Eastern Sierra Gear Choice

Right this moment, I would go with the 30 degree bag. However, we are right on the edge of going into autumn weather, so things get unpredictable in a hurry. The 15 degree bag would not be stupid. Maybe bring an old piece of foam pad and a synthetic towel for the dog.

Ritter and Banner are good peaks. Can your dog climb Class 3? In one respect, you would not want to take the dog up either peak. In another respect, you would not want to leave the dog tied up back in camp.

Banner is easier than Ritter.

–B.G.–

If you are a warm sleeper, you should be fine with the 30 degree bag. However, I'd just bring your second combo; you could insure comfort bringing the 15 degree bag at a penalty of 4 ounces.

Definitely do bring insulation/padding for the dog if you aren't already, it'll make a huge difference for the guy.

I'll have a 2'x2' piece of foam for her, plus she's apt to hunker up next to me. Will have a couple of others with us, at least one of whom is going to hang out on summit day, so the pooch will hang with him.

I'm heading up near Banner/ritter on the 18th. Like you I have 30 and 15 degree bags. I'll bring both bags in my car to the trailhead, and then check the weather forecast. My 30 degree bag with a puffy should be fine. But then, I did buy a 15 degree bag precisely for the shoulder season…

I'm heading up to the uper kern/ Great Western divide in 5 days. Taking a 26 oz down quilt rated to 0 and a montbelm thermawrap hoodie.

This time last year I was quite cold with a 20F quilt weighing roughly the same thing. So upgraded with no weight penalty and more down. Hopefully will be warmer. If it was me I would def. take the 15F this time of year.

I'm heading out tomorrow and will be in that exact area in a couple days. I opted for my 30* down quilt instead of my 40* synthetic quilt or my 0* synthetic bag (my only other two choices). I'm honestly not the least bit worried about my 30* bag, even if I hit some unexpected weather. I sleep in a totally overkill Hilleberg 4 season tent, which warms up the inside a good 15-20* above the outside temps (tested in previous trips).

The real reason for my lack of concern is my NeoAir X-therm pad. Holy cow, that thing is like sleeping on top of an oven. I used to get freezing cold in my 0* bag with a crappy foam pad at 40*. With the X-therm pad I feel like I can add at least 10* to any sleeping bag/ quilt rating.

Querying the mesonet high and lows using this map is useful:

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mesowest/gmap.php?map=vef

For example for my trip the Tyndall and Chagoopa Plateau instruments indicate lows of 41F and 43F in the last 24hrs at 11,442' and 9,450' respectively. Charlotte Lake reports a low of 36 at 10,399'

Your tax dollars at work.

So just checked again. Overnight lows dropped to 23F at Charlotte Lake and 30 at Chagoopa.