To expand on my earlier umbrella post:
We used umbrellas on the Cohos Trail, and I need to use one too frequently (especially this year!) in the Ossipees, the Whites, and various places in southern NH - tight trails or not. You need to allow time to get accustomed to them. The best one I've found is made by
GoLite. There are some tricks to using an umbrella on hiking trails:
- it must be very light or you won't want to hold it
- collapse it partially when space gets tight
- spin it before collapsing so you don't get soaked
- tilt it a little to use it as a shield against drooping wet vegetation (if feasible)
- after a while, you can rest your holding hand against a shoulder strap and sometimes even wedge the umbrella handle in the strap or between your back and the pack
You'll still get wet from:
- brush intruding on the trail
- gusts of rain
- times when you can't hold the umbrella over your head (ducking under fallen trees, etc...)
So this isn't a absolutely perfect solution. But it works pretty well for three season use, it's much better than smothering in a parka.
Ponchos work pretty well too, but have a host of problems above tree line, they limit mobility, and they're not as breathable.
In gusty winds above treeline, I opt for some sort of waterproof shell and a rain hat with a brim (ie the various
Outdoor Research or REI offerings), no hood unless absolutely required. I stuff the hood into the jacket. A rain hat maximizes the ventilation, doesn't attenuate sound, and shields eyeglasses better then a hood.
And if this rain ever stops, they're also a good sunshield.
Ray Jardine's
Beyond Backpacking has an entire chapter devoted to hiking with umbrellas. Well worth reading.
