Questions about the Gatewood Cape

I don't know the bug situation on the JMT, but the SMD Serenity NetTent: provides excellent insect and small creature protection, works well with the Gatewood Cape, the floor is the necessary ground sheet, the mesh walls keep your bag/quilt and other stuff from sliding off into the the wet/dirt. 7oz. Pitch the NetTent alone, the Cape alone, or both depending on conditions.

Will the serenity prevent the bag from getting wet if there is a little water running under the gatewood?

Yea, the NetTent has a bathtub floor, about 2" high. Seal the corners with Silnet. The mesh, and pole suspension help keep these edges vertical.

On the JMT last August, I used the SMD Wild Oasis which is very similar to the Gatewwod Cape, but it has mosquito netting along the bottom edges. For a gound cover and added warmth I used a bivy with a silnylon bottom and Momentum top.

the photo was of the campsite between the So. Fork of the Kings River just south of the Bench Lake Ranger Station, (Harrison JMT map #4)

I did a JMT S-N thruhike in late July/early August of '06. That was a wet year in the Sierra. The mossies were thick and aggressive all the way to Donohue Pass. I would strongly suggest more bug protection than the Gatewood cape has to offer. I have one. I used another SMD product on the JMT….the Lunar Solo. I was more than happy to pay a small weight penalty for better bug protection.

I too did an early August JMT hike last summer. Mossies were okentiful around the lakes and low meadows. I used the Gatewood Cape and/or its partner, the SMD Serenity Net Tent and that kept them away for a total weight of 18 ounces without pegs.

I used the Serenity Net Tent by itself more than I used the GC as we had no rain.