The Wild East

Figuring out your optimal system of layers for a hike with elevation gain is an accomplishment. It’s something that can only come with experience. A system of layers allows you to take off and put back on clothing when necessary in order to keep your body at the perfect temperature. It’s important to stay warm enough that you’re comfortable and yet prevent sweat which will evaporate, leaving you both cold and wet.

For the upper body

Here’s the formula that works for me Fall, Winter, and Spring: 

1. A base layer: This is a long sleeve layer. It should not be cotton. It should be wool or polyester or both and be quick drying. I have a few of differing thicknesses and one which is quilted.
2. A sweater or sweatshirt layer: Much like the base layer this shouldn’t be cotton. I like to keep this layer form fitting as it will go under a few other layers. I love the Patagonia quarter zip sweaters for this purpose. 
3. A puffer: This thin puffer layer will lock in your body heat. They pack up really small so if you have to take it off they won’t take up much room in your bag.  
4. A shell: My shell layer is Gortex making it 100% water proof. I know that there are also natural, wax style shells and so long as yours is waterproof, that will work as well. This layers will not only keep you dry but act much like a trash bag in that it does a great job of locking in body heat. So well in fact, that a lot of shells have zippers which allow access to the armpits in case you need to be dry but don’t want to sweat.

Here’s my summer formula:

1. A tank top: This layer should be quick drying and I like to wear them on the flowy side to aid the breeze in cooling me off.
2. A sweater or sweatshirt layer: In the summer I am more apt to bring an actual sweatshirt, like a comfy collegiate one, to throw on when the wind starts moving or if the summit is on the colder side. I don’t worry about keeping it form fitting as I would in the other seasons since I know I won’t be putting a puffer on top of it.
3. A raincoat: I use the same shell as a raincoat in the summer as I do in the winter to keep my gear as minimal as possible. If you prefer to pack a lighter, rain proof layer in the summer, like a Frogg Togg, then that would be perfectly fine so long as it fits over your sweatshirt layer.

For your legs

Fall, Winter, Spring

1. Leggings: These act as your base layer
2. Fleece Pants: These work like the puffer layer for the upper body in that they trap in heat.
3. Shell Pants: These work in the same way as the upper body shell in that they trap heat and keep you dry. 

Summer

1. Leggings or shorts

For the extremities 

Fall, Winter, Spring

1. For the hands: In these colder months I bring two pairs of gloves: One pair that’s thick and waterproof and a second pair which is thin for when I heat up and don’t want to keep wearing the more insulating gloves. Outdoor research makes some great thin gloves that my partner can vouch for, but I stick to the cheap, Walmart variety that I wore in elementary school and which come in packs of 6.
2. For the head: A beanie. It helps trap heat and protect your ears from frostbite. 
3. For the face: A cowl, buff, or face mask. When the wind is whipping, and the air is too cold to inhale, these accessories come in handy. Cowls and buffs hang around your neck and can be pulled over your nose to protect your nose and cheeks. Face masks, like the cloth ones that also worked for the COVID-19 pandemic, now stuffed in the back of one of your drawers somewhere, will also work for this purpose. 

Summer

1. A buff: I pull this over my ears in whipping summit winds otherwise it can function as a headband to help keep hair out my face.