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Hello everyone,

This week we published another Atom Packs first looks review - this one by Dan, taking a look at the little "Atom" pack. The Atom is sized for people with very compact and light kits, and fastpackers. Here's the review. Dan is working on an extended performance review of The Atom as well, which will be published later in the fall.

In a few weeks, I'm headed to Montana for the final trek of our Wilderness Adventures season to guide our newest program, the "Whitetail" trek. We'll be attempting an off-trail traverse of the Absoraka-Beartooth Wilderness during this 8-day program.

Over the past few years, I've learned a lot about guiding in September and October in Montana, and the reality is this: it can be extremely unpredictable, and somewhat hostile.

On one September trip, our crew found themselves "stuck" on the Hellroaring Plateau, pinned by 75+ mph winds. And when I say "stuck" - I do mean "stuck." The crew spent the entire night huddled behind a large boulder, unable to pitch shelters or continue walking in the wind.

And on the past two fall treks that I've guided in '16 and '17, we experienced wintry blizzards that had us hiking in snow more than a foot deep in whiteout conditions.

So I thought it would be valuable to provide some insight into how I prepare for a fall, fringe-season trip in a place where weather can get pretty serious pretty fast.

Shelter

I prefer floorless pyramids in these conditions, and the smaller, the better (lower wind profile). My shelter of choice is the little Locus Gear Khufu DCF-B, which weighs 10 ounces.

Here's the Khufu on our September trek last year. Lots of guy lines for snow and wind loading.

 

Tips:

• In violent storms, contrary to popular belief, you *must* get below treeline if you are carrying an ultralight shelter. Be wary of any manufacturers' claims that their tent is suitable for "4-season" use if they also claim that it's "ultralight."
• More guylines (this 1.2mm Dyneema line is strong and light, so there's no excuse not to bring a lot) and longer (8") tent stakes are critical for keeping your shelter stable(ish) in high winds, so don't skimp.

Sleep System

When temperatures get into the teens (and especially, into the single digits), I start moving away from quilts and towards traditional mummy bags. I keep my sleep system bomber, and simple: an REI Magma 10 and the NeoAir XTherm, atop a Gossamer Gear Polycro Ground Cloth.

Here I am huddled last September in my Magma, as the temperatures dipped to the mid-teens during a snowy September blizzard:



Here's the rationale for my sleep system choices:

• The Magma 10 has the best warmth:weight ratio of any 10-ish degree F mummy I've used, except for some of the custom bags from Feathered Friends, which are $200 more ($300 more right now, since the Magma is on sale until 9/3).
• The XTherm is lighter than any other pad available that is capable of providing an R-value greater than 5.5, which is sufficient for sleeping directly on snow without having to put a foam pad underneath it. Plus, it's very comfortable!
• The Polycro ground cloth from Gossamer Gear is a no-brainer. It's tougher and lighter than mylar space-type blankets. Mine has been going strong for three years now, and I patch the little tiny pinholes that form from pine needles and such using ultralight tapes, like Tyvek Tape.

Clothing System

I separate my clothes into trekking, storm, and camp clothing.

 

Trekking clothes are worn. Storm clothes are kept in a stuff sack at the top of my pack. Camp clothes get stowed with my sleeping gear at the bottom of my pack. Here are some other guidelines for how I decide which piece of clothing goes into which category:

• Trekking clothes include only those clothes I wear in the very warmest temperatures and include (this is what I plan to take to Montana in a few weeks):
  • Footwear: shoes for aggressive off-trail travel, warm and cushy socks, and calf-high gaiters durable enough for rock and bush.
  • Legs: I cut my teeth 30 years ago in the bush of the Washington Olympics and Cascades, so I'm a little partial to the PNW climber's uniform of high gaiters, ultralight long underwear, and hiking shorts. The best shorts in the world are made of stretch Supplex Nylon and have enormously deep pockets, and no silly undie-liner and they're made by our own local Beartooths outfitter. Give 'em a call and ask for a pair of "AP" shorts.
  • Torso: Once the bugs die out, it's hard to beat the comfort and utility of a light merino wool hoody like this one, which actually has some style to it as well.
• Storm clothes include any extra clothing that I'm going to use on the trail, from mildly inclement to severely foul conditions. In high winds, above the treeline, with rain/snow and colder (near or subfreezing temperatures), I keep these items in a stuff sack right at the top of my backpack for easy access:
  • A very breathable wind shirt (full zip, hooded).
  • A durable ultralight rain jacket and pants that can be pulled on over shoes.
  • Light fleece gloves that dry very fast and waterproof, seam-sealed, breathable mitten shells.
  • A merino head wrap that can be combined with the hood on the wool hoody to create a cozy and warm head environment, balaclava-style if needed.
  • And a vest layer (as light as possible) that can be worn when (a) it gets frigid and nasty, and (b) when you absolutely have to keep going in this type of storm. This is for insurance.
• Camp clothes are precisely that - the "extra" layers you are bringing to (a) stay warm in camp and inside your shelter/sleeping bag; or (b) are replacements for wet items that can be swapped out. Here's what I take:
  • An extra pair of trekking socks.
  • Waterproof booties and a wool liner sock. When I arrive in camp, I get out of my wet socks, put on the dry liner socks, then the waterproof bootie, and put my feet back into my (usually) wet shoes. This is about the only system I've found that can keep feet warm and dry as the evening temperatures drop and activity stops. Cold feet suck. Liner socks are light enough that sometimes it may even be worth it to pack a 2nd pair, for when you get into your sleeping bag, because your camp pair will be a little damp by the time you get to bed from the accumulation of sweat that will result from being inside the waterproof sock.
  • And of course, my synthetic puffy, which when combined with my wool hoody and insurance vest, keep me warm enough on cold, wet nights when worn under my rain jacket. Read the puffy review here.

Here we all are last year at the bottom of The Big Climb, before the peak of The Storm:



Hopefully, these notes give you some ideas about how to manage inclement conditions in the mountains during the fall, when winds pick up, temperatures drop, and winter is knocking.

If you want to see the full gear list of what I'm planning to take into the Beartooths on the Whitetail Trek this year, see this PDF. I haven't made any final decisions yet, and there are some notes and commentary there to give you a little insight into what's going on in my head as I make final gear decisions during the next two weeks.

Hope you found some value in these notes, and happy trails as you embark on your fall adventures!

Ryan J
owner/publisher

PS: Sierra says, "Cheers to talus!" - Summit of Medicine Bow Peak (12,013')

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