Hi all! Looking for anyone with experience hiking in Patagonia in late shoulder season. I will be headed down at the start of November and plan to do the Huemul Circuit as well as a few other overnights.
I am not overly concerned about my big 3 as I have a solid 20 degree sleep system and a Tarptent Stratopsire 2 that should hold up to the wind, but I AM seeking advice on clothing and footwear! This definitely seems like the trickiest call with the possibility of sustained extreme winds, rain, and cool temps.
I was thinking of the following:
- 3 pairs darn tough wool socks
- 2/3 pairs underwear
- 1 long sleeve sun hoody - open to suggestions, maybe a midweight capilene instead?
- 1 t shirt
- Capilene long underwear
- Pants of some kind? Open to suggestions.
- 1 pair running shorts
- Down jacket
- Rain jacket
- Rain pants
- Lighter weight fleece of some kind
- Buff or fleece Skida hat
- Cheap fleece gloves
- Sunglasses
Anything that you would recommend adding/removing? I am wondering if some form of rain mitts could be prudent. This is a lot of clothing already, so I am wondering if certain things are really necessary, such as both a short-sleeve shirt and a sun hoody.
Edit: Adding formal shakedown info.
Where are you going and when: Patagonia, Argentina, Huemul Circuit and other day hikes. November 2023.
What temp range and weather do you expect: 35-65 Fahrenheit/0C-18C. Very high winds, significant rain.
Goal Baseweight (BPW): Ideally 14LBS. Going to be carrying 4 days of food max.
Budget: $400
Non-negotiable Items: Thermarest Neoair X-Lite, Tarptent Stratopsire 2, Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20F with 850fp down
Solo or with another person?: With one other person
Additional Information: None
Lighterpack Link: Traveling right now, so no way to weigh my gear. Will edit later.
Check out Skurka’s core 13 clothing system. At a minimum consult the capstone post and find conditions that are similar to your expected conditions. I don’t have experience in Patagonia but I do have experience conditions similar to what you’ve listed.
2 pairs of underwear & socks. In persistent precipitation you put the wet ones back on in the morning. It only sucks for a few minutes.
No midweight capilene and no long underwear. I would find both too warm for active use, and they are weight inefficient for static warmth. A midweight capilene top would also fit the same role as a fleece IMO.
Pick your “go suit” and roll with it. Ie pants or shorts and t-shirt or long sleeve. Not both. OR Echo sun hoody is pretty sweet if you’re looking for a recommendation.
I only find a beanie/warm hat necessary if my fleece is lacking a hood.
The rest of the list looks pretty good IMO. If I was expecting to hike for a significant amount of time in wind and no rain I would consider a wind jacket. I don’t find that rain jackets breathe well enough to wear them during high aerobic output.