Nov. 1 to the E. Sierra

[fflutterffly]

Ok no laughing here... this is serious. Karen and I have made the plunge purchasing a coleman instant 8x7 4 man tent that came with two below 0˚ mummy sleeping bags and plan on car camping (gulp) one night at Lee Vining and then down to Pleasant Valley. We will be up Nov. 1-4. Anyone else coming up during that time?

[Gary C.]

Just a suggestion mind you, but if you can borrow or buy a small propane heater for the trip you won't regret it. They are not safe to burn all night so never go to sleep with one burning. They burn up all the oxygen and you may never wake up. But they are great for taking the chill out of the air when you are going to bed and getting up in the morning.

Something like this.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Black ... r/13228605

[fflutterffly]

Ah thanks gary but I think I'll go to walmart and get yet another wool sweater.

[John Harper]

Got a link to this tent? I'm looking for something for next season, big but still able to be set up by one person.

Mainly a base camp tent, I've got a backpack tent now but would like a bit of room to move around. My current base tent is a Coleman 8 x 10, but I need another person to set up. And I do a lot of solo trips.

John

[Papasequoia]

You'll be fine with 0 degree bags, make sure you have good ground pads as much of your heat loss is downwards into the ground, not upwards.

[John Harper]

You'll be fine with 0 degree bags, make sure you have good ground pads as much of your heat loss is downwards into the ground, not upwards.

Same with sleeping on an airbed. Could not believe how cold sleeping on air can be.

John

[Papasequoia]

You'll be fine with 0 degree bags, make sure you have good ground pads as much of your heat loss is downwards into the ground, not upwards.

Same with sleeping on an airbed. Could not believe how cold sleeping on air can be.

John

Absolutely, they suck the heat out and disperse it - very chilly. They do make winterized air beds now, but with car camping you might as well carry a couple of layers of foam and a quilt.

[fflutterffly]

Let me understand this: Are you saying that even with the REI cots, and not sleeping on the ground, the coldness off the ground can still be an issue? I keep looking at the weather reports and wonder if this is a good idea for Karen. I thought we might pull a few fish from Lee Vining and have at least one dinner, then drop back down to Bishop area camping. We'll see. I haven't really camped out for at least 10 years. Within that 10 years we did go to the Kern for the club tourney and camp, but this is a little different. Hotels are just getting beyond our reach recently.

[John Harper]

I think if you are sleeping on cots, a couple blankets under you should be fine. I'm talking about using my airbed on the cold ground, couldn't figure out why in my 15 degree bag in summer I was getting cold! Stupid me. I'm going with some foam for base camp now, tired of leaking airbeds too. Have a thermarest for backpacking and I'll toss it on top of a foam pad.

John

[fflutterffly]

If anyone is interested in a fantastic cot the REI Comfort Cot is the one. I have it set up in my living room, since I sleep about 4-5 hours a night. One night I got out of bed, went into the living room, laid on the new cot and the next thing I knew I had stayed a sleep till 5:00 AM!!! I laid there another 1/3 hour, got up and felt great. I am so looking forward to trying this cot out in the Sierra. I'll give you all a report if you are interested not only on the fish, but the cot as well...and the instant tent. Crossing my fingers.
A

[Papasequoia]

Let me understand this: Are you saying that even with the REI cots, and not sleeping on the ground, the coldness off the ground can still be an issue?

What are you - a politician? Nobody said that because you never said that you were sleeping on cots! All you said was that you had a tent and a couple of 0 degree mummy bags! Here's your original post - no cots in sight:

Ok no laughing here... this is serious. Karen and I have made the plunge purchasing a coleman instant 8x7 4 man tent that came with two below 0˚ mummy sleeping bags and plan on car camping (gulp) one night at Lee Vining and then down to Pleasant Valley. We will be up Nov. 1-4. Anyone else coming up during that time?

C'mon Ariel, we need full disclosure here if you want good answers!

[fflutterffly]

oh oh, papa is calling me out again! ololol
Do I have time to go back and edit my original post?
I will give only the information as needed.
Hey thanks for the information all. I noticed that the temps are dropping rapidly with lee vining at 40's/20's. Yipee! Oh camping is such fun.

[charlie]

Cots are an improvement over the transfer of cold from the ground, but the problem lies in compressing the sleeping bag and thus, severely reducing r-value on the bottom side. Put some folded blankets or a foam pad on it and you'll sleep well. Have a great time.

Charlie

[Jeff Ike]

Just got back last night from a 3 day jaunt up the hill. I stayed the first night at PVR and only got down to the low 40's at night. Snow Sunday evening and Monday up north. Light rain Monday at PVR. Upper O is blown out flows and cloudy water (as of Sunday) and I heard they definitely got snow at Lee Vining. Lower O was on fire every day! I'll be posting sometime soon! Have a great trip! PM me if you want info on the lower O.

[mk4]

You lost me at Coleman.

They make good (not great) stoves and lanterns, but everything else from them is junk.

Return it and get a good tall tent. Also get a good down bag to about 15*. There's no need for anything colder than 15* because, anything colder and it's generally past the lower limit of fishing weather.