So you are coming out here to hunt in the high country? What should you bring? Here is one way to look at your gear. It will help you decide what to bring and what to leave in the truck. Or at home.
Part of my background was leading wilderness river trips- up to 15 people, variable weather from stifling heat to low 40's and rain. Perfect hypothermia conditions when you throw in splashing river water and long hours of exposure. My job was keeping everyone WARM and COMFORTABLE. Clients often helpless or inexperienced. Personal experience in a much wider range of conditions and elk guide in snow.
I hike and hunt from 7 -12 plus thousand feet, mostly 8-10 thousand.
Rule # !: what you carry all day in your day pack is what you should try to limit your gear to, minus camp items- (tent/shelter, sleeping bag and pad, food, cooking gear)
Rule #2: what you bring must earn its keep out hunting and in camp. Anything, and I mean ANYTHING that will not do double duty should be left in the truck. (bow and tackle excepted)
Working backwards from rule #2 your gear will be the following if you plan to hunt out West. Remember, we are planning for what CAN happen weather wise. Not what MIGHT not happen.
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Comfort is defined as regulating heat and moisture, both from within and from without.
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(1) pair of pants. Bring cotton if you want to play Russian Roulette. 5 times out of six you will be fine. Its the other time we are concerned with...
(1) pair of long under wear bottoms.
(2) pair of tech or wool under tops, one thin, one fuzzy but light. (A good place to look for the fuzzy is in stores that cater to white water boaters).
(2)vests. One light stretch tech with high collar and one down packable. This is one place you may spend some money. And its money well spent.
(2)tops. Thin. I like thin wool. One pull over, one zip or button. The idea is one can be opened for cooling. On some days you will have a day pack full of your extra layers from long johns all the way thru both under tops. But if it turns cold and nasty, you will be SO glad you have them with you and you will find that a lot of days you use various combos to dial in comfort.
(1) some type of rain top. This is where a lot of weight (bad) can creep into your gear.
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Choose wisely grasshopper.
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All you need rain gear to do is keep you warm. If you choose the right other garments you can get wet. But you do not want to get soaking wet. One issue is when at elevation you are usually working hard physically and generating a lot of moisture from within. So sealing out the rain thats falling is only going to seal in the water thats coming off our body. Do your own research and find a good light something that you will know how to use to advantage up in the mountains.
I do not use rain pants. I require my pants/underwear combo to handle it. My experience with good pants, either tech or very thin wools is while you may feel some "moisture", your legs are WARM and thats what is important.
Rule #3: Remember- Warm. Warm = life.
Socks and foot wear. A lot is out there already about boots. My experience is thus: Wet feet = trouble and misery. Wet feet often mean cold feet at some point and that is an inroad for hypothermia.
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Rule #4: Never allow hypothermia an access point (hands/feet/head/core) Keep this in mind.
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Think of hypothermia as like a stinging insect. Its at your hands. You Stop and defend against it. Its at your feet. Stop and Defend against it. Never let the insect get past your defenses. Always stop it when it starts at you, no mater how small it seems at first. Do not wait til later. Not at lunch time two hours away. NOW. Now is when you can easily win.
So gore-tex liners with your boots. Cold feet are bad, so socks that even if wet will provide insulation. Your socks will get wet from the work you are doing chasing that big bull elk...
Hurting feet from blisters, bloody toes etc are bad. So boots that fit.
(3)pair socks. Two pair medium, one pair thin. The idea is that the thin can fit in the boot under the medium to make one thick or you can wear one medium or one thin depending on conditions. And one pair will be drying...
A good hat that can keep off the sun and out the rain/snow. And a watch cap or head band for ears if its cold. You will be hiking in the dark and a nice thin watch cap at this time is nice. No weight penalty and you can wear it when in the sleeping bag too.
(1) pair thin gloves. You will thank me at some point
How to test your gear combinations? A lot of it your already know. You know if you are a cold sleeper or a warm one. This tells you a lot about how to tailor your gear. Go on hikes when its raining. When a cold front moves thru. Even if its only 10 degrees colder than normal it will help you understand how your gear works for you.
Rule: Comfort is the key to using gear smart. If the feel or fit of clothing drives you nuts you will not use it like you need to.
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Your day pack for out here, with all the stuff mentioned above and game bags, knives and first aid kit and your day food and emergency food and kit etc will weigh about 20lbs or so. Maybe less.
Any more is luxury. You don't need a closet full of clothes. Just clothes that work.
Topic: Planning a hunt out West? How to pack a pack... (Read 195 times)
