Winter clothing for San Jacinto

[Catalyst81]

Right now I'm preparing for a Mt. Shasta trip in late June. It will be my first trip hiking in the snow. It got me thinking that I would like to attempt some closer peaks in the snow during the winter after this trip such as San Jacinto, Gorgornio, Baldy, etc. I need some help figuring out clothing. I'm trying to buy clothing so that I can use it on Shasta and then later when hiking/camping SoCal during the winter and I could use some advice. Assume that I will be hiking and camping on San Jacinto in winter conditions.

What I have:

Top
Pat Cap 3 half zip base layer
REI Muir woods (200 weight) fleece jacket
Montbell UL Down Inner Parka
Gortex rain shell

Bottom
Pat Cap 2&3 base layer
edit - convertible pants
Mid weight fleece pants
Marmot Precip rain shell

Hands/Face
Mountain Hardwear Power Stretch Balaclava
REI Windstopper gloves

As far as I can tell it seems like I'm set on clothing for when I'm moving. From what I see, I could use some heavy gortex gloves in case of heavy weather and perhaps some sort of parka/heavy down jacket for colder temperatures when sitting at camp or during a storm. For that I was considering either the down FUBU jacket or perhaps the Eddie Bauer peak xv down jacket. Am I missing anything? Is there anything else I need to consider? Any comments/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[phydeux]

Temps on San Jacinto and San Gorgonio don't usually get below the 20F range, and daytimes are in the 50Fs (it can feel even warmer on a sunny winter day), so you might be a little warm with what you've got. In fact, on a clear mid-winter weekend, the snow is the only way you can tell its winter. Don't worry too much about storms unless you're planning to go up into them - if you live close by you can easily delay a trip.

Try ditching the Montbell down jacket and just take one down jacket for sitting around. Something like a TNF Nuptse would be fine.

Better hats - I like to take a beefy wool cap for sitting around (warmer than a synthetic balaclava) and use some type of ventialted sun hat for daytime (baseball cap, straw hat, whatever you like).

Gloves - something plush and warm with fingers is OK around camp. I like traveling with a thin pair of workgloves, the kind you can get at a bigbox hardware store for $10, synthetic leather palms and an open weave back to keep you cool. They work great for handling things.

Take a pair of light gaiters - they don't have to be expensive, just enough to keep snow and crap out of your boots/shoes.

Snowshoes are also recommended - the snow gets soft during the day. Skis might work better on San G, but be sure you can backconutry ski in highly variable conditions.

As for Mt Shasta - it gets pretty warm up there by late June. Other than having appropriate snow/ice travel gear, anything you use on San Jacinto for the winter should be more than adequate. Also be aware they have a big festival in the town of Mt. Shasta around July 4, so be prepared for crowds both in town and on the mountain.

[neverwashasbeen]

I would add nylon shorts to wear over your bottom base layer, the fleece pants will be too warm for hiking most of the time.

For heavy weather, I prefer mittens, they're warmer than gloves.

You didn't mention feet, good socks and boots can make all the difference in the world during your cold weather adventures.

Happy Trails

[tinaballina]

not sure i saw socks in this thread, most important thing is to keep feet warm and cozy. my preference is three pairs of socks: two smart wool liners then wool thick socks and/or ski socks over that. i don't suggest three pair for everyone but you should wear a liner and a thick sock. do you have a helmet?

[Catalyst81]

Right now I'm using liners and thick smartwool socks with Vasque Breeze GTX boots. I don't know how the boots will hold up in the snow. I'll be renting a helmet, ice ax, and crampons for Shasta.

Edit: I'm not using the Vasques on Shasta, I was referring to using them in the snow on San J.

[Bigwookie009]

Right now I'm using liners and thick smartwool socks with Vasque Breeze GTX boots. I don't know how the boots will hold up in the snow. I'll be renting a helmet, ice ax, and crampons for Shasta.

I am not really one to give advice from my small amount of experience but I thought I have heard from a few different people that renting a ice ax and crampons is normally a bad idea.
The trip sounds like it is going to be amazing though! I hope you have a great time!

[Catalyst81]

Right now I'm using liners and thick smartwool socks with Vasque Breeze GTX boots. I don't know how the boots will hold up in the snow. I'll be renting a helmet, ice ax, and crampons for Shasta.

I am not really one to give advice from my small amount of experience but I thought I have heard from a few different people that renting a ice ax and crampons is normally a bad idea.
The trip sounds like it is going to be amazing though! I hope you have a great time!

That's interesting. Why did those people say it was a bad idea to rent?

[Bigwookie009]

Right now I'm using liners and thick smartwool socks with Vasque Breeze GTX boots. I don't know how the boots will hold up in the snow. I'll be renting a helmet, ice ax, and crampons for Shasta.

I am not really one to give advice from my small amount of experience but I thought I have heard from a few different people that renting a ice ax and crampons is normally a bad idea.
The trip sounds like it is going to be amazing though! I hope you have a great time!

That's interesting. Why did those people say it was a bad idea to rent?

I had heard that you can not trust the quality of it and its something that your putting your lives hands in. Actually its more towards ice ax then the crampons because you don't know how much stress the ax has had on it you don't want to slip need to arrest your self and have your ax end up breaking somehow. A new ice ax only cost about 80 bucks for a decent one, I was just looking at REI I think if you want to do more winter mountaineering it will end up being worth your money to buy new. Like I said before though I am not 100 percent on renting but I was told it is a bad idea to buy a used ice axe, I kind of consider renting the same thing as used for the most part.

Also I saw that you said you were looking at a Eddie Bauer down jacket, I have not used their down jacket but I use a lot of their First Ascent gear and I can not say enough good things about it! Some of their gear can be kind of spendy but I think its worth the money and they normally have lots of good sales. I have their Guide jacket which is just supposed to be just water resistant and I have worn it through pouring rain, sleet, snow and hail all in the same day and I stayed bone dry and warm. Also I don't know what store you would go to but I go to the one at Fashion Valley and the guys there are very nice and the employees actually show me different deals so I end up leaving spending less then I was planning which is a nice change.
Sorry I kind of rant on a bit I normally have a hard time finding gear I like and just love the quality of Eddie Bauer!

[hikehigh]

Do a few trips locally with the gear you have and see what works and what doesn't before you go buy a bunch of stuff.

I'm set on clothing for when I'm moving

If you wear all that while you are hiking you will be sweating by the time you reach the ranger station. When I start a hike in the winter, I usually dress so that I am cold when standing around. That way when I start moving I don't get to hot and have to start peeling layers off right away.

[Schützenweber]

... or perhaps the Eddie Bauer peak xv down jacket. Am I missing anything? Is there anything else I need to consider? Any comments/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Shasta and the Cascades are a totally different game than our local mountains, Catalyst81.

You want to get some experience climbing in Mountaineering Boots with Crampons and an ice axe before you talk about Down Jackets.
Boots, Crampons and Axe are what keep you on the mountain.

Once you've done a couple of winter practice climbs you'll know what clothing you really need.
You don't want to be the noob on Shasta who jeopardizes your entire team for lack of fundamentals.
Know the self-arrest, self-belay and running-belay.

Down Jackets are usually packed away on top for a cold day or when you come to a stop and get cold.

Get out there and get your feet wet first, then you'll know what we're writing about!

Play it smart, play it safe. Be prepared and you'll enjoy your trip!


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