[pct-l] adiabatic/katabatic air

[kdpo at pacbell.net (Ken Powers)]

Good advice. We found camping to close to a stream was inviting
condensation. And we try to pay attention to katabatic air flows. Sometimes
we just couldn't find a flat, level place to put our tent though.

Ken
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Setzer" <Steven.Setzer@Colorado.EDU>
To: <pct-l@backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 10:12 AM
Subject: [pct-l] adiabatic/katabatic air


>
> Oh yeah, this reminds me, your campsite location has a BIG impact on
> warmth and wetness.  If you camp low in a valley, near a stream or lake,
> it will be much colder and wetter.  Camp a little ways up from the valley
> floor, sometimes even 30 or 40 vertical feet is enough, and you'll be
> warmer and dryer.
>
> This summer I spent a few days in the Colorodo mountains climing 14ers.  I
> camped in the same area every night and did day hikes from camp.  Every
> night my buddy slept down by a creek and I camped about 100 yard away and
> maybe 50 feet higher.  In the morning, I'd wake up warm and dry.  As I
> walked downhill to wake my friend up, I'd feel the air get suddenly
> colder.  His tent would always be soaking wet (I used a tarp).  When we'd
> start hiking early in the morning, we'd always feel a sudden transition
> back into the warm air as we ascended.  This happened every morning for
> three mornings.  That was enough to convince me.
>
> Ray Jardine talks about this too.  Read the section on Kadabatic and
> Adiabatic air.  For some reason I had read all this before but it didn't
> really sink in until I experienced it first hand.  The first night I
> wasn't so smart, I camped low and woke up cold and wet until I remembered
> this stuff and moved up higher.
>
> Steve
>
>
> On Mon, 5 Jan 2004 Slyatpct@aol.com wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > > >This was okay for one night. But I'm concerned about Washington. The
idea
> > > of
> > > >putting that bag away wet and getting back into it without its being
dried
> > > >has me very concerned. I'm looking for ideas.
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