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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 18
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Joined: May 2010
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Taking the advice of some experts on this site I purchased a Zojirushi Sport Thermos to keep my water thawed in the sub-zero temps of Mt. Whitney. After my experience two weeks ago where all of my water froze as I stumbled back down the mountain in white-out conditions, I was willing to try anything. So, my Zoji arrives in the mail and I fill it up with my coffee and go to pick it up. I almost had to call in reinforcements to assist. This is going to take my 45lb pack to 50 lbs easy. Do you guys really carry these things?? Any other suggestions for keeping water thawed when the temps drop?
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 102
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 102 |
Nalgene in the pack. If it's really cold <0, I might wrap a spare shirt or something around it. Boil at night and put the hot bottle in my sleeping bag.
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 783
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Shin turned me on to the Zogirushi tuff slim super light thermos. I take it everywhere. Fits nicely in the side pocket of my pack 
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 58
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 58 |
Sorry to hear that 45 lb is too much.
Safe winter mountaineering is not easy. If you start with the boot, it is heavier, add to that crampon, gaiter, ice axe, probe, shovel, avalanche transceiver, 4 season tent, thicker sleeping bag, thicker sleeping pad, heavier clothing, more fuel than summer, more food, and one thermos. If you climb, add in some ice screws, pickets.
The added cost alone will force many hikers to stay in summer, or late spring, or early fall to avoid winter. It is definitly not for your average hiker/climber.
To prepare for Denali, I am training with 60lb pack, pulling 30 lb load, and wearing 7 lb ankle weight.
Are we still having fun?
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 283
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 283 |
Keep your nalgene bottles tucked in your pack well insulated by the other warm items like you down parka and they shouldn't freeze. You can sleep with a nalgene bottle at night too - put warm water in it and it'll feel really nice. I'm a small person and an extra 5 pounds is a lot to me. It's really hard for me to even carry 40 pounds (the most I've ever carried is 42 pounds and that was hell), so I wouldn't think of carrying a five pound thermos bottle. At the same time, I'm not headed for Denali anytime soon.
I agree with ThinAirHiker that it's very expensive to buy lightweight 4-season gear. Then again, we are lucky here in California with how mild our winters are.
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 18
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Posts: 18 |
45lbs is fine, 50 is too much for me, for Whitney. Here is a picture of me two weeks ago on Mt. Whitney with my beloved 45lb pack. I don't count my boots and gaiters because those go on my body. Included: ice axe, crampons, extra fuel, extra parka, PLB, GPS, a 3 season tent that survived 4 seasons, far too many clothes, extra warm sleeping bag, cooking gear, misc. items, 5lb WAG bag, and no thermos. (Hubby carries bear can) All that for under 45lbs... lets not talk about my mountaineering budget. I work for no other reason than this. Second picture is hubby next to 3 Season tent being put to the test! Yeah, we were having fun. Only the kind of sick fun that people like us would have. Good luck on Denali ThinAirHiker, sounds like you are doing the right stuff!
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 138
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the OR bottle parka has been working for me in a lot of cold places.
When in doubt, go up.
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