AboutMike Expertise I can answer questions about backpacking a snowshoeing in the American West: Mountains, Canyons and Deserts.
Experience I've spent much of my life backpacking, hiking and snowshoeing in the Cascades, Rockies, high Sierras and the red rock canyons of the Southwest.
Publications Just letters to the editor in Backpacker and Outside and my Backpacking homepages
Question hello Mike, I am planning a holiday to Grand Canyon next week. Isnīt it too cold there now in October to sleep in a tent? I can find on a net that the camps are open, but the temperitures in the night are pretty low. Is it still possible?
You're asking a person who lives in Oregon and sleeps in a tent pretty much year round, including snow camping. So yes, it's possible. In fact, it's fun and a good idea. The deal is to have a good sleeping bag and a good insulated pad. You probably know this, but sleeping bags are made with various temperature ratings. Normally from around +40 degrees down to -10 degrees. (You can get bags down to -40 and warmer but few of us need such warmth.)
Let's say that the temps are going to be around 30 degrees but you are really cold at 30 degrees. I'd look into a 10 degree sleeping bag or warmer. There are two basic types of insulation, down and synthetic. Down, or my dollar, feels warmer than synthetics. But my wife has a synthetic bag and loves it. Down costs more and can't easily be washed/cleaned. Get a bag from a reputable dealer. I love REI because you can't make a mistake there. If you buy a bag and it's not what you need/want you can take it back for a full refund, usually store credit.
And under that bag you'll need a good insulating layer between you and the ground. Self-inflating mattresses such as Thermarest are the warmest and most comfortable. A plain old air mattress will just have you laying on a layer of cold air. Don't use one. Closed cell foam is also good insulation but not as comfortable as the Thermarest type. Again REI has a house brand of air mattress that are guaranteed and well made and cost less than others.
Go to bed warm. Take a walk to warm up, do some stretches, whatever. Don't stuff yourself into your sleeping bag wearing all your clothes. You'll compress the insulation and it won't work as well. When you go to bed put on dry socks (if yours are damp), long underwear and a hat. Some wear gloves. If you get cold a hooded sweatshirt can help a lot. Have some of those chemical heat packets handy on a just-in-case basis.
Don't go to bed dehydrated. Your body needs fluid in order to keep itself warm.
Getting out of bed is a challenge but you have to do it eventually. Have your warm clothes laid out and handy. Get up, get dressed, get out and take a good walk in order to warm your body. This really helps a lot. I'm talking a good walk of 20-30 minutes. Swing your arms. Warm up if you're cold. It's not hard to do.
Cool weather is a great time. There are fewer people, no bugs, clearer air, brighter stars, and it's often more quiet. Good luck!
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