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Sleeping Bag Degree Rating for JMT

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 5:42 pm
by dharter
We are hiking the JMT from August 22 to September 13. Thinking that a bag with a 20 degree rating should be sufficient. Would be interested in feedback from anyone with experience in the Sierra's regarding that choice.

Thanks.
Doug

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:52 pm
by hikerduane
Yes. I take a 35 degree bag which can be cool at 30 or lower, a little disappointed in my WM Caribou bag, not a conservative rating like they have a rep of having. By the end of your trip it may be needed. Some storms can come thru mid Sept. and dump some snow then turn warm again in a day or two. Wait a minute, it freezes in July too at elevation. If your bag is down, it will adjust to the temps if you don't know that already. Have a good time out here.

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:13 pm
by Snow Nymph
My bag was 15 or 20 deg, and we were out Aug/Sep 2001


There's a JMT section on my website http://www.snow-nymph.com (click on JMT left side)

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:41 pm
by EricJLee
Agree, I used a 20 on the earlier end of the season(first 2 weeks July), got snowed and hailed on a few times, but that bag temp was just right. In September snow isn't unheard of, so having that extra insulation is nice.
Eric

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:28 am
by TwoFortyJeff
I'll be bringing a 15 degree. My 20 degree wasn't enough even at 9000ft last June-July.
I'm a very cold sleeper though. I'm planning on a most nights in the low 30s to upper 20s.

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:14 pm
by cherron
I would recommend something in the range of 15-20 degrees. Two years ago during that time it was chilly almost every night along the JMT and there were a couple of nights I would have liked a warmer bag than what I brought. Usually, I get by with an older 20 degree bag, which has lost some loft. The lower angle of the sun the shorter daylight hours can make it a chilly that time of year.

I usually take Sierra trips during that time of year and have had a mixed bag of weather, everything from occaisional snow storm, to freezing rain, to sunny and warm.

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 6:11 pm
by The Other Tom
I use a 20 degree bag and have gotten along fine. Other considerations are your sleeping pad and what type of clothes you sleep in. I use a Prolite 4 pad and I generlly sleep in my clothes ( nylon pants, tee shirt and fleece jacket). Oh yeah, I wear a stocking cap too. And...I use a double wall tent.

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 9:28 am
by Aviprk
I can get along well even in the mid 20's with a 30F bag and my trusty patagonia micropuff though it can sometimes be marginal and my legs can feel cold if I wear shorts. When I was up in Mineral King 2 years ago in September, night time temps reached 28 in the Cold Springs campground. I would imagine it must have been in the teens above 10,000 that same night. Yikes!