Hi, I personally thought that the format of Chris's review of layering combinations in different seasons was refreshing, interesting and stimulating. It was really nice to see what someone else carries to wear, and wears, under different conditions.
I was slightly surprised by the inclusion of the warm insulating layers for stops when it was cold. This is because Chris has said that he sometimes uses a 2 man bothy bag for his lunch stops if the weather is bad. Does this mean that he only uses this option if its very windy or raining and NOT when its cold?
So did you like the format of listing what he had on him and what worked well?
Hi Jeffrey, glad to hear you liked the piece. I do only use the bothy bag if it's very stormy and there's no shelter from the wind. I much prefer to sit outside and enjoy the view - however limited (about twenty feet yesterday). The bothy bag is really an emergency item. I rarely use it when out on my own. The last time I used bothy bags was with a group in a blizzard in Norway a year ago. Then it was very welcome.
Here's mine; March, 3 tops over 3000ft, -5degC, patchy snow, thick cloud and strong winds, 23km, 7/8hrs-ish Karisma fleece pants, Icebreaker 200 long sleeve top and bottoms, Mammut Aconcagua Powerstrech top, Montane solo Primaloft, Karrimor XCR Summit Jacket and pants.
Wore just the powerstretch top until the wind was too cold and put on my shell jacket, this was fine but on the exposed ridge it was so cold on my legs I put on my shell pants. At lunch just below the last top put my Solo jacket over my shell and kept it on for most of the descent, this being the only point I overheated a bit and got damp. The rest of the time I was just right, although at times I could feel the wind chilling my fore arms a little. If I'd been moving slower I would have needed another layer but as I was I stayed pleasantly comfy. Back at the car the only wet spot was under the lumbar area where the big pad is on my sack, it just doesn't breathe enough there.
Saturday (very cold, snow and ice on ground, cloud cover, severe windchill): Base (MHW), Fleece (cheap 100 weight) and Jacket (Rab Latok, eVent) Usually I start walking, get hot, remove fleece, and all is well. However, there was a lot of standing around and it was bitterly cold with the windchill, so fleece stayed on. Lots of hanging around (setting up belays, abseils etc) so was very glad of my Sleeka jacket which I put on over the lot. Only removed the Sleeka when out of the wind on the walk back to the car.
Sunday (air temperature very cold, negligible wind, warm sun) Started out in base (polartec powerdry), fleece (200weight given previous day'd cold) and shell. Sleeka in pack as usual. After about 10-15 minutes stopped and took off fleece, continued in base and shell (my usual preference). In cold air and warm sun I was perfectly comfortable. Slightly cold while faffing around in shadowy gullies but not enough to warrant replacing the fleece.
No condensation noticed in jacket on either day. Hurrah for eVent breathability.
Legwear on both days - Peter Storm baselayer leggings under Marmot ATV schoeller trousers. Totally windproof / snowproof and warm, definitely no need for overtrousers.
O.K. here's TWO over one weekend. Feb, 2 - 4 degrees C, fresh chilly wind in exposed places, clear skies, very patchy snow on the ground, only about 150m of ascent, 29km 10 hours. Mammut Champs trousers, Buffalo windshirt, Montane Krypton pullon, Odlo top (equivalent to Polartec Powerstrech fabric, allegedly).
This walk was done with my wife and the pace was slower than I would have liked. I started out with just the Montane Krypton jacket on which kept out the wind but at these temperatures it really wasn't warm enough on its own. Lunch was taken at a tea room where I changed took off the Montane jacket and put on the Odlo top and then Buffalo windshirt. In the afternoon despite cooling temperatures and slowing pace I was generally more comfortable. As we neared the end of the walk, in the dark, at a snail's pace, this combination proved barely adequate to the task. Had we slowed any more I would have swapped the Buffalo jacket with the Montane one.
Following day: Temperatures just above freezing, clear skies, a few snow flakes, fresh very chilly wind, 24 km, 6 hours 45 mins.
Mammut Champs trousers, Marmot V neck base layer, Patagonia zephyr jacket, Paramo Cuzco jacket, Odlo jacket (see above). Paramo cap.
An early climb left me exposed to a raw chilly wind that brought tears to my eyes. The combination worked very well in that it kept me warm and comfortable. A kit inpsection at lunchtime revealed that the Marmot top was quite damp and I did consider changing it. Early afternoon and a short steep climb had me scrambling into the wind with streaming eyes making things difficult. After the climb the rest of the afternoon was gentle descent and level walking. The combo caught up with my perspiration and the baselayer dried out and I got rather warm by the end of the afternoon. Only when I stopped for my last break did I realise how cold it was.
It's funny, the description of taking layers on and off brings the experience of being on the hill closer than many passages of flowery prose painting pictures of the landscape. Nice one Chris.
