In September I did 14 consecutive days on Afognak, and it got VERY ugly. But we did have a heated shelter. Ti goat stove and tent. These days I almost always have a heated shelter, but it wasn't always so. I do remember once going on a hunt with only a bivy bag and it rained for 2 straight days and nights. I remember thinking that a third night was going to be an iffy proposition.
But to go back to the original idea of this thread. I actually don't use down bags because they are light. I use down because it packs so much smaller. Back when I used to use synthetic bags I remember that they practically filled up the whole backpack. And then you needed to get a new one every other year or so too because they lost their loft.
My helium is finally getting a bit worn out but it is around 10 years old.
Also our elk on Afognak are Roosevelt elk, and I bet it is a lot like the Olympic Peninsula. Old growth spruce forest, and it rains a lot.
Patrick
