29 No.482901 Report

Quoted By: >>482996

>>482717

OP carrying a complete 3-5 days worth of water with you sounds like a lot of weight. Any chance there are flowing mountain streams crossing your trail in places where you could refill your water bottles?
I've been on 5+ day backpacking trips many times but I've been pretty spoiled as being able to always include places where there are rivers, creeks or small lakes along the way. I never carry more than a days supply of water because I always plan my trips around available water sources and a water filter. I guess im a fair weather hiker.
I can not imagine carrying 5 days worth of water.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sat 21 Mar 2015 21:06:34 No.482996 Report

Quoted By:

>>482889
>>482895

Yeah, that's what I'm doing as soon as I'm done running errands. I saw that page about the avalanche warnings but it is going to be snowing this Monday through Wednesday and from what I've read avalanche conditions can change quickly.

>>482901
That's a good idea, I'll look into it and ask the Park about it. 5 days' water does sound like a lot to carry for a strenuous hike.

Anyways right now I'm scouring thrift stores and used camping gear places for good deals. Thanks again for the input guys

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