Got caught in a surprise storm on the John Muir Trail last fall

Morgan Ward · 2026-03-12T05:45:07.523061+00:00

We were about 8 miles in near Thousand Island Lake when the sky went dark in maybe 10 minutes. My buddy's cheap tent started leaking right away, and we had to huddle under a tarp for three hours while the wind howled. Everything in my pack got damp, even the stuff I thought was safe. Has anyone else had a trip go from perfect to soaked that fast, and what's your go-to move when the weather turns?

stella6276mo ago

That trash compactor bag trick is smart for your pack, but I also line my sleeping bag's stuff sack with one. A wet quilt is a special kind of miserable.

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linda_kelly176mo ago

Yeah, that's why I ALWAYS pack my gear in trash compactor bags inside my pack now.

3

patricia_king235mo ago

My friend learned @stella627's trick the hard way after his sleeping bag got soaked in a freak hailstorm.

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