[philmont] Tip Number One

To suggest a couple of refinements to John's e-mail:

1. Go ahead and buy a good quality rain jacket. My son and I bought standard Marmot Precip rain jackets. The jacket is somewhat breathable and provides a good block against the wind, and we have used them over and over again since Philmont on backpacking trips.

2. Buy inexpensive rain pants. Forget about "breathability", etc. You clearly need a pair, and in extreme conditions they will be invaluable, but the likelihood that you will keep them on very much during your trek is very slight. Mine never came out of my pack during our 07 trek.

George

John LeBlanc <philmontjohn@yahoo.com> wrote: Well, it's the winter rainy season where I live so I am reminded of Philmont Raingear.
   
  Each year, the question comes up, so I thought I'd get the jump on it and let you mull it over in your mind.
   
  You will need a good quality rain suit. Not a pnocho, but a complete pants and jacket rain suit.
   
  Yeah, there will be some who say you don't need the pants or that gaiters work better. Those are extremem. You need to stay in the middle of the road on this one.
   
  For those of you old and smart enough to forego spar pole climbing, the rain pants will do double duty as your long pants on the trek.
   
  If you don't already own a Gore Tex rain suit, you probably don't need one on a regular basis.
   
  For those of you who don't use a rain suit on a regular basis, you are probably lookiing for the cheap way out.
   
  And somebody suggested Frogg Toggs.
   
  Well, they are sort of like toilet paper, good for one use then you throw them away.
   
  Cabelas has several good quality light weight nylon rain suits that weigh next to nothing that sell for less than Frog Togs which won't leave bits and pieces attached to the shrubry along the trail.
   
  A good quality rain suit is a must at Philmont. It is not only useful to fend off the rain but also the wind and hold body heat inside the insulating layer on the colder days you will experience.
   
  My personal choice is Gore Tex because it meets my needs, but you choose your own to suit your needs.
   
  Just be sure it's not a disposable type. You will need it on more than one occasion during the ten day trek.
   
   John LeBlanc
        

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Received on Mon Feb 18 13:10:23 2008