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

[Macintosh]

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.

Unclear if you are backpacking or staying near vehicle, as the bighorns outside the high country is heavily roaded. but seems like it could be realistically in the teens or lower a few nights, and a 22* quilt may not be warm enough. If you are car camping, a light (like 50* or 40*) synthetic blanket or quilt isnt too heavy or $$, and can be worn over your down quilt for a lot of extra warmth if needed. Plus, if you are wearing wet stuff in it, the moisture will condense more in the outer synthetic layer, not in the down, which helps maintain the down performance in damp wx. Its not as light/packable as a dedicated cold wx bag, but its still pretty good and a lot more versatile if most of your use is in moderate to warm wx.

 

[Squish]

Dedicated sleep clothes (military polypro works for me, and cheap), heavy socks, balaclava. Hit the sack dry. Warm up by doing a quick activity; jumping jacks, running in place. Feels silly, but works.
I also have on hand the ECWCS Gen III level 7, puffy jacket and pants. Great to have on when you're just sitting still. Carry with you on the hunt, put on when your sitting.

 

[mrbillbrown]

A warm pad (high R value) is essential to get the full rating out of your bag. Wear a beanie or balaclava to help keep you warm


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[mtnbound]

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.

Whether or not you go with a hot tent, I would get some puffy pants.

 

[spry.car2153]

Thanks for all the recs everybody. I splurged for the FF Helios pants.

 

[spry.car2153]

I didn't fill the tag. In fact, we didn't even see a single cow elk over the three days we had to hunt. I did get within 200 yards of so many mule deer I lost count, 16 bull elk, and 6 moose, though. It was one of the coolest things I've ever done. I was plenty warm with the equipment I had - the Alsek quilt worked great along with that high R value pad. I probably wouldn't have been so comfortable with one of the pads I already had. My big takeaways from this trip are:

1. I need to clip my toenails before a trip like this. I have a subungual hematoma on the right big toe I got in the first hour of the first day and am going to lose the toenail. I think it could've been avoided with just a few minutes of clipping beforehand. It made the whole rest of the trip a lot more painful.

2. My rifle + suppressor set-up is laughably non-ergonomic (24" barrel + TBAC Magnus-CB-RR). I've learned a lot about terminal ballistics since I originally bought this 300WM over a year ago and I think this trip was enough to push me toward a new set-up with less recoil. I never got to shoot it on this trip, but I definitely hit plenty of trees and almost took out my hunting partners eye once or twice.

3. I completely understand why people count ounces. I took way too much by way of unnecessary shit.

4. I really need help with getting my pack to fit correctly. I have the Goshawk 4800 2.0 from Seek Outside. I have the same problem with it that I've had with any pack I've had in the past with a hip belt (the Osprey one I use to carry my small child around in, and a shitty pack from REI I had a decade or so ago). No matter what I do I get excruciating pain in my hips/thighs when the belt is tight with a heavy pack. I have to constantly undo the belt to relieve the pain which then puts all of the pack weight on my shoulders. About 10 minutes later I have to cinch the belt back to relieve the pain in my shoulders. The cycle repeats itself. I know it's not the pack's fault, but I have no idea how to address this no matter how many "pack fitting" videos I watch.

Again, thanks everybody for all of your help and pointers.

 

[RWT]

I didn't fill the tag. In fact, we didn't even see a single cow elk over the three days we had to hunt. I did get within 200 yards of so many mule deer I lost count, 16 bull elk, and 6 moose, though. It was one of the coolest things I've ever done. I was plenty warm with the equipment I had - the Alsek quilt worked great along with that high R value pad. I probably wouldn't have been so comfortable with one of the pads I already had. My big takeaways from this trip are:

1. I need to clip my toenails before a trip like this. I have a subungual hematoma on the right big toe I got in the first hour of the first day and am going to lose the toenail. I think it could've been avoided with just a few minutes of clipping beforehand. It made the whole rest of the trip a lot more painful.

2. My rifle + suppressor set-up is laughably non-ergonomic (24" barrel + TBAC Magnus-CB-RR). I've learned a lot about terminal ballistics since I originally bought this 300WM over a year ago and I think this trip was enough to push me toward a new set-up with less recoil. I never got to shoot it on this trip, but I definitely hit plenty of trees and almost took out my hunting partners eye once or twice.

3. I completely understand why people count ounces. I took way too much by way of unnecessary shit.

4. I really need help with getting my pack to fit correctly. I have the Goshawk 4800 2.0 from Seek Outside. I have the same problem with it that I've had with any pack I've had in the past with a hip belt (the Osprey one I use to carry my small child around in, and a shitty pack from REI I had a decade or so ago). No matter what I do I get excruciating pain in my hips/thighs when the belt is tight with a heavy pack. I have to constantly undo the belt to relieve the pain which then puts all of the pack weight on my shoulders. About 10 minutes later I have to cinch the belt back to relieve the pain in my shoulders. The cycle repeats itself. I know it's not the pack's fault, but I have no idea how to address this no matter how many "pack fitting" videos I watch.

Again, thanks everybody for all of your help and pointers.

Does the pain radiate down a specific leg? I have a similar issue. I started getting in shape and used to carrying a pack 2 years ago to prepare for western hunts. Put 20lbs of corn in a small mystery ranch pack and could not make it one block with the belt tight due to the pain. MRI shows protruding disc L4/5 & L5/S1. I am still battling the issue. Had nerve endings burned off and that helped. Just had my 3 epidural on Monday.

I figure I am destined to be a 30lb day packer and I get ONE pack out with a belt on. Load it up and take 5 ranger candies to get back to the truck. Then it is a wood reserve from that point on.

What sleep system did you decide on.

 

[spry.car2153]

Does the pain radiate down a specific leg? I have a similar issue. I started getting in shape and used to carrying a pack 2 years ago to prepare for western hunts. Put 20lbs of corn in a small mystery ranch pack and could not make it one block with the belt tight due to the pain. MRI shows protruding disc L4/5 & L5/S1. I am still battling the issue. Had nerve endings burned off and that helped. Just had my 3 epidural on Monday.

I figure I am destined to be a 30lb day packer and I get ONE pack out with a belt on. Load it up and take 5 ranger candies to get back to the truck. Then it is a wood reserve from that point on.

What sleep system did you decide on.

No, it's both thighs. I ruck about 3 times per week with at least 25 kg without issue, but the GoRuck pack doesn't have a hip belt. I don't do it for nearly the same distance as I did on this hunt, or in as gruesome terrain, but honestly my thighs/hips started hurting within almost 10 minutes of starting so I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the positioning of the belt.

My sleep system was the Alsek 22 + NeoAir XTherm NXT MAX and the Crestor Hood when my head got a bit cold one night.

 

[mtnbound]

I didn't fill the tag. In fact, we didn't even see a single cow elk over the three days we had to hunt. I did get within 200 yards of so many mule deer I lost count, 16 bull elk, and 6 moose, though. It was one of the coolest things I've ever done. I was plenty warm with the equipment I had - the Alsek quilt worked great along with that high R value pad. I probably wouldn't have been so comfortable with one of the pads I already had. My big takeaways from this trip are:

1. I need to clip my toenails before a trip like this. I have a subungual hematoma on the right big toe I got in the first hour of the first day and am going to lose the toenail. I think it could've been avoided with just a few minutes of clipping beforehand. It made the whole rest of the trip a lot more painful.

2. My rifle + suppressor set-up is laughably non-ergonomic (24" barrel + TBAC Magnus-CB-RR). I've learned a lot about terminal ballistics since I originally bought this 300WM over a year ago and I think this trip was enough to push me toward a new set-up with less recoil. I never got to shoot it on this trip, but I definitely hit plenty of trees and almost took out my hunting partners eye once or twice.

3. I completely understand why people count ounces. I took way too much by way of unnecessary shit.

4. I really need help with getting my pack to fit correctly. I have the Goshawk 4800 2.0 from Seek Outside. I have the same problem with it that I've had with any pack I've had in the past with a hip belt (the Osprey one I use to carry my small child around in, and a shitty pack from REI I had a decade or so ago). No matter what I do I get excruciating pain in my hips/thighs when the belt is tight with a heavy pack. I have to constantly undo the belt to relieve the pain which then puts all of the pack weight on my shoulders. About 10 minutes later I have to cinch the belt back to relieve the pain in my shoulders. The cycle repeats itself. I know it's not the pack's fault, but I have no idea how to address this no matter how many "pack fitting" videos I watch.

Again, thanks everybody for all of your help and pointers.

#1. Don't do it just before you leave, trim them 3+/- days before, that way if you cut too deep and get a pissed off toe, it won't affect your hunt.

#2. That's not a rifle, it's a pole vault.

#4. This is what the pre-K4 EXO packs would do to me. The pack slides down and compresses the hip/quad region. Get a pack with a good hip belt and lumbar pad. This will keep the pack in place and reduce that pain.