RE: [Philmont]: down v. synthetic

1. Use a waterproof stuff sack. Outdoor Research makes the ones I use.
 
2. Never unroll the bag until you are going to climb into the bag. (never
unroll any bag until you are going to climb into it.) Keeps muddy feet or
chicken soup off the bag and scorpions out of the bag.
 
3. Take bag out of stuff sack and put in Bivy Sack. If I am using down,
I have a bivy sack on the bag. If it works I roll the bivy sack with the bag
(no moisture in stuff sack or on stuff sack.). Ads more warmth if needed,
weights nothing, and keeps chicken soup off the bag. (Some of you may not
know of the relationship between chicken soup in your climbing buddy's hands
and your down bag. They are attracted to each other no matter what you try
and do.) I use a Gore-Tex bivy sack. Breathable bivy sacks are more
expensive, but will pay for themselves if they allow the down bag to breathe
and keep moisture out and off.
 
4. When you climb out of the bag in the morning, air it out. Unless it is
raining, lay the bag on the tent or on a tree branch or on a bush, zipped
open so the moisture can evaporate. If it is raining, open it up in the tent
and open the tent as much as you can. Remember always, even in the rain or a
blizzard, vent the tent. If you don't the moisture collects and your
clothing and bags stay wet. Air out the bivy sack also. I try and get
them in the sun. Even in zero degree weather, I lay my bag in the sun for as
long as I can. I've tied my bag down if necessary to keep it from blowing
away, but I get it out if I can. On the trips I lead, you see everyone's
bag on top of their tents in the morning while breakfast is being prepared.
Clothes also. After general packing is going on, the sleeping bag is packed
and tent is dried out. Finishing packing and flip tent upside down (one
corner staked) so the bottom dries out.
 
5. Keep your tent in a water proof stuff sack also. I carry 2 waterproof
stuff sacks. 1 for me sleeping bag to keep moisture out and 1 for my tent to
keep moisture in.
 
6. When you get home, air bag out for days in a dry spot, preferably in
the sun. If the bag is dirty or you spent more than a week in the bag, wash
it with down wash you can buy at an outdoor store. However you can ruin
down by over washing so be careful. Better to just let the bag air for
weeks.
 
These rules allow me to use my down bags for years. I have two Eddie Bauer
(yes they used to make awesome gear, rather than fashion) down bags that my
dad bought the year before I was born, a Eddie Bauer bag my parents bought
for me in 1967, and two down mountaineering bags that are more than 15 years
old. I still use them (one I just loaned to a friend for 6 weeks in Nepal,
it came back 3 weeks ago and it is still airing out.)
 

Happy Holidays

I am switching from Earthlink after 10 years to Gmail.

My new email address is JHMoss@Gmail.com

Free and better service to boot.

Jim

James H. Moss, JD, Editor
Outdoor Recreation & Fitness Law Review:
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The Outdoor Recreation & Fitness Law Reviews are publications for members of

the Outdoor Recreation, Adventure Travel, Hospitality and Fitness Industry.
For more information email me at: <mailto:lawreview@snewsnet.com>
lawreview@snewsnet.com

Outdoor Law Specific Email: <mailto:outdoor.law@gmail.com>
outdoor.law@gmail.com

Fitness Law Specific Email: <mailto:fitness.law@gmail.com>
fitness.law@gmail.com

Instructor: Ski Area Operations, Ski Area Risk Management Course Colorado
Mountain College
Email: <mailto:jmoss@coloradomtn.edu> jmoss@coloradomtn.edu
 <http://www.coloradomtn.edu/programs/sao/home.html>
http://www.coloradomtn.edu/programs/sao/home.html

Adjunct Professor: The Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism,
University of Utah

Outdoor Recreation Risk Management, Insurance and Law

 <http://www.health.utah.edu/prt/> http://www.health.Utah.edu/prt/ Info:
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 <mailto:outdoor.law@gmail.com>

PO Box 16743
Golden, CO 80402
303-807-2275
Personal Email: <mailto:jhmoss@gmail.com> jhmoss@gmail.com

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Received on Tue Nov 29 12:47:51 2005