Winter overnighter with Joe

HikingMano said:
Great stuff Ken!

You probably were not able to tell on this trip, but in general, do you feel warmer when using the heavy duty space blanket as a ground sheet?
Click to expand...

Its really hard to say whether the reflective coating makes any real difference in this situation or not. I take it on faith that it does, albeit my bag is black and presumably absorbs most of the IR my body radiates, so between that and the pad, I'm not sure how much IR actually makes it to the blanket to be reflected back.

The tarp as a ground sheet offers many other possible alternative functions on a trip like this. The groundsheet function is very important with the tarp. It gives me an area that is clean of snowdrift and allows me to organize my stuff and not get them full of snow. Placed over natural insulation materials, the tarp provides added protection to prevent my pad from getting punctured or getting full of resin if on spruce boughs.

Outside of the groundcloth function, the tarp can be used to help secure pack contents on my sled. It could be used as a makeshift poncho or windbreak when the wool isn't fully cutting high winds and of course for its intended emergency blanket function. So I see the heavy tarp with reflective coating as a really versatile piece of kit that is especially useful in winter and cold weather camping. They cost about $13, so there really isn't much to not like about them other than they are much bigger in bulk and volume than a mylar/heat sheet one.
 
I thought that might be the case, just figured I'd ask. I've typically used my heavy duty space blanket/tarp as a ground sheet on wet ground or as an expedient over/around the body windbreak. But I've never actually put the reflective function to the test. I just picked up an 8x10 silnylon tarp with the intention of using the silnylon overhead and the reflective tarp between or on top of layers of natural insulation under me (in case of an unexpected night out on a long dayhike). Haven't actually tried it yet though.

I normally strap the tarp to the bottom of my pack when not in use, so the tarp does another job for me in that it protects the bottom of my pack from sharp rocks and the like.

Thanks for the thoughtful response :thumbup:
 
kgd said:
Hi, no I do not have the wiggy's pad, just the bag. However, you are correct that a lighter self-inflatable pad will not fully protect you in the snow. I use an REI 1.75" pad (rather thick) and have found through experience that it is not insulative enough when used on snow and ice. So I supplement it with a foam pad underneath the inflatable. For this I use a thermarest ridgecrest foam piece and the two in combination work great and are comfortable (but bulky).

Other times, I have used a thermarest ultra-light, but used the pad on top of natural insulative materials like tall grass reeds. You can do the same with spruce/pine boughs or making a raised bed to get you off the snow with logs or sticks and placing the pad on top of that. Just make sure you aren't using water sogged frozen wood. Doing the natural material supplementation kind of requires you pre-scout a place and know what might be available, how readily it can be harvested and whether it is ethically or appropriate to do so in that area. Afterall, you wouldn't one of the LNT-moralists chasing you around on youtube and other sites :D :D

Mark - I'll keep you in mind next time, this one was sort of an impromptu decision....

Bryan, Marcelo - thanks for your comments!
Click to expand...

Thanks, I am curious about the wiggys pad for snow and ice...how well it works, I will post a question thread.
 
Hey Guys

Ken...

""My sled was a plastic, two child kiddie sled, modified by drilling holes and snaking paracord through it to create a bunch of tie downs. I put most of my gear in a big SEAL-ALL canoe bag tied to the sled. The low profile and thinness of this sled made it great for stability (not the least bit tippy) and it tracked our footprint trail really well.
""


Come on now you stole that idea from the Bush Pirate didn't ya.. :) LOL

Sounds like you guys had a Blast..

Who is this Ranger Joe Character ?? :)
someone local to us ??

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Hey guys

Ken/HikingMano

""Its really hard to say whether the reflective coating makes any real difference in this situation or not.""

In my experience the reflective properties are useless in this respect anyway...

With a secondary heat source such as the sun or a fire,, I could see a measurable difference,,however from just body heat on cold ground, you'd loose more heat to Transfer than would be gained..

The sheet acts more to prevent wetness and as a protective measure for the bag...

A better thing yet is a Gortex bag, even a Cheapo one( $60-75).. Pulls double duty to protect the bag and prevents massive heat loss...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Thanks for posting the video.

That KSF Scagel sure is a nice looking knife:thumbup:
 
Normark said:
Hey Guys

Ken...

""My sled was a plastic, two child kiddie sled, modified by drilling holes and snaking paracord through it to create a bunch of tie downs. I put most of my gear in a big SEAL-ALL canoe bag tied to the sled. The low profile and thinness of this sled made it great for stability (not the least bit tippy) and it tracked our footprint trail really well.
""


Come on now you stole that idea from the Bush Pirate didn't ya.. :) LOL

Sounds like you guys had a Blast..

Who is this Ranger Joe Character ?? :)
someone local to us ??

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
Click to expand...

Yeah, I will admit to getting lured by your set up. Couldn't find a pirate hat though. RangerJoe lives on the west-side of Windsor. Rick has met him a few times but I don't think you crossed paths with him yet.


Normark said:
Hey guys

Ken/HikingMano

""Its really hard to say whether the reflective coating makes any real difference in this situation or not.""

In my experience the reflective properties are useless in this respect anyway...

With a secondary heat source such as the sun or a fire,, I could see a measurable difference,,however from just body heat on cold ground, you'd loose more heat to Transfer than would be gained..

The sheet acts more to prevent wetness and as a protective measure for the bag...

A better thing yet is a Gortex bag, even a Cheapo one( $60-75).. Pulls double duty to protect the bag and prevents massive heat loss...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
Click to expand...

I pretty much agree Eric.
 
Hey Ken...

LMAO..

Yaaa in the winter,, that's the way to go for Sure.....Especially with the strap...
I've pulled shyte on sleds for a long time....

I'm looking to getting a Gear sled (Bigger, Thicker plastic) used for ice fishing so I can haul even More Shyte with me.... LOL Crappy tire had them awhile ago for $40, but should be clearanced out by now..

Bass Pro should have them...
Dollorama for the Pirate Hat.. Pirate was our Theme for our End of course canoe Trip

""RangerJoe lives on the west-side of Windsor. Rick has met him a few times but I don't think you crossed paths with him yet.""

As for Joe.. He should consider himself Lucky then.. :) LOL

Thanks Ken !!

Things are looking up..Just got back from out in the woods ,,poking around...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Hey Ken..

""I pretty much agree Eric.""

That Gortex bag I use isn't the prettiest ,,but for $55-65 you can't beat it..
Best money I spent in a long time...

BTW..
One of my winter bags blew out of the back of the truck a month or so ago and lost it... I'm still PO at myself for that...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
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