Backpacking in Rain, Lightning, Hail and Wind
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Date: 2020-08-18
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Comments and reviews: 9
Don
Hello Dixie: ) Something worth mentioning is that when you are in those hills or surrounded by a forest you cannot see the storm coming. I was on a mountain lake in Virginia, striped bass fishing with my daughter in a small Alaskan Fisher boat when we were hit by a mother of a thunderstorm out of nowhere. fortunately we were able to make shore but not without serious loss of supplies and materials. Being prepared includes having skills and also having what you need close at hand: )
The main CLUE is that the wind shifts suddenly. The approaching storm pulls the wind towards its lowest air pressure point and this adds fuel to the storm. In the case above, the storm found the water from the lake and literally formed directly upon us. No warning whatsoever. But most of the time, you have the option of notice. If you see the wind make a sudden and almost violent change in direction it is time to take action.
BTW, the NWS forecast for that day was 68F with 10 to 15% chance of rain: ) Sending loving hugs from the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee
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Hello Dixie: ) Something worth mentioning is that when you are in those hills or surrounded by a forest you cannot see the storm coming. I was on a mountain lake in Virginia, striped bass fishing with my daughter in a small Alaskan Fisher boat when we were hit by a mother of a thunderstorm out of nowhere. fortunately we were able to make shore but not without serious loss of supplies and materials. Being prepared includes having skills and also having what you need close at hand: )
The main CLUE is that the wind shifts suddenly. The approaching storm pulls the wind towards its lowest air pressure point and this adds fuel to the storm. In the case above, the storm found the water from the lake and literally formed directly upon us. No warning whatsoever. But most of the time, you have the option of notice. If you see the wind make a sudden and almost violent change in direction it is time to take action.
BTW, the NWS forecast for that day was 68F with 10 to 15% chance of rain: ) Sending loving hugs from the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee
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Halffastcyclist
My one cent on temperature. If you know the elevation of a place that has a weather forecast and the elevation of where you will be hiking, you can estimate the temperature at you hiking elevation. In dry weather, the temperature will be approximately 1 degree Celsius lower for each 100 meters of elevation gain between the forecast area and the activity area. If the weather is wet (rain, snow, etc, the temperature will be about 0. 5 degrees Celsius for every 100 meters of elevation differential.
For example, downtown Denver is about 1600 meters. If the temperature is a pleasant 30 degrees Celsius and a clear day, then the figure the temperature at the top of Pikes Peak (4300 meters) will be a little above freezing (4300 - 1600 = 2700, 2700/100 = 27; 30 - 27 = 3 degrees Celsius.
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My one cent on temperature. If you know the elevation of a place that has a weather forecast and the elevation of where you will be hiking, you can estimate the temperature at you hiking elevation. In dry weather, the temperature will be approximately 1 degree Celsius lower for each 100 meters of elevation gain between the forecast area and the activity area. If the weather is wet (rain, snow, etc, the temperature will be about 0. 5 degrees Celsius for every 100 meters of elevation differential.
For example, downtown Denver is about 1600 meters. If the temperature is a pleasant 30 degrees Celsius and a clear day, then the figure the temperature at the top of Pikes Peak (4300 meters) will be a little above freezing (4300 - 1600 = 2700, 2700/100 = 27; 30 - 27 = 3 degrees Celsius.
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Ian
I have a genuine question about tents in the states.
I've seen you mention double walled tents being a problem in rainy weather, cause the mesh let's the water while during set up.
Here in Ireland and the UK (possibly Europe as well, I'm not too sure) double wall tents are destined for the Rain cover to go up first with the poles and pegs, and then the mesh layers is attached to the interior with loops and clips.
Are the tents in the states really designed to have the mesh set up first? It seems like a significant design flaw. At least to someone who lives in a country where it rains 80% of the time: P
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I have a genuine question about tents in the states.
I've seen you mention double walled tents being a problem in rainy weather, cause the mesh let's the water while during set up.
Here in Ireland and the UK (possibly Europe as well, I'm not too sure) double wall tents are destined for the Rain cover to go up first with the poles and pegs, and then the mesh layers is attached to the interior with loops and clips.
Are the tents in the states really designed to have the mesh set up first? It seems like a significant design flaw. At least to someone who lives in a country where it rains 80% of the time: P
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Yair
Dixie, you're amazing!
I was waited for this topic for long time, and although this is just a video and I still need to feel and experience hiking in the rain by myself for few days in a row, you arranged it so good and answered most of my questions!
for that (and for MUCH MORE - Thank You)
I'm planning (well. still thinking about planning. well. still planning to think about planning) to thru hike next winter along Israel in a build your own thru hike trail - much longer than the Israel Trail.
so this topic is a big issue for me - Thanks again for your perspective!
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Dixie, you're amazing!
I was waited for this topic for long time, and although this is just a video and I still need to feel and experience hiking in the rain by myself for few days in a row, you arranged it so good and answered most of my questions!
for that (and for MUCH MORE - Thank You)
I'm planning (well. still thinking about planning. well. still planning to think about planning) to thru hike next winter along Israel in a build your own thru hike trail - much longer than the Israel Trail.
so this topic is a big issue for me - Thanks again for your perspective!
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travel
If you get caught out and a tornado develops, you want to get to low ground, but not an area is so low it is prone to flash flooding. Bridges and overpasses are not advisable places to seek shelter as wind velocity can actually increase due to a tunneling affect. Obviously stay away from dead trees.
Typically you don't have to worry about tornadoes in the mountains, but not all trails are in the mountains. A section of the Knobstone Trail in Indiana got taken out by a tornado a few years ago.
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If you get caught out and a tornado develops, you want to get to low ground, but not an area is so low it is prone to flash flooding. Bridges and overpasses are not advisable places to seek shelter as wind velocity can actually increase due to a tunneling affect. Obviously stay away from dead trees.
Typically you don't have to worry about tornadoes in the mountains, but not all trails are in the mountains. A section of the Knobstone Trail in Indiana got taken out by a tornado a few years ago.
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Charles
Wait! What was that. are we to believe that was an actual tent you used! Dixie, please tell me that was a bit of fabric floating around that you found, if it was your tent that is perhaps the sorriest looking tent Ive ever seen! I love your posts, in fact you have inspired me and the wife to get out on the AT in a few years. Ummm yeah promised to take her on a 2 week Med. cruise when we retire, so. kinda have to do that first, then get my old sorry ass in shape for it!
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Wait! What was that. are we to believe that was an actual tent you used! Dixie, please tell me that was a bit of fabric floating around that you found, if it was your tent that is perhaps the sorriest looking tent Ive ever seen! I love your posts, in fact you have inspired me and the wife to get out on the AT in a few years. Ummm yeah promised to take her on a 2 week Med. cruise when we retire, so. kinda have to do that first, then get my old sorry ass in shape for it!
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Homemade
TIME STAMPS! Thank y'all for watching: )
00: 27 Be Prepared for The Weather Before You Leave
00: 55 Pack Waterproof Redundancies
01: 22 How I Pack For Rain
02: 09 Rain Gear
03: 39 Tip On Packing Food for Rain
03: 59 Setting Up Camp in the Rain
07: 27 Setting Up a Tent in the Wind
07: 49 Dealing With Wet Gear On Trail
10: 13 Hail Safety
11: 00 Lightning Safety
12: 16 Lightning Stance
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TIME STAMPS! Thank y'all for watching: )
00: 27 Be Prepared for The Weather Before You Leave
00: 55 Pack Waterproof Redundancies
01: 22 How I Pack For Rain
02: 09 Rain Gear
03: 39 Tip On Packing Food for Rain
03: 59 Setting Up Camp in the Rain
07: 27 Setting Up a Tent in the Wind
07: 49 Dealing With Wet Gear On Trail
10: 13 Hail Safety
11: 00 Lightning Safety
12: 16 Lightning Stance
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Catherine
On the drying out clothing in your sleeping bag topic: tossing wet stuff in your sleeping bag might not be a great idea, but I can confirm through many experiences that putting small wet items (socks, undies, bra, even a shirt) under the shirt you're sleeping in directly against your belly is effective and it'll be dry in the morning. It does feel weird and you certainly want to make sure it's only damp not soaked.
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On the drying out clothing in your sleeping bag topic: tossing wet stuff in your sleeping bag might not be a great idea, but I can confirm through many experiences that putting small wet items (socks, undies, bra, even a shirt) under the shirt you're sleeping in directly against your belly is effective and it'll be dry in the morning. It does feel weird and you certainly want to make sure it's only damp not soaked.
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shorea27
I use a double walled tent. When it's raining or even if it's just really foggy I clip my wet clothes onto the frame between the walls and let it drape over the mesh so it can air dry better. That's after I wring it out properly (or violently, haha. Synthetic fabrics don't really drip when you do, so that's key.
Sometimes putting up a tarp shelter first can help in setting up your tent when it's really pouring.
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I use a double walled tent. When it's raining or even if it's just really foggy I clip my wet clothes onto the frame between the walls and let it drape over the mesh so it can air dry better. That's after I wring it out properly (or violently, haha. Synthetic fabrics don't really drip when you do, so that's key.
Sometimes putting up a tarp shelter first can help in setting up your tent when it's really pouring.
reply
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