High Sierra Backpacking Gear: Lower Body Insulation

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Al's Basic High Sierra Gear List: Lower Body Insulation
Type	Summer	Spring and Fall	Winter
Lower Body Base Layer: Insulation Layer: Outer Layer:	100% Nylon zip-to shorts-Pants	Option: Thin Poly thermal pants	Add: Thin Poly thermal pants (winter base layer)
	Medium Weight Fleece Pants	Add: Gaiters, if necessary	Add: Medium Poly thermal pants Add: Gaiters
	Lightweight wind/water proof shell lower	The key is knowing when in Fall to bring a heavier shell, and when in Spring you can lighten your lower shell.	Replace: Lightweight Shell with Heavy Winter Mountain Pants

Introduction


	Layering Your upper body insulation is composed of three fundamental Layers: Base, Insulation, and Shell. Layers for every Day, and Layers for every Season I employ a seasonal, as well as a daily approach to base-layering. I carefully choose the proper base layer, insulation layer, and shell layers for the season and the range of wilderness weather I can possibly encounter during my daily hiking. The goal is to remain warm while backpacking, and when stationary in camp. In camp during the night I should be able to stay warm and dry wearing all my layers in my sleeping bag inside my tent during the worst weather the season can throw down. For example, my Spring and Fall gear kits are composed of my Summer gear combined with the additional insulation required to deal with the declining temperatures and increased storm activity during Spring and Fall. On the other hand, my Winter gear kit completely replaces some of the lighter elements of the Summer-Spring-Fall kit with much heavier gear appropriate for Winter in the High Sierras. These replacements include a heavy outer shell, heavy boots, and thick gloves. Clear Day after Spring Rain, '09 Above: Medium weight Spring/Fall Gear drying in the sun. Rain during the night had soaked everything, then it froze before dawn. I figured I'd melt and evaporate it off my gear rather than let it drip onto my legs as I hiked. Visible: Snow shoes, Medium weight coat, (blue, on snow shoes) food bags in front of Sleeping bag, heavy socks, pack.				Your Base Layer Your base layer is the layer that sits next to your skin. Your base layer must reflect the degree of insulation you require for daily travel on the trails. Your base layer is your fundamental protection against the elements. During Summer, Spring, and Fall my base layer is a pair of nylon zip to shorts pants, and a thin polyester tank top. During Winter, I employ a thin polyester thermal base layer on both upper and lower body. If it is really cold, I supplement that with a second medium weight polyester layer. Note that your base layer is NOT designed to keep you warm when stopped, only to keep you comfortable while hiking. When you stop, make camp or lunch, you may have to immediatly employ an extra layer. In Summertime, early Fall, and late Spring my lower body base layer is Zip to Shorts nylon pants. more



					Your Insulation Layer Your insulation layers sits between your base layer and your shell. Your insulation layer must reflect the degree of insulation you will require while sitting in camp at night during the worst conditions the Sierras throw at you. In Summer time, my lower body insulation layers consist of one additional layer above my zip to shorts pants: Medium weight fleece pants. more



					Your Shell Layer Your shell is your external wind and water proof layer. During Summer an ultralight approach is sufficient for both upper and lowers, but a medium weight coat and pants may be substituted. During Winter I highly recommend heavy-weight uppers and lowers. Serious high winds at low temps cut right through light and medium shells. Never rely on light weight gear in mid-Winter in the High Sierras. There is a point in each snowy Spring when the temps rise, and the Winter shell can be replaced with the lightweight gear. The same is true with the onset of Fall. A light shell can be run deep into Fall, until that point in time when the temps drop, and heavy Winter gear becomes mandatory. If you are unsure about seasonal change in the Sierras, always bring the heavier Winter Gear.

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Considerations

There are many manufacturers, styles, and minor variations of each piece of gear depicted in this trail guide. What works best for you depends on you. Backpackers come equipped with different tolerances for cold. Picking the right insulation layers for the season means you must properly access not only the range of weather that you may encounter, but also your own degree of cold tolerance.

Many badass women backpackers have a real sensitivity to cold. If you are sensitive to cold, then don't hesitate to bring the insulation you need to stay warm. For cold-sensitive women a down coat during the Summer can make the difference between a fun trip and a freezing bummer.

The most important issue is not the brand you buy, but having gear that works for your needs. The goal is to have the perfect layers to easily keep warm during the rapid changes in temperature during each day, as well as being prepared for the radical changes in the High Sierra weather you may encounter during your stay in the mountains.

The next consideration is workmanship and wear. Check the workmanship of any insulation you buy. Make sure the materials, stitching, and design are adequate for your use. Always inspect your regular gear for damage before you head off into the mountains for a backpacking trip. It sucks to have something go wrong that you could have easily fixed before the trip.

The third consideration is ease of use. Can you get your lower shell on over your boots when it begins to rain or snow? If not, you will be cursing as you struggle to get your lowers on as rain is pouring down. Will your tarp keep you sheltered if 50 mph winds blow rain sideways? If not, you will be cursing as you get drenched.

Finally, will all of your layers keep you warm at night while stationary in camp?

Levi's, cotton shirts, cotton pants, and cotton thermals are not proper backpacking gear for the High Sierras.

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Zip to Shorts Nylon Pants. Summer Base Layer

Can't say enough good things about this style of pants. Light, with decent insulating qualities, great pockets, and best of all the legs zip off to make shorts.

As it is not unusual to experience hot periods during mid-Summer in the High Sierras, shorts are mandatory during mid Summer in the Sierras. These pants work well on chilly mornings, and zip-off to accommodate the rising temps of a sunny day.

I occasionally find cheap poly pants cut well for hiking. But then I have to bring, and change into and out of shorts.

Summer Base Layer: Nylon Zip to Shorts Pants

I love my fleece pants. Lightweight, warm, and warm when wet. These babies come with me year-round, along with my fleece jacket. When I get into camp these are the first layer that goes on over the zip-to shorts pants as the evening chill sets in. As temps plunge, the next layer to go on is the Shell Layer.

That's my summer lower layering: Zip to Shorts pants, Fleece pants, and lightweight lower shell.

Summer Insulation Layer: Fleece Pants

Light-weight lower shell fo Summer, early Fall and late Spring

Marmot Precept rain pants. Very light, basic no-liner water and wind proof. Problem: the waterproof layer just up and peeled off after a couple of years. This happened on both the upper and lower shells.

The water-proof liner peeled right off along the line where the hood of jacket lays over the back of the jacket.

I don't mind wearing out gear, but these pieces were not durable enough to handle even hanging in the closet.

I was pretty cheesed when the jacket's insulation peeled off from the hood's fold line.

Summer, early Fall, late Spring: Lightweight Shell Lower

Light weight Poly lowers, the Winter Base Layer

Lightweight poly pants. These are my base insulation layer for late Spring, early Fall, and Winter. When the temps go down, these pants become my base layer.

They are too much of a hassle to put on under the Zip-to-Shorts pants, and they will not fit over them, so I do not bring this layer on Summer trips.

If I want another layer of Summer insulation, I bring the medium poly pants, below, because they go on over the Zip-to-Shorts pants, and below the fleece pants.

Base Layer, Winter: Lightweight Poly Lowers

Medium Poly Lowers: Winter, optional during early Fall, Late Spring, and even Summer

These babies only come out in Winter, or if temps look low in late Fall or early Spring.

If you run cold during Summer, these mid weight poly pants will do you a lot of good.

2nd Winter Layer, Optional in Fall and Spring: Medium Weight Poly Lowers

	I don't employ gaiters unless I am rain or snow camping. These are heavy Winter gaiters, required for any travel through deep snow or snow storms.
Gaiters

If you are venturing into the High Sierras in Winter time you are going to need a quality heavy Winter shell.

Like my North Face mountain jacket, I picked up these $229 pants for $99. at the North Face Outlet, as a return.

Their only shortcoming is that the lower leg zippers could rise higher up the leg. Always check that when you buy a lower shell. A longer zipper would make changing into and out of these pants easier.

Other than that they provide excellent mid-Winter protection during the worse weather.

Heavy Weight Shell: Winter

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Final Thoughts on lower backpacking insulation layers

Making the proper selections from the insulation elements above should allow you to put together a fine combination of layers to handle any circumstance the High Sierras can throw at you.

The key to success is to properly evaluate your personal insulation needs, the possible range of weather conditions of the season you are backpacking in, and intergrate that gear with the skills to properly access the conditions, and effectively utilize your shelter.

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The Trails

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Gear

High Sierra Backpacking Gear Guide

Lower Body Insulation

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Trail Skills

Food

Other

Al's Basic High Sierra Gear List: Lower Body Insulation

Type

Summer

Spring and Fall

Winter

Lower Body