DestroyMySweater wrote: ↑Wed Sep 21, 2022 1:16 pm
supranihilest wrote:
I only carry a maximum of 2 liters on any given winter climb. That's certainly risky in case of an emergency and I don't necessarily recommend it but it does reduce the amount of weight I'm carrying especially if things do freeze, which happens occasionally - no use carrying extra ice around, right?
Wow, I don't know if I could do with only 2 liters, and I have some long days, too. (By the way, I love your trip reports, so I know you do some amazing stuff!). Do you just pre-hydrate a bunch? I feel like I need to drink, not because of replacing sweat (I try to follow the winter adage of "never sweat"), but to help with the effects of altitude. If I don't drink much, even in water, I feel it.
In my case it helps that I'm small - 5' 3" and about 130 pounds - so I don't need as much. I typically sip throughout the day instead of taking big glugs and strictly ration my water because I know I'm riding that line between having enough for success but not enough for contingencies. Most people will need more. In such cases the obvious solution is just to start with more, but one could also carry a stove, pot, and gas. Having had to melt snow on several climbs (Rainier, Chicago Basin, Aconcagua, etc.) it's a miserable proposition especially if you're in trouble above treeline, your hands are frozen, you're hypothermic, you're in bad weather or it's approaching, you name it, there's a gazillion contingencies and potential emergency situations. Again, I don't recommend carrying so little, but I've found that it works for me. Obligatory "dancing the razor's edge is dangerous" warning.
DestroyMySweater wrote: ↑Wed Sep 21, 2022 1:16 pm
Out of curiosity, do you strap the parka + bottle the front of your pack (shoulder or hip belt) or to the side or back of your pack?
Depends on the pack. The one I mentioned earlier has large pockets. The other that I'll use if I'm on a multi-day winter backpack has a much smaller elastic pocket and a buckle cinch strap above it that I'll loop through the velcro belt loop on the parka. This keeps it from falling off if it comes out of the pocket but then it starts flopping. I have a third pack I rarely use where keeping the bottles on the outside isn't an option, so I'll just stuff 'em inside.
Scott P wrote: ↑Wed Sep 21, 2022 1:23 pmyou still have to be careful filling them and screwing on the lid since if it's wet it can still freeze and make them hard to open.
This is the problem I encounter most often - frozen threads that lock the cap on so tight it's sometimes impossible to get off without melting the ice.
Scott P wrote: ↑Wed Sep 21, 2022 1:25 pm
supranihilest wrote: ↑Wed Sep 21, 2022 1:09 pm
I only carry a maximum of 2 liters on any given winter climb.
I believe you, but everyone is different. I definitely carry and drink a lot more than that in a solid day of hiking or climbing.
2L in winter and 3L in summer are what I carry. Personal choice, of course, and far below what most people will want, need, or recommend.
Robbie Crouse wrote: ↑Wed Sep 21, 2022 1:28 pm
I don't "feel" like drinking water in the winter, at least not like a summer day when I'm sweating, but the dry air takes a lot of moisture out of your lungs. Having something over your mouth and nose can help moisture loss, I think.
Yup. It's a balance between being able to breathe freely (without something covering your mouth) and retaining additional moisture (with something covering your mouth). Sucking cold air through a warm, moist buff (or balaclava, I suppose) helps prevent the dry winter air from dehydrating you more.