Hi Mike C - Thank you. Not to sound to much of a sycophant, but you were one of the contributors to these forums whose opinion I was hoping to hear. I've run into a few people using Western Mountaineering and they all give rave reviews. Pushing my budget but may be worth the extra expense. Do you mind me asking what bag you use for winter trips? I was also wondering if anybody has used a Big Agnes Crosho SL - 20 which is also on the radar.

Hi bakerjw - I do a lot of winter backpacking/camping as well so I'd like something that will be as comfortable as possible in extreme cold, negative 20/30. I read different reviews but get paralysis by analysis. I'm hoping I'll get a few answers and see some consensus with what folks feel works best. Thank you for taking the time to respond

This season I would like to invest in a good winter bag; I have been making do with an inexpensive negative 20 Slumberjack for 15+ years. Super bulky, super heavy, and the negative 20 rating was very generous, I freeze. (I should mention to Slumberjack's credit however, that when I let them know my feelings on their temperature rating they sent me a fleece liner free of charge, and admittedly the bag was super inexpensive.)

So please, I'd appreciate all suggestions, pros cons etc. Looking for warmth, packability, cost. If I could keep in under $700 that would be great. I should mention I'm still kind of partial to synthetic because of freeze thaw cycles but it would be paired with an OR Alpine bivy so maybe down is an option.

Please pardon all grammatical errors. I know my writing isn't the best.

Sent you PM

Mike,

I'm just a simple caveman lawyer and don't understand your modern ways but you are more than welcome to take my Fargo for a couple weeks. I'm skiing till the snows gone.  Congrats! on your recent news

Just arrived home from work to find this months Adventure Cyclist with the mail.  Including the article:

Alaskan Odyssey
Story and photos by Eric Parsons

Now thats what I'm talkin' about.  Very Cool

Just getting around to reading August 2008 Outside magazine.  Great GDR article!  If there were more articles like this maybe I wouldn't have let my subscription run out.  Articles on guy's who play surfers on T.V. or multimillionaires who own airlines got a little old.

Oh yeah, one more thing, Mike C. you are a badass!  Congrats on your "tour" to Nome!

Mike,

It is fine if you use the VT State parks off season.  You just have to fill out a request form: http://www.vtstateparks.com/pdfs/offseasoncamprequest.pdf

If you do a winter mission, keep me in mind.  The Pugs can't wait to play in the snow.
Glad you had a good trip!

Whoops!   Sorry didn't see your other post showing you already had the info.  Anyway still glad you had a good trip:)

I don't have the issue in front of me, but this months Adventure Cycling mag has an article that mentions a few of you who post on bikepacking.net  

Update-have it front of me now,  small article on the Tour Divide Race-mentions Jill Homer, Chris Plesko, Matthew Lee & Jay & Tracey Petervary

If anybody is looking for company on a trip or route exploration (winter or summer) please PM me.  I'm not the strongest or fastest rider but I'll carry the beer.

Surly Pugsley
Salsa Fargo
Trek Fuel EX 8
Surly Krampus

Thanks for your help.  I was starting to think my question was so stupid it wasn't deserving of an answer.

My fuel canisters are the Sno Peak propane/iso butane mix.  The little one's that fit inside the Jet Boil's. 

I picked up some Camelback cleaning tabs for my bladder but have yet to use them.   I just couldn't bring myself to toss it.

2 things

1) I have a bunch of spent fuel canisters.  What do I do with them?

2) My Hydropak bladder has gotten pretty gross from drinking river water in it and failing to clean it.  Should I dispose   
of it?  It's pretty old and pretty brown.  I was just wondering if there is a shelf life on these things.

Hi Jill,

     I'll send an E mail

Hi Jill,

     Are the tires sold?
     

ChrisX I also picked up a Fargo over winter and I have to tell you I am really diggin' it!

More Bike Reading:
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=3Tzut&page_id=55516&v=1P&term=neil%20peart&context=all

Just finishing The Masked Rider.  I enjoyed it.

Saw the picture of the set up on your site.  Pretty cool.

When its not full of food or other junk I can put 2 insulated quart sized cases in the top section of mine.
They eat up allot of the space inside but you can usually fit 2 in one depending on your bag/frame

Neve-r-rest might have something to add to this...

Thank You.  My frame bag does indeed have one of those top sections.  Seeing as it was hand crafted in Alaska by the finest of artisans and constructed of the most durable of materials  I'm sure it will work perfect. 

Hi,

     I apologize once again for my simple minded questions but I have no resource besides these forums.  There is not a whole lot of winter bikepacking going on in my area.  Ice fishing,  snowmobile's Yes.  Bikepacking No.

     I'm wondering how everybody carries their water if they use a frame bag?  I saw on Jill's blog she was using a  bottle insulator attached to her handlebar.