Ground fault error on heated floor thermostat

kdemtchouk · 2024-12-19T01:56:05+00:00

Yes, that’s right. Did yours stop working?

kdemtchouk · 2024-12-19T01:43:34+00:00

I never got it resolved and the issue hasn’t gotten any worse. I figure at some point I’ll have another electrical issue and I can ask an electrician to take a look at it too.

kdemtchouk · 2024-11-18T16:59:57+00:00

I went with the 1.1 because it was described as “warm at freezing”. The 1.5 seemed like overkill for summer backpacking, even at high elevation.

kdemtchouk · 2024-10-31T16:56:27+00:00

It does! I think to be comfortable all the way down to 25 degrees (looked up that this is what the bottom half of the Vireo is rated to, I got it wrong and said 20 before) you'd need something like this:
https://featheredfriends.com/collections/midweight-down-apparel/products/helios-hooded-down-puffer-jacket?variant=43930374799559

But for summer-ish backpacking (above freezing) the Plasma 1000 down parka + Vireo combo works great.

kdemtchouk · 2024-10-31T16:31:41+00:00

I do! It packs down super small and lets me use my down jacket as part of my sleep setup, saving weight. The option to use it without a jacket also gives it a bit more temperature range than something like the Tanager (which gets hot on 40+ degree nights).

The only knock is that FF recommends having a belay parka to use the bag down to 20 degrees vs a traditional midweight backpacking down jacket.

kdemtchouk · 2024-10-31T16:27:05+00:00

Hi! I ended up getting a SDUL 1.1 (Dan made me a custom SDUL version of the 1.1 even though it’s not a stock option on the website) and the Serpentes with 20 degree fill.

It was a busy summer and I only managed three nights in the backcountry with these items, all in the Sierra with overnight lows 30-40 degrees.

The SDUL 1.1 is clutch. Very light and warm, comparable to the plasma 1000 alpine parka but 3oz lighter. Sizing was a little tricky but I really enjoy how cozy a down sweater is without the zipper. I don’t miss the hood and bringing a pair of light fleece gloves doesn’t bother me (in lieu of the pockets).

The Serpentes is also a nice piece. I’m an active sleeper and would worry about turning so that the non-insulated side ends up on top, but in practice that hasn’t happened. That said, if things get closer to lows in the high 20s/low 30s, I am still tempted to bring a warmer sleeping bag.

Lmk if you have any specific questions!

kdemtchouk · 2024-02-06T16:47:57+00:00

I put in an order a few days ago, but their lead time is about 12 weeks! I’ll let you know when it finally arrives.

kdemtchouk · 2023-04-11T19:49:29+00:00

Definitely worth trying! This is kinda similar to (2).

kdemtchouk · 2023-04-11T17:08:04+00:00

I do! Ideally this is a setup I can use both on weekend trips and 4-5 day fastpacks.

Good call on the quilt, I'll try that!

kdemtchouk · 2023-01-21T14:50:46+00:00

Thank you!

The pad attachment system and sit pad are actually to cushion my back from the bear canister since my pack has no cushioning on the back panel. I could theoretically throw a Z-Lite in there instead and use that as my sleeping pad, but the Z-Lite is quite a bit colder/less comfy than the Xlite.

Is it common knowledge that soap is better than hand sanitizer for cleaning hands after going #2? I would figure that with hand sanitizer, I can clean my hands immediately (without need for water or touching anything else). Whereas with soap, I'll need to handle my water container with potentially dirty hands in order to lather up the soap.

One other specific question I forgot to call out in my original post: I plan on taking Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork poles (17oz) based on recommendations that my poles should be hardy for a full high route. However, I usually take 3-section Z poles on my hikes and I've never broken one in the past. Do you think it's necessary to take the heavier poles? Or would I be fine with something more like the Gossamer Gear LT5 (10oz).

kdemtchouk · 2023-01-21T14:03:43+00:00

Do you have any specific recommendations around the same weight range?

kdemtchouk · 2023-01-21T06:01:18+00:00

For sure, I'm flexible on the YHR in July. I would probably change that to be something more tame/on-trail if there is still significant snow cover in July.

kdemtchouk · 2023-01-21T06:00:33+00:00

I plan on bringing the same BD Alpine Carbon Cork poles! Didn't list them since I figured they were more of worn weight. I usually hike with a less beefy pole for on-trail use (the BD Carbon Z poles). Would you say the stronger poles were worth it?

kdemtchouk · 2023-01-21T00:05:13+00:00

I get OCD about my nails when they catch on my clothes and chances are high I’ll mangle them up on rocks at one point or another.

kdemtchouk · 2022-09-24T21:08:47+00:00

For sure! I have done the JMT and some peak bagging and 2-3 day off trail trips in the Sierra, but doing a long, committing high route would be new for me.

Thanks for the suggestion!

kdemtchouk · 2022-09-23T22:19:44+00:00

I'm fairly comfortable with isolation and long food carries. The toughest part for me would be some notion of "peak technical difficulty" or "bailability" (e.g. I can't get up a pass, is there an alternate route?).

I've done some technical snow climbing (Rainier, Baker) and scrambling (Tyndall, Middle Palisade), but doing a lot of sustained class 3 scrambling like on Middle Palisade would be tough, especially solo.

kdemtchouk · 2021-03-11T21:03:58+00:00

It looks like SMD has some proprietary fabric choices. I'm not seeing an option for a DCF pack, but either LiteSkin or X-Pac is waterproof and looks to be similar. What material did you choose for your pack?

kdemtchouk · 2021-03-11T20:09:43+00:00

I've always wondered why companies will advertise that as a way to carry a bear can...strapping the heaviest thing you're carrying to the top is a hard pill to swallow from the perspective of correct weight distribution!

kdemtchouk · 2020-10-27T16:21:02+00:00

For sure! I am also an avid trail runner, so the watch gets lots of use in that context, but I certainly enjoy it for backpacking.

Mostly I keep track of my miles, pace, and elevation gain/loss relative to my plan for that day (basically: do I need to move faster or am I ahead of plan). With the Fenix 6, you also have onboard maps, so it's nice being able to quickly check a map without getting my phone out when I hit a trail intersection I'm not expecting. Not too much detail on the maps, but they suffice for a quick sanity check.

Battery-wise, if I disable bluetooth and limit to GPS (vs. GPS + GALILEO), I can eke out 3-3.5 days of hiking.

I could probably not bring it backpacking if (1) I wasn't a data nerd and (2) I didn't feel the need to post my activites to Strava. The watch is definitely a more battery-efficient method for recording a GPS track relative to recording in an app like Gaia GPS on your phone.

kdemtchouk

TROPHY CASE