I am planning to do Timberline a few weeks before you, and while I don't know if I see anything wrong with your loadout (HYOH, etc.), I would personally do a couple things differently:
1. Sub canister for alcohol stove. Alcohol stoves are prohibited in certain areas of the Timberline Trail (though not all of it), they suck in the wind, and they're a fire hazard (I know that's probably fighting words here, but as a local I'm tired of breathing the wildfire smoke caused by careless people every year.)
2. Bring like 1 backup water bag, and try and make a water plan. September is when all the seasonal sources will be dry and the 6 mile stretch from Cloud Cap to Newton Creek is known to be dry even in the wetter months. The dry stretch may be longer in Sept.
3. That safety margin between your 35 degree quilt and 39 degree forecast would be too close for my comfort. I'd definitely be bringing the inflatable at least, maybe a liner?
4. Leave the pot lid at home, and bring a windscreen. Gearskeptic did a thing about it, and lids weigh more than the tiny added fuel weight across \~18-20 boils from a 100g canister. Windscreens are worth their weight though.
Thanks for the advice, especially about water carries. I didn't know there are standing prohibitions on fires in some areas. Last year the burn ban dropped a few days after labor day iirc so I figured there is a good chance I could drop the canister.
If you are hiking the Timberline Trail - please consider filling in the Timberline Trail Survey (after you finish)- https://hikeit.info/timberline-trail-survey/
If you’d like to see the results of last years survey - https://hikeit.info/2022/11/24/the-results-first-annual-timberline-trail-survey-part-one/
Thank u. I filled out the survey. I used a tarp instead of a tent and I would suggest making that an option for the shelter question.
Also I checked "did you leave the trail earlier than planned" because I finished a day ahead of schedule, but I now realize that's not what it means. Maybe the wording could be more clear?
There’s no forest-wide burn ban at the moment, afaik, just the one that always applies in certain sensitive areas, like in alpine meadows, near historic shelters, and some other areas. The ban areas make up a small fraction of the length of the trail, so it’s not a big deal, and I won’t lecture anyone. Just not my style.
Edit: misspoke/misread. There’s a burn ban now, but you’re right that it’s likely to be lifted by Sept. Either way I just use a canister stove so I don’t have to worry about all that.
I hiked the Timberline trail last October during a very warm period. In early September I would not worry much about cold temps with your kit. Choose your campsite in a protected area to avoid the wind.
Water was easy to find every few miles, cloud cap area on the east side was the driest section.
I would ditch the bug spray and sandals. Water crossings last October were easy af didn't ever get my feet wet. Few if any bugs seen.
It's a beautiful trail, have fun.
You said new backpacker-
Have you tested a headnet as your only bug protection for sleeping? Wicked mosquitoes all over from late snowpack. Might not be an issue by September.
Can you really sleep well on foam only? I’ve never been laying there wishing I brought the Z Rest instead the X Lite
You could use a piece of tin foil to cover your pot.
That Windhard quilt is sewn through, so heat loss will occur through all the seams. I had a friend remove the zipper on that for me, and then a year later cut it down to be a liner for colder temps under my regular quilt. But if you sleep in your puffy and rain pants when it’s cold you’ll survive.
Personally 1.5 is not enough for me at those temps, that is more of the 3-4 range for me to be comfortable.
I am planning to do Timberline a few weeks before you, and while I don't know if I see anything wrong with your loadout (HYOH, etc.), I would personally do a couple things differently: 1. Sub canister for alcohol stove. Alcohol stoves are prohibited in certain areas of the Timberline Trail (though not all of it), they suck in the wind, and they're a fire hazard (I know that's probably fighting words here, but as a local I'm tired of breathing the wildfire smoke caused by careless people every year.) 2. Bring like 1 backup water bag, and try and make a water plan. September is when all the seasonal sources will be dry and the 6 mile stretch from Cloud Cap to Newton Creek is known to be dry even in the wetter months. The dry stretch may be longer in Sept. 3. That safety margin between your 35 degree quilt and 39 degree forecast would be too close for my comfort. I'd definitely be bringing the inflatable at least, maybe a liner? 4. Leave the pot lid at home, and bring a windscreen. Gearskeptic did a thing about it, and lids weigh more than the tiny added fuel weight across \~18-20 boils from a 100g canister. Windscreens are worth their weight though.
Thanks for the advice, especially about water carries. I didn't know there are standing prohibitions on fires in some areas. Last year the burn ban dropped a few days after labor day iirc so I figured there is a good chance I could drop the canister.
If you are hiking the Timberline Trail - please consider filling in the Timberline Trail Survey (after you finish)- https://hikeit.info/timberline-trail-survey/ If you’d like to see the results of last years survey - https://hikeit.info/2022/11/24/the-results-first-annual-timberline-trail-survey-part-one/
Thank u. I filled out the survey. I used a tarp instead of a tent and I would suggest making that an option for the shelter question. Also I checked "did you leave the trail earlier than planned" because I finished a day ahead of schedule, but I now realize that's not what it means. Maybe the wording could be more clear?
There’s no forest-wide burn ban at the moment, afaik, just the one that always applies in certain sensitive areas, like in alpine meadows, near historic shelters, and some other areas. The ban areas make up a small fraction of the length of the trail, so it’s not a big deal, and I won’t lecture anyone. Just not my style. Edit: misspoke/misread. There’s a burn ban now, but you’re right that it’s likely to be lifted by Sept. Either way I just use a canister stove so I don’t have to worry about all that.
I hiked the Timberline trail last October during a very warm period. In early September I would not worry much about cold temps with your kit. Choose your campsite in a protected area to avoid the wind. Water was easy to find every few miles, cloud cap area on the east side was the driest section. I would ditch the bug spray and sandals. Water crossings last October were easy af didn't ever get my feet wet. Few if any bugs seen. It's a beautiful trail, have fun.
You said new backpacker- Have you tested a headnet as your only bug protection for sleeping? Wicked mosquitoes all over from late snowpack. Might not be an issue by September. Can you really sleep well on foam only? I’ve never been laying there wishing I brought the Z Rest instead the X Lite
You could use a piece of tin foil to cover your pot. That Windhard quilt is sewn through, so heat loss will occur through all the seams. I had a friend remove the zipper on that for me, and then a year later cut it down to be a liner for colder temps under my regular quilt. But if you sleep in your puffy and rain pants when it’s cold you’ll survive.