Backpacking in the rain..... any tips?

[Elusive77]

Since it appears the monsoon season is upon us and many of us have planned trips coming up, I thought I would see if anybody out there has tips for backpacking in the rain........ how to keep dry..... extra gear that might be helpful..... good ways to setup your camp for enduring long periods of rain..... things to do while it rains, anything that might be helpful.

 

[DOSS]

Rain = reading, free showers in the woods naked, wishing you had your significant other to share the tent with (or Tarp), reading some more, listen to music...

Dealing with it while hiking, I prefer a large poncho that covers both me and my pack. I might get sweaty but I don't have rain running down between my pack and my back. that large poncho also makes it so that you can take of your pack, use it to cover you and your pack as you get tent materials ready to set up in the rain without getting your other gear wet.

As for setting up your tent the Key is ventilation.. don't seal it up so tight that the breeze can't come through and remove some of the humidity.

 

[gnwatts]

My Arcteryx pack is water proof, so I usually have a big wide hat that keeps most of the rain off, or a poncho at last resort. X2 on the ventilation for the tent, and a tarp "porch" extension is nice if you can make it work. I sometimes take my small backgammon set and always a book. Better yet i look for a cave if I am in S. Utah, cave or overhang living is unsurpassed.
Greg

 

[kballing]

Some of my best backpacking experiences have been in storms. I love being on the trail and seeing a huge storm blow in from below and just experiencing the power of nature.

Being waterproof is the key. There's no need to splurge on gear, just take a handful of large garbage sacks. I also second a poncho that can cover your pack as well. I've got a pretty nice rain jacket from Cabelas, but after a few hours in the rain, water finds its way through. A large plastic or sealed fabric poncho is better. I also like the kind that cover my hands and go at least to my knees. I always wear a ball cap, but I spray it down with Camp Dry or something too, I'm satisfied with this for keeping rain out of my face. Also, don't underestimate how cold a rainstorm can be, have your warm layer at the top of your pack with your rain gear.

It always surprises me how much a large tree can keep the rain off. Leaning or hanging your pack in a big full tree will keep it pretty dry, but it's just as easy to throw a garbage bag over it. Also, it should be obvious to pitch your tent on high ground with a mild slope, and never dig a trench around it.

Barring any lightning, whiteout, or other dangerous weather, I hate spending time sitting in my tent doing nothing. I think a positive attitude and embracing the weather is a great idea. I'll just keep fishing or hiking, or look for wildlife because the mountains are a whole new world during a storm.

I was camping on Boulder Mt. in central UT and a foggy snow storm came up in June. My cousin and I, rather than sit in camp, went hiking off through the woods and because of the snow, we could move around silently. We ran into moose, rabbits, a lot of unique birds, and other small animals who all seemed to be waiting out the storm under shelter of trees. It was really something to behold.

I've been stuck a few times on high altitude ridges or summits when a thunderstorm has picked up, and although I was scared spitless at the lightning crashing down all around, I still had to appreciate the really awesome spectacle.

 

[gnwatts]

My wife and i were hiking the ridge above Duck Lake along the John Muir trail, when a storm came up. We had a safety meeting under a big pine, and decided to put our ponchos on and continue. We started out and I realized I forgot my sunglasses, I turned back and got them at the tree about 100' away. At that moment lightning struck between us. I can tell you spit was not the fluid coming out of me. Further on near Purple Lake we met 2 guys sitting under a tree, and after another safety meeting this guy says he is a professional fly tyer, he tied flies for Prince Charles. We called BS until he showed us photo of Prince Charles with his arm around him.

4 of us spent a harrowing night in a tent in the Alaskan Basin in the Tetons. Flashes of light simultaneous with thunder all night. Not very fun.

My most memorable time though was 2 amazing days I spent in a cave overhang near Jailhouse Ruin in Bullet Canyon during a late winter snow storm. Thick heavy snow coming down vertically with no wind. Completely dry sandy floor, a nice fire, no need to stay in the tent, which i did not even sleep in. I could not climb out my exit point to get to my car at Sheiks canyon, so i waited for the snow to melt, in a thousand little waterfalls in bright sunlight. The 10" of snow was gone in 3 hours.

 

[Nick]

Quick post, more later. I backpacked 32+ miles in the last few days using my new GoLite poncho. Not sure how I ever hiked in rainy high country without it. Get one!