Utah High Country Sleep System

[tylerb4613]

I have a hunt planned in August at 10-11k feet in Utah. I recently purchased a 30 degree quilt from Stone Glacier and have a Thermarest X- therm pad. Just looking for folks experience in the high country during August and what bags/pads they used. In addition, I’m using a Tarptent Notch Li for my shelter. I’d like to use a little lighter of a pad, but I don’t know if the quilt is already going to be too cold.

-TB

 

[thegrouse]

I was in the Uintas at the end of July above 10k and it was high 30s and raining. I was not camping though. Monsoons might bring rain and lower temps to the high country. Is your 30 degree quilt a comfort or survival?

 

[tylerb4613]

I was in the Uintas at the end of July above 10k and it was high 30s and raining. I was not camping though. Monsoons might bring rain and lower temps to the high country. Is your 30 degree quilt a comfort or survival?

high 30s at night? I’m not sure if the SG 32 rating is comfort or survival…

 

[ArrowForester]

That setup sounds marginal to me but there is a good chance you’ll be OK. Also a small chance you’ll be wishing for something warmer.
I have no experience with quilts so keep that in mind …. but I have spent 80+ nights between 9500’ and 11500’ in the Unitas over the past decade, most of them in August.
With an inflatable pad rated at r4.5 and a 20* down bag I am comfortable most nights but often am wearing silk base layers and a beanie, sometimes socks.
Less than ten of those nights had temps stay 40* or above with probably 50 or more nights getting to freezing or below. The coldest I recall was 22* at 10500’.
There can be some high winds and heavy t-storms there in August even into the night. And have been in one snow on August 23 where there was 4” at 9500’ when the sun came up, not sure how much more accumulation was up high.
The weather is variable just like any high country, and the days can be quite warm in August even up high, but the night/early morning temps seem to be mid-30s pretty regular.
Sorry for the long reply. Just wanted to offer some experience with actual conditions so you could judge your gear relative to how you sleep.

 

[mtnbound]

I have a hunt planned in August at 10-11k feet in Utah. I recently purchased a 30 degree quilt from Stone Glacier and have a Thermarest X- therm pad. Just looking for folks experience in the high country during August and what bags/pads they used. In addition, I’m using a Tarptent Notch Li for my shelter. I’d like to use a little lighter of a pad, but I don’t know if the quilt is already going to be too cold.

-TB

Quilts need a good pad; dropping the R-value of your pad is a good way to compromise your sleep system. I would look to cut weight somewhere else.

 

[tylerb4613]

That setup sounds marginal to me but there is a good chance you’ll be OK. Also a small chance you’ll be wishing for something warmer.
I have no experience with quilts so keep that in mind …. but I have spent 80+ nights between 9500’ and 11500’ in the Unitas over the past decade, most of them in August.
With an inflatable pad rated at r4.5 and a 20* down bag I am comfortable most nights but often am wearing silk base layers and a beanie, sometimes socks.
Less than ten of those nights had temps stay 40* or above with probably 50 or more nights getting to freezing or below. The coldest I recall was 22* at 10500’.
There can be some high winds and heavy t-storms there in August even into the night. And have been in one snow on August 23 where there was 4” at 9500’ when the sun came up, not sure how much more accumulation was up high.
The weather is variable just like any high country, and the days can be quite warm in August even up high, but the night/early morning temps seem to be mid-30s pretty regular.
Sorry for the long reply. Just wanted to offer some experience with actual conditions so you could judge your gear relative to how you sleep.

Thanks! I’ll probably keep a warmer bag in the truck just in case!

 

[thegrouse]

high 30s at night? I’m not sure if the SG 32 rating is comfort or survival…

It was about 2pm and high 30s with rain. I am not sure what the nighttime temps were, I think it was the storm that dropped the temp