Big Bend - 11/28 - 12/1 2011

[SA Bill]

  What impresses me, is the fact that you piled up all these gear and you were still BARELY WARM?...... .  You never went for the warm water inside of the Coke Bottle technique. We picked that up here....

  And you like to stay in Holiday Inn's.....
[/quote]

Yeah, the older I get Homero, the thinner my blood seems to be. Hmmm...warm "water" in a Coke bottle...maybe I'll try that next time.

A HI would have been cheaper!!
  Bill

[SA Bill]

Great photos!  I love the Mule Ears area!  There is a very nice camp spot about a half mile past the spring.  There is a large retangluar cairn marking the trail that leads about 70 yds from the main trail.  I call it "The Spot," the first place I camped in big Bend:

Mule Ears Spot Pano by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

We usually hit Mule Ears on each trip, and I regret that we didn't on our most recent.

Your photos of the Milky way are very cool!
Great Report!

Homer

Thanks Homer!
That whole area seems like a great place to explore. I'll have to look for the spot you mentioned. I went a 1/2 mile past that to get to the overlook area. Didn't notice a cutoff but I wasn't looking for one in my trek to reach the overlook.
  Bill

[SA Bill]

If you can't stop the cold from coming up from the ground level, the whole setup will be colder than normal. That's what I think anyway, and that's why I was curious about the setup. I think the last few times I've gotten the formula right 'cause I'm using the right pad. Even against the ground, the insulated pads are key to staying warm. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think staying warm starts from the ground up!

Yeah...I knew the aerobed would be cooler to sleep on. Even with my efforts to insulate below and on top, I'm sure a lot of cold migrates in through the area on the side walls. Next time I have tto camp in the "cold", I'll do it differently with a good insulated pad right on the ground under the sleeping bag. The aerobed will be for warmer camping.
  Bill

[SA Bill]

If you can't stop the cold from coming up from the ground level, the whole setup will be colder than normal.

The few times I've slept on one of those inflatable mattresses in the cold, it felt like I was sleeping on a block of ice. I was wondering how you could be so cold at 39 degrees with 2 bags. I think we found the reason. Unless you were in a summer bag you should have been plenty warm in just one bag.

Hi Robert!
It's a combination of older, thinner blood and bags that are rated optimistically. The main bag was a North Face BLAZE which is rated at 20°. I put that inside an EMS rectangular bag rated at 25°. My next bag will be rated at 0° to try to get me enough loft to stay warm. But...I really dislike sleeping in a mumy style bag so that kind limits me. I'm open to suggestions if anyone has any.
  Thanks!
    Bill

[stingrey]

I'm still gonna have to swear by Big Agnes. I am NOT using a mummy bag, and their down bags are plenty roomy for me at 6ft something or another (2 or 3? i dunno). I can side sleep in the bags just fine. Being said, you are still welcome to try out my gear next time you head out on a cold weather outing as long as I'm not using the stuff myself! :)

[RichardM]

I'm open to suggestions if anyone has any.

C'mon, you know you want one...

[SA Bill]

I'm open to suggestions if anyone has any.

C'mon, you know you want one...

So stylish...who wouldn't want one!! 
   Bill