Date: March 6-7th, 2021
# Clients: 7
Weather conditions: Partly cloudy day one. Clear, sunny, windless, and hot on day two. Got down to low 20s at night.
Snow conditions: Deep snow. No bare patches on trail or at Dewey Point. Soft and a bit icy on top in the shade.
Issues/Notes: Slept in a bivy sac in the snow for the first time.
Snow was forecasted for the morning drive up to Yosemite NP, but the roads were clear upon arrival. If anything, the light showers married with the sunrise gifted my long drive with rainbows and crystal clear views of snow capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada. Typically the mixture of smog, fog, and/or clouds obscure the view of the mountains. I figured this was a good sign the trip was going to go well this weekend…..and it did!
I trusted the weather forecast to be clear of any rain or snow showers, therefore I decided to try out sleeping in my Outdoor Research Expedition bivy sac in the snow for the first time. I used it on 6-7 multi-day trips last summer, so I felt comfortable using it, but have never experienced it in snow. I read plenty of other blogs and YouTube videos of other people using them, so I felt confident I wasn’t being silly.
In order to give myself some windy protection, I dug down into the snow and created a long pit about 24 inches deep on the deepest side and 7 feet long. The other side opened up to a bare patch next to a pine tree that I used to store my backpack and other items I didn’t want to get wet. I wasn’t going to have room to fit my backpack in my bivy sac. I also dug down a small section next to where I would have the opening to my bivy so I could sit while taking off and putting on my boots.
The wind never picked up during the night and the temperatures dropped into the 20s. The bivy definitely added warmth to my 9 degree Marmot bag, but it also was a bit tighter inside with two sleeping pads. I noticed I had a bit less wiggle room around my shoulders and head. I did not fully zip the bivy for fear of suffocation, so the condensation that collected on the inside of the bivy around my head froze. I noticed it the first time I woke and my hand felt the icy touch of the bivy as I rolled over.
Overall I was super snug in my bivy in subfreezing temperatures and would probably do it again. If the weather was variable and any snow or rain was in the forecast I would probably opt for the heavy tent. I was thinking a tarp would have been handy to bring in the future. I could have draped it over the top of my ditch for added protection.
Carrying a bivy in the winter allowed me to comfortably carry the additional clothing and camping items I would need for winter camping in my backpack. If I had a sled, I would probably have brought my 2 person three season tent for added comfort.
