Winter Sleeping bag for So. Cal

[mtbphoto]

I am looking to do some snow camping this winter in southern California: Mt baldy, Gogornio, San Jacinto. What temp rating would you recommend?

[halhiker]

I have a 0 degree bag and it's always been OK for me. I also have a bigger bag I used in Alaska and the Yukon but have never needed it here. I always sleep in a tent and with a good pad.

I'm a warm sleeper, though, and you have to consider your own body when getting a bag.

[Hikin_Jim]

Normally, my 0 degree is actually too warm, but it's good to have for when it's really chilly out. I think you'd be fine with a 0.

There are lot's of tricks if it gets super cold to "stretch" your 0 degree bag (pardon me if you already know these):
Use two sleeping pads, one on top of the other.
Wear double long johns, socks, a hat, and gloves to bed.
Put a hot water bottle (Nalgene with water as hot as you can stand it), some say by the groin (good luck sleeping), others say by the feet.
Get a sleeping bag liner.
Keep (and eat) high protein snacks in the bag with you.

I'm sure you can think of other "stay warm" ideas. All that to say: a 0 degree bag should do you fine for Southern California and probably much of Northern California too.

Just to be safe, always keep an eye on the weather. If it looks really nasty, grab that Yukon bag (or reschedule) .

[phydeux]

No recommendations on a bag, but this info might help you make a decision:

Over the many years I've been going up on San J in the mid-winter (too many to recall!), the temps in Round Valley typically get down to 15F-25F at night. Occasionally it'll dip into the single digits, with the coldest I've ever experienced being 5F (a clear, windless night). San G is pretty comparable in temps.

Those temps were measured with a pool thermometer hung on a tree branch at the side of the meadow. As to why pool thermometers are made to go that low . . . that's another story!

[Hikin_Jim]

Thanks for the hard data. I was going on gut feeling and memory. Sounds like a 0 degree bag would be more than adequate hereabouts. The times I've really needed my 0 degree bag have been in the Sierra.

Here's something I used when planning a snowshoe backpack last Winter from the Calif. Dept. of Water Resources: A temperature plot for Jan, Feb, and Mar from the Rock Creek Lakes area of the Eastern Sierra. http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/hist ... om=999x500

For 1Q 2007, the low was -22, but if you look, even in the dead of winter, the low was above 0 more nights than not and this is in the Eastern Sierra which is far colder than Southern California.

Shoot, with all this Global Warming, bring your Bermuda shorts.

[halhiker]

I agree with Jim to dress while sleeping, esp. if it's cold. In addition to bringing a hot bottle to bed make sure your pee bottle is close at hand.

Most nights, I agree are probably warmer than what a 0 degree bag is needed for but I've learned it's better to have too much bag than too little. You can always unzip it if it's warm. In my years of calling the Long Valley Ranger Station the lowest overnight temp. has been 9 degrees below zero. It was a day or two after a really cold winter storm. Since those are the best days to be up there being warm for the LONG nights will be one of the main things that makes or breaks your trip.

[KathyW]

You probably don't need a separate winter sleeping bag in Southern California unless your summer bag is rated for 30+ degrees - just wear more layers. There is more to picking a bag than the temperature rating. There is fit, type of cover, filling.....etc.

I'm a big fan of Feathered Friends bags myself.

[Hikin_Jim]

I picked up a Mtn. Hardwear Phantom 15 Regular (+15 rating) down bag on sale last year. I'm pretty happy with it. It comes in at just a tad less than 2 lbs. The only thing I don't like about it is that it does NOT have a full length zipper, so on hotter days, it can be a bit warm, but I just use it as a comforter and sleep directly on top of my thermarest if it's warm. I use my Phantom 15 any time it's going to get in the mid 40's or lower, down to about 15 to 20. I kind of like having a few degress of slack, so if it gets much below 20, I start thinking about my 0 bag.

My 0 bag is a North Face Snowshoe Long. I'm a six footer, so I'm kind of on the border for a regular vs. long. For the winter, I picked up the long so I can have my boots in a plastic bag inside (so they don't freeze) as well as gloves (so they dry out), hot water bottle etc. I wanted a little room for winter whereas for 3 season use I typically just need me in the bag.

There's my strategy, for what it's worth.

[mtbphoto]

Thanks for all the info, You guys were very helpful. I think I am going to hold off on getting winter gear right now. I figure I can rent the winter stuff at A16 or REI, and if I really like it, I will invest.
Thanks!

[phydeux]

Since some of the above posts have raised the issue of using clothes to help increse a bag's warmth, here's another bit of advice: Be VERY CAUTIOUS about buying "ultralight" bags. They tend to be cut narrower than a normal size bag. Unless you're body is shaoed like a beanpole, these bags can easily loose their insulation value when you get in and compress the down, and wearing clothes won't do you a bit of good in a tight bag. Dig through mftrs websites and you should be able to find specs for a bags internal diameter sizing. Some vary the dimensions quite a bit between their 'normal' and 'ultralight' sizes.

Best advice is to try getting into any bag you're thinking of buying and make sure it has enough room in it. And if available at the same shop, also try getting into an "ultralight" bag to see how its fit compared to a "normal" bag.