Weather predictions for the Bob
Last year marked me. The late season snow and sudden problems finding a place to hike really was exhausting.
I did check Reddit and this is the current report:
I’m local and what we are currently seeing is a rapid melting on an average/below average snowpack. The bob currently is almost snow free the entire CDT route (I’ve hiked almost 60% already). Sorry the only first hand beta I have is on the bob, but it’s a good measure for the area.
If this holds then June in the Bob will be wonderful.
Local training conditions.
Local weather went from hot to windy and cold. Wintery mix expected tomorrow.
In two days I want to start our serious training (wanted to start sooner) so we will hit the Bob with some trail legs, though I had hoped to get started sooner.
The New Mexico stretch we did had us walking good distances but it was a little flat.
Here is hoping that after the wintery mix tomorrow things will improve.
On pants
On pants, I know PMags so I decided to try his recommendation on trail pants. They are here: https://pmags.com/gear-review-ubtech-travel-pants
As a baseline, I have the PRana pants I got on trail (the only ones that the outfitters in town had that fit me) and some other pants.
I really liked White Sierra but I haven’t been able to find them for sale for a couple years now. REI, Walmart, Amazon all show them as out of stock.
For comparison the REI Sahara pants have pockets that are hard to use (that will probably change next week. Sahara pants constantly change and evolve). If I were more technical I’d like the REI pockets more. Hard to use also = things don’t go in or fall out.
I also really like the way the Sahara zip offs work. But, away from the AT I’ve found myself not zipping off convertible pants.
I tend to just switch to shorts.
PRana are slightly heavier fabric and are cut a little tight through the calves. Instead of zip offs they use snaps. I’ve been unable to use that feature for river crossings and the like because the cut is too tight to roll up and snap to hold them in place.
In comparison, UBTech pants are loose enough that I can roll them up. They also have a better secured pocket.
The PRana secured pocket zips both horizontally — and vertically |and is just low enough that my wallet bangs my knee a little. I like the built in belt and the colors.
On the other hand the UBTech pocket zips horizontally and appears to not be deep enough to bang my knee.
Other pants out there include Wrangler (people criticize durability and pockets) and Kuhl;
I found the pants do not work well for any temps that are on the warmer side. The fact that the label prominently mentioned a “cell phone” pocket, and the type of photos on the Kuhl website, tell me what I need to know about the pants. They are “lifestyle” pants; marketed as outdoor gear but the consumer base tends to wear them in the trendier places in Boulder, Moab, or for your #liveauthentically photos perhaps
I might use some Nikwax water repellent or not. I still have not made up my mind how I felt about it with the Saharas (the feature comes and goes with REI’s pants).
I’m going to wear both and compare. I’ve got time.
The button is attached better on the PRana using the newer loop vs stitching method.
Still a low snow year.