temp/elev change rule of thumb?

I've seen it described as anywhere from 3.5 – 5 degress F per 1,000 feet… but temps also depend on weather, and to a degree terrain. On a night hike to Half Dome, I experienced low 30F temps going through the river valley and a dramatic upswing in temp on the way UP to Half Dome, just by heading away from the damp, lower Little Yosemite Valley. Also, on a different trip in the same location, Yosemite Valley proper was having night temps of about 50F and Little Yosemite only a couple thousand feet higher was at 33F the second night we were there… much to the dismay of someone who brought the wrong sleeping bag.

I agree with Lori–3.57*F per 1000' elevation gain, with the wild card being local intervening conditions. An example of this might be if you were hiking up the east side of a mountain range when a chinook wind was developing on the west side and blowing warm, dry air over the pass. Of course, this would also eventually warm up your base camp, but the 3.5*F/1000' would probably still apply.

Thanks all.

Chuck

The environmental lapse rate is 3.56 degrees/1000, the dry adiabatic lapse rate is 5.4 degrees/1000, and the saturated adiabatic lapse rate is 2.7 degrees/1000. Aviators use approximately 3 degrees per 1000. All units are in Fahrenheit and feet. The key here is which lapse rate is best for your purposes, and I don't have that answer.

Just a quick tip to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit for temps above freezing: Double and add 30. Example: 15*2+30=60. Fifteen Celsius is 59 Fahrenheit-only one degree off.

In my opinion, the Rule of Thumb is exactly as stated above: 3.5*F/1000 ft for moist air and about 5.5*F/1000 ft for dry air. However there are factors that come into play such as whether your in a valley (cold but lower in elev.) or a ridge (windy). These factors will contribute to overall comfort.

This morning on Mount Washington it was 27 degrees at 1600 feet, a53 degrees at 4,000 feet – then colder again at the summit. So you never can tell for sure!

(They have thermometers at various points along the auto road and you can check them in real time on the web.)

http://www.mountwashington.org/weather/arvp/