Mt Whitney Zone Forums Gear Heads Cold Weather Tips for Gas Stoves

I started hiking in the mountains in the 50's in the usual kids t-shirt and jeans. I didn't BP until I was out of the house. My father had camped out year-round in Europe for a couple years in the early 40's and wasn't interested in introducing camping to his family as a sport.

I first went up Whitney in '71 on the 42nd and final day of my second BP, a hike down from Tahoe. I had a down bag, which I still use, and carried a space blanket, poncho, denim jacket and wool sweater. I carried a Svea 123 for comfort instead of a foam pad. It's amazing how good you can get at excavating shoulder and hip depressions in the ground before you spread the space blanket when you need to. (That didn't work so well in the gravel and rock the night I spent on top of Caltech Peak.) I know where the Svea is, but I haven't used it in the current century. We have, as you describe, so many better choices now.

Dale B. Dalrymple