Got caught in a surprise hailstorm on the John Muir Trail near Evolution Creek last August

I was somewhere around mile 65 and the sky just went dark in about ten minutes. No tree cover for miles, just granite slabs and my cheap poncho that ripped immediately. After that trip I finally bought a proper emergency bivy from a shop in Bishop, and now I check the weather radar on my InReach at every break. Anyone else had a sudden weather event totally change their packing list?

3 comments

3 Comments

bennett.vera1mo ago

Wait, is carrying a bivy REALLY that big of a deal unless you're hiking in full winter conditions? I mean I got caught in a freak snow squall on the PCT once and just hid behind a big rock for 20 minutes.

lucasw821mo ago

Worked fine for me too on a rainy AT section.

hayes.joel1mo ago

Nah, a bivy's not worth the hassle unless it's dead of winter...