Wonderland Trail….

[Brad Rogers]

Thanks!  That’s how I understood it too, but it seems to ask how many are in your party on Recreation.gov and was confused as to why that mattered.

[Brad Rogers]

I know it really doesn’t matter unless I’m able to get permits, but we’re iced in so there is nothing else to do!   I also realize that it depends…..but assume early August.

Pants vs. Shorts?  I’ve got a few options….Patagonia Baggies 5″ shorts, Rail Riders Eco Mesh pants, or a light softshell pants (OR Ferrosi, etc).  What would be the best choice with the weather and bugs?  Are there tick issues there?

Shirt – Sun hoodie treated with permethrin such as the OR Echo Hoodie or a tight weave trekking shirt such as the Patagonia Sun Stretch Shirt?  The Echo would be cooler and probably nicer on the climbs, but the Sun Stretch would be bug proof.

Headnet – No seeum mesh or mosquito mesh?

Rain Jacket – 3 Layer Gore-Tex with Pit Zips or Shakedry with no Pit Zips?  I’ve got both – I used the 3L GTX Jacket in Alaska but haven’t used the Shakedry Jacket.  What’s worth more the pit zips or the more breathable (DWR less)  fabric ?

[jscott]

If you think you need permethrin and a bug head net…then IMO you need long pants. Bug proof long pants, such as REI nylon pants. Anyway, yes, you should take bugs into consideration in early August, for sure. Rainier tends to be not all that hot, even in August, barring the increasingly less-rare hot spell. But I consider 80% not all that hot. Personally I would go for bug proof long sleeves over ‘cool’ shirts, but check out temp forecasts before going and choose then.

Personally I don’t find pit zips all they’re made out to be, but some here will disagree. If it’s raining around Rainier then it’s going to be cool. And you’ll only need a rain jacket if it’s raining. I’d opt for better rain protection for sure.

[Bonzo]

And yet, I got a nice case of heat exhaustion this past August at the base of the Emmons.

Rainier is unpredictable; I would plan on a variety of weather events, with the likelihood of seeing all of them increasing in direct proportion to the length of your stay.  If it was my trip: long, light, vented pants, a cooling short sleeve t-shirt with a sun hoodie option, a light insulating layer for cool days and a shell for rain.

[Brad Rogers]

I’m not sure if I’ll need the permethrin or bug head net, but I assume that time of year that bugs could be an issue, so I would tend to treat whatever shirt I’m wearing as it doesn’t hurt anything if I don’t need it.  I also carry a headnet that time of year – if I don’t need it it’s a stuff sack, if I do it’s a sanity saver – I just didn’t know if no see ums were the concern or just the mosquitos.

I tend to run hot when climbing, but have worn both combinations in the Sierra and/or Rockies.  I’ve only worn light softshell pants in cooler weather.

[Bonzo]

I tend to run hot when climbing, but have worn both combinations in the Sierra and/or Rockies. I’ve only worn light softshell pants in cooler weather.

I was over at Si the other day, getting in a workout: about 3,000′ up in a little over four miles.  26° or so with a light breeze, and I was in a pair of softshell pants and a t-shirt on the way up.  In other words: I hear you.  It’s easy to get too warm and it can be hard to cool down, and being in and around treeline just complicates things.

[Brad Rogers]

Currently I’m thinking

Shirt – either OR Echo Hoodie or Patagonia Sun Stretch button up

Fleece – Macpac Nitro Polartec Alpha hoodie (I think it’s 90g)

Windshirt – Patagonia Houdini (2011 edition)

Insulation – Goosefeet Gear Down Jacket (4oz down 8.1oz total)

Rain Shell – Montane 3L GTX Jacket with pitzips or Gore Shakedry H5

 

Ex Officio Boxer Briefs

Either shorts or pants – leaning toward Rail Riders Eco Mesh pants – they’re ugly but funtional

Wind Pants – Mont-Bell Dynamo – ONLY if I bring shorts instead of pants

Polartec Alpha Pants – for camp and to sleep in – haven’t bought yet

Rain Pants – Mont-Bell Peak Shell

[Bonzo]

I have that same MacPac fleece; it’s killer for this area when the temps get cooler.  Under any kind of hard shell it’s stupid-warm.  I got a pair of Timmermade pants to go with it; zero complaints about them, and lots of usage.

I prefer shorts, myself, but I’ve started getting into too many places where the brush, rocks, sand, mud and everything else have found their way over my shoe tops…so I’ve started wearing pants for a lot of things when I’m doing anything other than a dayhike.  Unfortunately, my legs seem to be the furnace of my body, so I’ve struggled with heat issues ever since making that change; the best solution I’ve found are lightweight, vented softshells.  In the dead of summer they’re still hot, though, even with the vents wide open.

You may not need a poofy jacket; base + Macpac + shell is extremely warm.  I have a Mammut Broad Peak – about 5 oz. of down, if I recall – and I basically can’t wear it unless I’m using it as a belay jacket.  I’ve shifted to a down vest for most things.

[Brad Rogers]

If you can deal with the asthetics, you might like the Rail Riders Eco Mesh pants.  They have zips on the outside of each leg that when open are nearly as cool as shorts – when you zip them up they’re a “regular” nylon hiking pant.   The problem is they are ugly – super baggy, which I think actually makes them dissipate heat easier but some people can’t deal with the MC Hammer look!

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