i'm going to be doing the research on this, but I figured I'd check in with y'all, 1st. does anyone have any 1st hand experience with this subject? We're thinking of having kids and I'm planning ahead. I don't want to stop backpacking, but want to be safe. I read of one woman on this site who backpa...

We're back. We ended up doing Charlebois from first water TH. It was awsome! luved it! we went the weekend before Thanksgiving. it happened to be the coldest weekend of the year so far- what luck!!! It was windy and dropped below 40 degrees in PHX. Stayed warm, though. Not toasty, but warm. I'll go,...

map or map/compass. neither if i'm playing around in south mtn since it seems hard to get too lost, esp from the Baseline/48th St side of it, where I go almost daily for quick hikes/runs due to proximity to home.

I'm thinking of doing an overnighter on the Charlebois from Peralta TH or Charlesbois from First Water TH. Charlebois from First Water TH has a map on this site. I know I'm just being lazy and will prob go get a topo of that area, since I'll prob go a million more times and have gotten a bit off the...

Well, I think we've narrowed it down to backpacking the Charlebois from Peralta TH at 2400 elevation or Charlebois from First Water TH on the weekend before Thanksgiving. Sure hope it doesn't rain. Does anyone know if those sound like pretty good "warmer" hikes?

In response to DoFear and MikeinFHAZ, when I was cold in the past, I was using a basic 20 degree EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports-all ya Eastern folks know the store..) bag. I now bought a 0 degree Kilimanjaro regular woman's bag from REI. It has Polarguard 3D in it. Ooo, was I cozy in my new fluffy fat...

i've been looking on the backpacking hikes and notice that a lot of hikes in the superstitions say they get to 30 degrees at night. most hikes only have a few degree difference, usually like 62-67 degrees, which I assume means in the day time and nights weren't factored in. I've never had luck findi...

That software sounds very cool. Does it include smaller hikes like in the Superstitions or does it have national parks and more U.S. wide popular hikes?

I'm just curious how many people carry a compas and topo map every backpacking trip. I know they can be lifesavers, but actually haven't started that practice, yet due to the mere hassle of buying topos and stuff... Any ideas on where to get topos inexpensively and easily/quickly or do you always ha...

Oh, I'm still here, Joe, and actually I don't know what i did without this website before! I'll be posting and reading a lot more. About sleeping in the... the new member will say it... the Nude: I've tried that a few times and haven't seen it to work, but ofcourse it's hard to test that; maybe the ...

Thanks for the good info. Most of it I am already trying, but the black rock and a couple other ideas were really good ideas. It's also good to hear that I am not alone in my wanting to hike all yr round, but stay warm dilemma. I'm cold already in the season and don't sleep with my window more than ...

I'm wanting to do a 2-3 day trip around Thanksgiving time and want to continue to be able to backpack throughout the winter, but I hate the cold and have had more than one miserable night backpacking in the cold. I'll take 90 degrees over 50 any night! My 20 degree bag with sleeping pad never seemed...