Layer tuning for Sept Rae Lakes Loop

The melanzana is too heavy as an active mid layer. I would go something more like 8 ounces or less. Or maybe no mid layer at all.

It really depends on how cold you are on the move, some people can walk in cold rain all day with just a base layer and rain shell and be fine. Most likely you will not get rained on at all in September.

I would carry a light windshirt because at high elevations the wind can chill you a bit, especially if you stop to take a break, but the sil nylon rain jacket will cause you to overheat and trap sweat.

Thanks Justin. I previously used a driducks top as both wind/rain shell. I think I can reuse an REI fleet jacket as a wind layer here. Use that thing daily now and trust it’s breathabilty at 6oz.

So may ditch the fleece,  co-op down and kilt. Replace with heavier Borah down jacket and fleet wind jacket. This will probably be a lighter and warmer solution.

If you are concerned about warmth when you stop and make camp, I would want a down jacket with at least 3 ounces of down.

3oz was the plan. Would get either Luke’s our Borah to overfill for me.

Sierra hiking outside winter for me always sees the same combo of items. The base layer for sleeping in. the second pair of socks, so the washed pair is drying on the pack while I hike. The warm hat and glove liners, for evenings and for sleeping if the temps are that low. A wind shirt for breezy days and high passes, and fog. A rain layer for standing around in, unless the day temps have actually dropped below 50F and I need to be concerned about chill while hiking — I don’t wear rain pants while hiking unless it’s really cold. My hiking clothes are more about sun and (in early spring) bugs. Particularly if hiking above treeline for extended periods. Sunscreen, sun hat, sun gloves, long sleeves — all designed to keep me from burning my pale skin to a crisp with all the sunshine bouncing off the granite. Good sunglasses – I already had cataract surgery due to a habit of failing to wear good eye pro at high elevation. Snow blindness does not need snow to happen, just reflective surfaces. I had to make cardboard fake glasses with slits for a friend who failed to wear sunglasses and started to suffer on day four of our outing.

My down jackets are all very light, sewn thru construction, and sufficient over a shirt for evenings down to the low 30s. (We don’t get to have fires above 10k, most places in the Sierra, and that is true of Rae loop.) Wrapping up in the quilt is a fallback for me and I’ve not had to do that.

I don’t take fleece unless it’s a snowshoeing trip.

I tend to get cold easy, but proper hydration and regular exercise have increased my tolerance levels by quite a lot.