Rafting Kilted down the Grand Canyon....again...Utilikilt Question

[jthk]

Hey there,

My comments are somewhat related to your post. Summer last, I hiked up the Cobbler in Arrochar with some friends. It was warm-ish and the weather ranged from fine mist to outright downpours. I hiked in my favourite Bedrock sandals (no problems there) and an older-school cotton Survival. A merino wool T-shirt on top. The relevant message to your post is about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way up to the Cobbler, I realised my mistake: the cotton Survival was 100% soaked and while I was hiking upwards, my body heat did its job and kept me moderately warm. But when I stopped at the top to eat and then while walking ALL THE WAY DOWN, it was horrific. The wet cotton obviously didn't dry out, it kept all the water, and I was starting to get chilled. By the time I returned to "base camp", I stripped down and, shivering in moderately warm weather, put on other clothes. My success was the merino wool top layers I had been wearing. Even though that original T-shirt was soaked, I was warm enough. I will never hike in a cotton kilt again -- perhaps a polyviscose one from Rocky and Co., but whenever there's a chance of being stuck in the rain, I'll always go wool.

(I had a decent rain jacket at the beginning but it was warm enough that I was getting wet from my own sweat. I removed it and I then got wet from the rain -- which I preferred!)

Good luck on your adventure!
Jonathan

[Riverkilt]

Most relevant and my big fear, thank you. I am taking all kinds of merino wool from neck band thingie, to gloves, to vest, to sox. Wool helps cool in the heat when its wet but also make the 47 degree river water tolerable...keeps the blood cool.

I was gonna put the Survival on and hose it down in the back yard but didn't take a genius to figure out what a mess that would be. Have worn cotton survivals on flat water but whitewater is different.

Thanks for the reality check.

[jthk]

Sure thing. I vividly remember the sopping wet, cold cotton Utilikilt on me as I slogged up and down the Cobbler. I won't ever make that mistake again!

GOOD LUCK! and have fun!

Jonathan

Most relevant and my big fear, thank you. I am taking all kinds of merino wool from neck band thingie, to gloves, to vest, to sox. Wool helps cool in the heat when its wet but also make the 47 degree river water tolerable...keeps the blood cool.

I was gonna put the Survival on and hose it down in the back yard but didn't take a genius to figure out what a mess that would be. Have worn cotton survivals on flat water but whitewater is different.

Thanks for the reality check.

[MichiganKyle]

Hey there,

My comments are somewhat related to your post. Summer last, I hiked up the Cobbler in Arrochar with some friends. It was warm-ish and the weather ranged from fine mist to outright downpours. I hiked in my favourite Bedrock sandals (no problems there) and an older-school cotton Survival. A merino wool T-shirt on top. The relevant message to your post is about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way up to the Cobbler, I realised my mistake: the cotton Survival was 100% soaked and while I was hiking upwards, my body heat did its job and kept me moderately warm. But when I stopped at the top to eat and then while walking ALL THE WAY DOWN, it was horrific. The wet cotton obviously didn't dry out, it kept all the water, and I was starting to get chilled. By the time I returned to "base camp", I stripped down and, shivering in moderately warm weather, put on other clothes. My success was the merino wool top layers I had been wearing. Even though that original T-shirt was soaked, I was warm enough. I will never hike in a cotton kilt again -- perhaps a polyviscose one from Rocky and Co., but whenever there's a chance of being stuck in the rain, I'll always go wool.

(I had a decent rain jacket at the beginning but it was warm enough that I was getting wet from my own sweat. I removed it and I then got wet from the rain -- which I preferred!)

Good luck on your adventure!
Jonathan

This is a very useful anecdote I will have to remember. I have not really gotten my cotton utility kilt wet yet. Clearly I need to avoid that.

[jthk]

I'm happy that my however-temporary-suffering will be useful. Perhaps others experiences will differ but that's mine. Ugh.

Jonathan

This is a very useful anecdote I will have to remember. I have not really gotten my cotton utility kilt wet yet. Clearly I need to avoid that.

[Riverkilt]

Now I'm thinking since it's gonna be over 100 F the whole trip maybe a little wet cold would be a good thing....