Bushwalk Australia

Hi folks,

As a new reader and planning for my first hike in a decade (in Cradle Mountain), I've been much enlightened by all the posts in here. My all important question is about keeping your bum dry, as I'm still undecided on the best way to do this for dayhiking in the wet and snow. So maybe this mystery is worth it's own thread?

What are your approaches?

My instinct was to get a long jacket so when you sit down on a comfy log or stone, you don't get soggy undies. But reading about Goretex and other materials tendency to micropuncture and diminish waterproofness, sitting on rough ground might not be so good for them? And there are very few jackets that seem long enough, anyway? I tried on a Hollyford that does go past my butt when standing, but would ride up on sitting... not sure if the MD Stratus or Melaleuca or Mont Tempest are any longer? The Oringi Grampian certainly looks long enough, if it's durable...

I guess I could go for water repellent shorts or trousers? Cut some overpants into shorts? Throw down a little seating mat? Not sit down? Live with my wet backside?

Look forward to your thoughts!

Bruce

Have you also noticed that there are very few real "Bushwalking" jackets out there?/ Most of the new stuff is or seems to be aimed at Everest/high Altitude mountaineers or wanna-bees and you absolutely MUST use overpants or sallopettes with them.

Personally I prefer the older style long jacket/coat .
I solved this problem for my self way back by having J&H ( any-one remember them ??? ) sew on a large "Artigi Tail" onto my Canetoad bushwalking jacket.
Just e warned tho; if it is really practical you will get laughed at by the fashion police

Bruce,
In the wet and snow, e.g., at the low-ish temperatures to be experienced at Cradle Mountain in autumn through to spring, I'm very comfortable wearing both waterproof pants and jacket. I wear pants and jacket made from Goretec Paclite - mostly for the weight saving but also extra breathability. The downside is that the material is not robust so it isn't suitable for bush-bashing conditions. But when they are more duct-tape than paclite I buy anew.

Cheers

I use a small piece of closed cell foam to sit on in the snow or wet conditions.

I solved this problem for my self way back by having J&H ( any-one remember them ??? )

J&H are still around, they are now called One Planet, this is a link to some J&H history

Tony

Thanks folks!

Does the Paclite hold up to rubbing up against rocks, stumps, etc?

The foam idea sounds good too - maybe an offcut of a 8mm sleeping mat? They're only $10 or so.

Cheers,
B

Tony not the same helpful company who would custom make "One offs " and alter to suit, they used to make my dumper jumper extra long in body and sleeves for me

Last year we brought back the Hoolyford jacket (our longer length tramping jacket), and made it with a very robust eVent taslan.

http://www.macpac.com.au/shop/en_au/gea ... yford.html
may be worth investigating as one of the few longer length jackets around, and certainly the most breathable.

I walked with a guy recently who carried a 'computer mouse mat' in the pocket of his pack. Water did not come through it, it had some minor padding and was very light. Thought it was a good idea when I was sitting directly on the cold rock next to him.

I use a number of strategies in the cold and wet, one is to always have a scrap of double thickness foam pad to sit on, and if I am wearing lightweight Goretex or alternatives overpants and I am worried about the wear and tear on my behind I wear a very lite pair on old surf shorts over the top, which can do double duty for swimming and/or hot weather, you find them in Op-Shops for a dollar or two and I wouldn't pay more.
Hi Blacksheep, that jacket while better than some is just a little too short in the rear to be effective, if it had had an Artigi extension on the rear and more pockets and been available in Olive Drab/Coyote Tan; it would be perfect.
designers often loose sight of the fact that the body length in the back is much longer than in front ( those of us with a huge belly and spare tire are of course exceptions ) and an extra 75mm in the rear actually just brings the back in line with the front in most cases on most people.
To be effective the drop tail needs to be at least 300 mm and while very practical looks daggy so very few people do it

Overpants are the only sure way, though I'd probably not go Paclite for overpants as they can cop a lot of abuse. Mountain Designs have reasonable value Gore Tex ones and assuming the Macpac's Resolution Event ones are the same material as the Hollyford they are a pretty good buy too, probably better actually.

I have a Hollyford and it's a great jacket, but yeah it's a shame they didn't make it LONG, rather than just longer. I've gone an XL to try and get some extra length at the expense of a pretty sloppy fitting body. I can just sit on the tail, but probably not with a pack on I suspect. It's actually fantastic as despite the wettest summer in god knows how long, it has managed to stop it from raining on all except one day of bush walking for me! So I haven't tested it very much yet.

I carry blue foam mat on overnight+ walks to sit on. It's great but I tend to find it wets through eventually if used on really wet ground.

DWR pants wont help for sitting down on wet ground, but are good in light showers at shedding the water falling from the sky.