Hydration bladder when winter hiking

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cougar
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Re: Hydration bladder when winter hiking

Post by cougar »

I just keep both the bladder and hose inside my coat, works fine most of the time. Still have the original "pack" camelback model with newer bladder, and blow air back in. When it's very cold the bite valve might freeze, I carry a liter thermos of water as backup in my pack. Also I don't stay out long in very cold temperatures, if at all.
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pvnisher
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Re: Hydration bladder when winter hiking

Post by pvnisher »

I don't use a bladder in the winter. After two trips where I had frozen hoses or mouthpiece, just not worth the dehydration or frozen finger risk trying to fix it.
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JQDivide
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Re: Hydration bladder when winter hiking

Post by JQDivide »

Insulated bottles. Insulated bottle holder.

Much of what we do, the choices we make, in hiking/climbing 14ers is risk management.
The amount of effort and steps needed to use a bladder in the winter, to keep it from freezing, just doesn't make sense to me.
It's a risk we can eliminate.
pvnisher
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Re: Hydration bladder when winter hiking

Post by pvnisher »

And worst of all, if it freezes, it's also one of your heaviest items you've now been lugging for no reason.
And if it bursts you're also hosed, pun intended.
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