Backpacking for photographers
My approach to getting there
Tarns near the High Divide • Olympic National Park
Part Two: Shelter
This is where I skimp. Even the smallest tents weigh about five pounds and take up too much room. I have found that I don't mind sleeping in a Gore-Tex bivy bag when hiking alone. This is basically a waterproof sleeping bag cover that has a dome over your head. The North Face makes one that weighs two pounds and takes up about as much room as loaf of bread.
This is not exactly a night at the Ritz. I feel a bit like a sardine and it's difficult to set up in the rain. There is also not much room for gear inside so you will need a pack cover to keep your things dry in foul weather. A cheap poncho makes a fine pack cover, although if you are fashion conscious you might prefer a pack cover designed to match your pack. One reason I like a poncho is that with some creativity and some rope you can string it up like a tarp and make a shelter effective enough to keep you dry while you get in and out of the bivy. I have slept in a bivy in conditions ranging from summer downpours in the south to frigid winters in Voyageurs National Park and have never been unhappy with it. The Gore-Tex breathes well so, except in heavy rain, it rarely feels clammy. It is completely waterproof. In good weather it is downright fun. I watch the stars as I fall asleep and I'm not separated from the environment like I am in a tent. It is an incredible feeling to wake with the weight of several inches of snow from an overnight storm pressing down on your body. Inside the bivy I have a therm-a-rest pad and a down sleeping bag. The therm-a-rest may seem like an indulgent luxury; I consider it essential. I can't imagine sleeping without it on rocky ground and in cold weather it adds a needed layer of insulation between the ground and me. Most packs have straps on the outside for sleeping pads so it doesn't need to take up any precious space inside. Which sleeping bag I use depends on the weather .The Marmot Sawtooth 20 degree bag serves my needs for most of the year and it's 2lbs., 14oz. is manageable. For winter use I carry a Marmot Col -20 bag. This is a huge bag but it packs to an amazingly small size and weighs only 4 pounds. Marmot's temperature ratings are very conservative. I have used the Col in Yellowstone and Voyageurs National Parks in January and have never been uncomfortable. In fact, I look forward to my first night out on winter trips because I know I will be sleeping in luxury. For my purposes down is the only way to go because a down bag is more compact and lighter than a comparable synthetic bag. But be careful if you are in a wet environment; a wet down bag is useless.
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