Bottoms

It has not been really cold in the mountains during the summer in Colorado in years. In the early Nineties I had to wear long underwear or overpants almost every day, but in the 2000’s it has almost been hot in the mountains. Shorts seem to work well. Amy feels women might have other issues.

Packing Comments

Boxers

6 pair - In the mid-Nineties I begged Patagonia to make silk weight boxers. Once they finally manufactured them that is all that I have worn.

Briefs

4 pair - Capilene briefs for those colder days. Briefs are warmer than boxers.

Women's underwear

14 pair - (due to female issues). Sometimes you can get around that by using panty liners.

Running Shorts

6 pair - I enjoy wearing a long pocketed running short as a base layer (in lieu of underwear) and then wear pants on top of them. If I get hot, I just take the pants off and I have shorts on underneath. It makes for a very efficient system.

Shorts

2 pair - Just in case the weather is sooo good I have to wear shorts. Mine would be loose, quick drying, long, and pocketed. Oh, I would still carry a pair of long pants in my pack.

Women's Shorts

5 pair - hiking shorts, since I don't wear them as underwear. I like to make sure they have good, deep pockets so I can carry goodies.

Town Pants

Something to wear if we decide to go to the disco, Ha!

Technical Pants

5 pair - Patagonia’s Talus (Scholler fabric) pants. No longer made probably because they were too expensive, but simply the best pair of climbing pants ever made. They are light, water resistant, dirt resistant, tear resistant, warm, breathable, the legs roll up easily, stretchy, and dry incredibly fast. The design was simple and efficient. I own four pair of the original pants. One pair of the pants I have worn well over a thousand days and they are still in good shape. Everyone should be so lucky as to have a pair of pants like these. Amy wears modern Talus pants and now has found a Millet pant she likes a lot. She also uses some of the zip off legs.

Waterproof Pants

I use an old pair of waterproof pants designed by Craig Leubben when he owned a small company called Mountain Hardware back when he used to make Big Bros. He sold the name of the company. I carry these rain pants if I don’t actually think I am going to have to wear them. You sweat to death in them but they are great if you just need to hunker down.

 

Gore tex Pants

A good trusty pair of rain pants. Nothing special, they just keep the rain off and breathe a little. Mine are also tough enough for glissading. Amy likes the full zip Marmot Precip Gore tex-like pants since they go on so quickly and easily, regardless of shoe/boot types.

Post-Trip Comments

Boxers

Cut back on quantities because of doing laundry every ten days.

Briefs

Never used.

Women's underwear

Worked well, but at times almost ran out.

Running Shorts

Cut back on quantities, but wore most days, unless expecting very hot conditions.

Shorts

Only brought one pair, basically did not wear them.

Women's Shorts

Amy wore them constantly toward the end of the trip when the weather was warmer.

Town Pants

Definitely used.

Technical Pants

Wore them everyday, still the best pair of pants ever. Amy also enjoyed her Millet pants.

Waterproof Pants

I carried these pants or Gore tex ones every day. I wore these on Mount Wilson in a nasty storm.

 

Gore tex Pants

I carried these or WP pants every day. They were a good tough (though heavy) pair of pants.