First backcountry hunt - looking for pointers to keep warm (Bighorns, WY)

[spry.car2153]

I'm going out for my first backcountry hunt (and first elk hunt) in the last week of November for cow elk in the Bighorns. I'll be with one other person and we'll be using my Seek Outside Tipi and stove at camp. I have a few questions regarding sleep system and clothing that I'd like help sussing.

My sleep system, as it stands now, is a Wiggy's Super Light sleeping bag, a Big Agnes Rapide SL pad and an Argali Elite Dream Backpacking Pillow. Should I bring anything more for R value? I plan on sleeping in my puffy jacket (FF Eos) and anything I have that's wet, including my boots if necessary.

Outside of camp I'm wondering whether I should just pull the trigger on puffy pants or not? As my hunting journey continues I suspect I'll want to get them eventually, but not sure how much time I'll spend sitting and glassing for a herd of cow elk vs just hiking.

Any help/guidance is appreciated.

 

[EdP]

Don't skimp on your pad. I'm not saying you are but your pad is crucial to warm sleep. I don't think sleeping in your puffy is a good idea vs using an adequate bag. Like your puffy, your bag should be sized to fit your body. Add the puffy inside the bag and the down in your puffy may just get compressed and not help like you think. If your bag is marginal sleeping in a heavy baselayer is a better option. Don't expect the stove to keep the tipi warm overnight. It won't hold a fire long at all.

 

[JLH208]

Eating something like a snickers right before bed seems to help a fair bit. As well as sleeping with a beanie on. But pad and bag are the most crucial. I run an x therm and WM versalite and never have slept uncomfortably cold


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[rogerdoger]

Get some down bootie’s, weighs nothing. If it is really old I put hot water in a Nalgene and throw in my sleeping bag.

 

[jolemons]

I'm sure you'll get some useful advice and learn a lot. Make sure the area you plan to hunt is accessible and have a backup plan if not. I'm sure you have a solid plan, but if you've not been to those mountains in winter, the situation may be misleading. Good luck

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[steveokanevo]

I second the back up plan. Nothing works out the way you think it will.

I usually pack for the temp and then realize I could've used a little bit more. Comfort plays a huge role in staying power for me. The more comfortable I am the easier it is for me to endure "the suck." Also, brushing my teeth seems to help.

 

[Skerhunter]

Are you truck camping or packing in?

In November I use a high R value pad and at least a 15 degree bag if not 0 (thermorest with maybe a foam pad under it).

I would plan on needing puffy pants for long glassing sessions along with mittens, neck gaitor, extra warm dry hat. Gaiters also help keep your legs/feet warm!

Buy a box of hand warmers/body warmers. These are the easiest way to cheat having inadequate gear on extra cold days!

Take your stove with you if it will be cold all day, so you can heat up some water or food!

 

[Beendare]

One of the keys to staying warm is staying dry.
Put your rain gear on before you are soaked.
Layer up. Gaiters and good waterproof boots are a must.

I would add a waffle pad [cheap/light] under your [crummy] BA pad and inflate it for a few days before the hunt to make sure it doesn't leak. [those have a fairly high % failure rate] I would add thinned silicone striping to it at that time [to keep from sliding off]

Down zip over pants are money when you are sitting at a vantage or ambush point and they weight nothing.

Besides that; Use hunt pressure to your advantage, Find a spot where the throngs of hunters will push them to you

 

[spry.car2153]

Thanks for all of the recs. What's so crummy about the BA pad? Better alternative?

 

[DrBeetleKill]

I’d pull the trigger on puffy pants. They’re lightweight and worth it even if just sitting for a bit or trying to warm up at camp. The BlackOvis pants have worked well for me, but seems like they’re out of business now. I would size up at least 1x and possibly 2x.

I had an old klymit pad with around 4r value and always slept cold. I bough the xtherm for this year and now find my self sleeping hot until early in the morning. You might consider a foam pad if you want to keep the BA pad.

I would rather wear a heavier set of thermals and a beanie than puffy gear to sleep in.

 

[spry.car2153]

Slept on the BA down to 25 or so with my Wiggy's bag this weekend. Wife's old pad bit the dust on the trip, so blessing in disguise have the ability to replace her pad without any eyes being raised. Getting the XTherm Max.

I've also decided to pull the trigger on a more packable bag (and take my first foray into quilts) - don't do enough really cold weather stuff to make an investment in a truly balls cold bag, but I think the Alsek 22 paired with the XTherm Max and me wearing layers should hopefully be fine for whatever gets thrown at me.

This trip I did this weekend has made me second guess using the Tipi (It is just two of us doing this hunt after all, and the tipi is 8 person). I really like the Hilleberg Nallo 4 GT I took out this weekend with the fam and think I might just take that. My smaller tent option wouldn't be up to the task for Wyoming in November.

 

[DrBeetleKill]

I explored several quilt options this year. There are several posts about quilt layering that really makes them a very versatile option into cold weather. I love my xtherm max.

 

[Sizzler]

Pad, hat, and layers work well for me. I sleep cold and would rather have to unzip than be cold. I've also taken a nalgene with boiling water and put in the bottom of my bag.

 

[BustedRagHorn]

I would be very careful sleeping with or next to things that are wet. Your core body temp is the priority not drying out gear. Since you have the wood stove just use that to dry things out. It doesn't matter how breathable or synthetic your sleeping equipment is don't sleep with wet clothing on. I have had plenty of times where I wake up and my boots, jacket, gloves, etc. is soaked and it sucks to put that on in the morning but it is way better than sleeping with it on. Keep in mind that when you wake up you will be moving that will dry out your gear too. If you are worried about rain 24/7 and no sun then rely on the wood stove and good quality rain gear over sleeping with things to dry them out. Now if you have a good quality base layer or socks that get damp from sweat that is very different but I would still run the wood stove to dry that out before I went to sleep.

 

[Mtndawger]

Have enough high fat, high protein food. Fuel your engine and it will put out more heat. Have some carbohydrate snacks next to your sleeping bag for middle of the night energy boost.

 

[LongWayAround]

Puffy pants, cot, closed cell foam pad under your air pad.

Nalgene bottle of hot water in your bag at night or a hand warmer if you're getting cold.

There's tons of suggestions on here in old threads if you feed the right words to the search function.

 

[LongWayAround]

I would be very careful sleeping with or next to things that are wet. Your core body temp is the priority not drying out gear. Since you have the wood stove just use that to dry things out. It doesn't matter how breathable or synthetic your sleeping equipment is don't sleep with wet clothing on. I have had plenty of times where I wake up and my boots, jacket, gloves, etc. is soaked and it sucks to put that on in the morning but it is way better than sleeping with it on. Keep in mind that when you wake up you will be moving that will dry out your gear too. If you are worried about rain 24/7 and no sun then rely on the wood stove and good quality rain gear over sleeping with things to dry them out. Now if you have a good quality base layer or socks that get damp from sweat that is very different but I would still run the wood stove to dry that out before I went to sleep.

I'm not sure where you come up with that.

Wet clothes will dry in a good sleeping bag. Putting on wet clothes in the morning is an objectively bad idea.