How cold is too cold?

[auwesman]

So the snow thread got me thinking.
I love to backpack when its COLD.  I mean well below freezing!(call me crazy, but I love backpacking in the rain also)  I know I live in the wrong state for that, but I try to make regular trips out west and north.  I've had many trips where I've had to thaw water, etc, but to me there is nothing better than being in a warm sleeping bag when the weather is ice cold.
My wife however HATES the cold.  90 degrees is cold to her.

So, how low does the mercury have to drop before you decided you aren't willing to pull an overnight trip?  Degrees are in F

[Nalgene Ninja]

Clarification please, are you talking overnight/backpacking or dayhiking?

[auwesman]

Overnight was my thought.  i.e. the temp during the day may be 50 but the low that night is 30...So is 30 too cold?
I also realize that some of this could be inhibited by what kind of gear you own, but I'm interested to see if my wife is correct (that I'm nuts) or if there are others out there who share my passion for cold weather.

[Joshua Szulecki]

For hiking? 10-20F.

Otherwise, there is no such thing as too cold. Hot is much worse than cold. I love cold, and I hate heat.

[Rob]

Between 10 and 20 degrees is GREAT. I too like to hike/ camp in the rain, snow, frost and up to about 75 degrees. I do at times hike in extreme heat but with great caution. If it get's me out of doors I'm down with it! Hiking in the cold rain is OK, but sometimes presents a bigger challenge than my body is easily willing to accept.

[Cuffs]

Willing to stay out in and have stayed out in I think are 2 different things also...

I would like the lows to be in the 30's.  I have been out in the hammock down to the low 20's but that was only because of a freak cold front...

I'll take backpacking at what ever temperature I can get it!  I dont actually mind hiking in warmer weather, just not the blistering heat of full-on summer tho.

[JRR]

The colder, the better.  I fon't even start hiking until mid to late September.

[Chris]

You will rarely catch me on the trail in summer. The coldest I've camped was about 10 degrees. I prefer it to be comfortable rather than extreme low temps. Though as long as it isn't 80+ I am happy.

[WolfVanZandt]

Yeah, I've always preferred winter hiking/camping. I've never understood that either. I was born in south Florida, grew up in central Georgia/Alabama, and lived all my life south of Tennessee (except for a short stint in Virginny. All the rest of my family likes hot weather - I suspect that I was switched at birth.

[PastorLarryT]

I enjoy the cooler (to cold) weather but do not enjoy the combination of wet/cold or windy/cold.  I would prefer not to have the temps down below 30 for overnight tips (but hey, I don't control the weather).  I just purchased a thicker sleeping bag to try out this year - supposed to be good to 0 degrees.

I'm a little different from many hikers I talk to, in that I don't mind hiking in the summer.  Sure I would prefer NOT to have 100 degrees and 100% humidity, but I will hike in it.  I DO modify my hikes during the worst part of summer to take advantage of cooler mornings, shade, and water sources.  I'm also more likely to take my kayak out during the hottest part of the summer.  I generally DO NOT backpack/overnight in the summer due to ticks, skeeters, and similar problems (though we do sometimes car camp).  My favorite time of the year is Autumn (and then Spring).

[WolfVanZandt]

My least favorite weather is a fine mist, just before freezing. My second is temperatures above 95 with high humidity.

As for summer car camping, it gives me a little extra - an alarm clock. As soon as the sun hits my greenhouse-on-wheels van, I'm outa there.

[freshface]

Camping in the cold is not for me. With that being said, I seem to find it easier to make time in the colder months for hiking/camping than during the warmer months! I make sure to carry xtra socks, gloves, toboggans, thermals, raingear, etc when the temps start to drop at night. I've found it's much more convenient to wear 5 pairs of socks than pack a bulky hoodshirt. I also have a liner to add to my bag to insulate it. I'm rather small, so when the temps begin to drop below 68 at night, I freeze and stay connected to the fire. We also take some whiskey to help warm up those cold nights! The worse is when you get that 'bone cold' and can't get warm regardless of what measurements you take.

[Nalgene Ninja]

I don't mind cold as long as I'm prepared for it. I'm spent the night in single digit temps, sleeping in a cheap poly-filled bag and a set of thermal coveralls. I was toasty but 3 people in the group w/ me got frostbite.

[montysano]

Perfection for me: 45 degrees and sunny during the day, 25-30 degrees overnight.

On my last Sipsey trip last winter, I discovered that:

-  My 15 degree Sierra Designs bag had lost some loft, or;

-  I'm getting old.  I used to sleep out at 10 degrees and love it, or;

-  Both 

[WolfVanZandt]

whiskey.....
1) dehydrates you, which is bad outdoors.
2) monkeywrenches your body's temperature regulation.
3) makes you where you can't tell when it's doing damage.
4) and gives you a hangover if you over do it - again not good outdoors.
5) and it freezes way below the freezing point of water so, if you drink it when it's really cold, it will freeze the lining of your stomach and really cause you problems.

I'll tell you a great cold weather drink that will warm you up very effectively.

Make jello or pudding (jello's best) according to the package, but don't let it set and drink it as a hot drink.

[montysano]

Make jello or pudding (jello's best) according to the package, but don't let it set and drink it as a hot drink.

Can I put whiskey in it?   

[Woody]

Anything above zero is fine with me but my favorite is highs in the upper 60's and lows in the mid to upper 30's.

[WolfVanZandt]

Actually, I occasionally camp at a place that serves alcoholic jello - it's pretty spectacular even though I'm very particular about how much I eat - I've done enough damage in my life.

[Lesley]

Now! It's too cold right now. This is good weather for brandy spiked hot apple cider, indoors with blankets and a space heater.  You won't see me until July, and then I'll be soaking wet from having crawled out of a swimming hole.

[WolfVanZandt]

Heh, I'm the exact opposite. I do sometimes camp during the summer because of my responsibilities as a camp host but I never camp during hot weather by choice. I vastly prefer to risk frost bite and camp during the winter.

For one thing, in Alabama lately, waterfalls stop flowing during the summer months.