October Backpacking
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 3:40 pm
Well, September is about gone. We are losing a minute or two of daylight every day as we go into October. Different planning criteria need to be used as we march towards winter. Here are a few of mine. I would like to hear what others do to adjust to this time of year.
1) Shorter trips 3-5 days and shorter travel each day. Weather can dramatically change and the 3-day forecast is pretty good. I hesitate to commit to weather a week down the road. This is not the time to hike until dark. It gets mighty cold mighty fast once the sun goes down. Setting up a tent and cooking in the dark is not fun when it is that cold.
2) Half day bail out from off-trail back to a big trail that can easily be followed even if covered with snow. No more than a 1-day total bail out. I do not get way back in there. This is the time of year to go to those easy-to-get-to but too crowded in summer spots.
3) Do not park on the top of a high pass. I made this mistake once and parked on Sonora Pass - the first road they close when even a little snow falls. Luckily by the time I got back to my car, they had re-opened the road.
4) Choose campsites for maximum sunlight. This means staying out of deep canyons, even though the elevation may be lower. Yosemite Valley is a good example. I even backpack there in the winter; the Yosemite Falls trail is usually open year round. It gets frigid in the valley (no sun and sinking cold air), yet the rim can be very pleasant.
5) Sometimes you do not get both early and late sunlight. If you are an early morning person, then choose morning sun - easier to get on the east side. If you rather linger in afternoon sunlight and sleep in to maybe 9-10AM, then west side locations may be better.
6) Assume it will snow and be prepared. Assume you will have well below freezing temperatures at night. October is not the time to skimp and go UL. Water in your bottle will freeze. If you fill a platypus and set it outside, you may have a block of ice by morning. Water filters can have lines freeze if you leave them out. Little things - like olive oil becomes solid!
7) Avoid rock slabs and boulder hopping - things do get icy. Always look for ice. Trails in the shade can get icy.
8) Bring something to entertain yourself during those long nights. This is the time of year I prefer not to go solo - it is nice to have someone to talk with. Plus solo gets more risky as the season gets later.
9) Consider wind chill. When day temperatures only get up to 45 degrees or less, it is not the time to also add a 30-50 mph wind. Camp and hike where there is some wind protection.
10) Be prepared when you return to your car. Have chains. Nothing like getting stuck on the wrong side of the mountains when you are trying to get home. Even if you live at sea level, have standard winter/snow gear and extras in your car. Do not forget the windshield scraper. Park at the trailhead with at least half a tank of gas. Have some extra food. Winter boots.
11) Go to the "Low Sierra". There is a lot of great terrain lower than 9000 feet. Also good time of year to hit those other ranges - Trinity Alps, Coast Range, etc.
12) Pre-think what you would do if a storm comes in. Do you wait it out? Do you immediately bail? Each situation is different but going over options in your mind before you get out there helps.
1) Shorter trips 3-5 days and shorter travel each day. Weather can dramatically change and the 3-day forecast is pretty good. I hesitate to commit to weather a week down the road. This is not the time to hike until dark. It gets mighty cold mighty fast once the sun goes down. Setting up a tent and cooking in the dark is not fun when it is that cold.
2) Half day bail out from off-trail back to a big trail that can easily be followed even if covered with snow. No more than a 1-day total bail out. I do not get way back in there. This is the time of year to go to those easy-to-get-to but too crowded in summer spots.
3) Do not park on the top of a high pass. I made this mistake once and parked on Sonora Pass - the first road they close when even a little snow falls. Luckily by the time I got back to my car, they had re-opened the road.
4) Choose campsites for maximum sunlight. This means staying out of deep canyons, even though the elevation may be lower. Yosemite Valley is a good example. I even backpack there in the winter; the Yosemite Falls trail is usually open year round. It gets frigid in the valley (no sun and sinking cold air), yet the rim can be very pleasant.
5) Sometimes you do not get both early and late sunlight. If you are an early morning person, then choose morning sun - easier to get on the east side. If you rather linger in afternoon sunlight and sleep in to maybe 9-10AM, then west side locations may be better.
6) Assume it will snow and be prepared. Assume you will have well below freezing temperatures at night. October is not the time to skimp and go UL. Water in your bottle will freeze. If you fill a platypus and set it outside, you may have a block of ice by morning. Water filters can have lines freeze if you leave them out. Little things - like olive oil becomes solid!
7) Avoid rock slabs and boulder hopping - things do get icy. Always look for ice. Trails in the shade can get icy.
8) Bring something to entertain yourself during those long nights. This is the time of year I prefer not to go solo - it is nice to have someone to talk with. Plus solo gets more risky as the season gets later.
9) Consider wind chill. When day temperatures only get up to 45 degrees or less, it is not the time to also add a 30-50 mph wind. Camp and hike where there is some wind protection.
10) Be prepared when you return to your car. Have chains. Nothing like getting stuck on the wrong side of the mountains when you are trying to get home. Even if you live at sea level, have standard winter/snow gear and extras in your car. Do not forget the windshield scraper. Park at the trailhead with at least half a tank of gas. Have some extra food. Winter boots.
11) Go to the "Low Sierra". There is a lot of great terrain lower than 9000 feet. Also good time of year to hit those other ranges - Trinity Alps, Coast Range, etc.
12) Pre-think what you would do if a storm comes in. Do you wait it out? Do you immediately bail? Each situation is different but going over options in your mind before you get out there helps.