indyfabz

"I don't have enough experience in winter camping. And I don't have a death wish. But I do know a bit about hypothermia. Unprepared a person can die from hypothermia below 50-60*."


Then what is that supposed to cover, people camping in a body of water?

mstateglfr 

Couple things.

1- This is the Katy...you will be in campgrounds that are city parks or private campgrounds. You getting too cold? Go walk to the bathroom shelter or a gas station. This isnt the wilderness where you dont have almost immediate access to protection.

2- If a person can become disoriented and unaware of the fact they are in serious danger, then what good is that person at watching out for their partner? They dont recognize they are in danger, but in that diminished mental state they will recognize the other person is in danger?
Chew on that one for a bit.





In all seriousness, its the Katy. I dont winter camp because I dont want to invest in equipment to keep me warm for the rare times I would use it. But having been on the Katy, I wouldnt hesitate to say that help isnt far away.
Washington, Hermann, Jefferson City, Franklin, Booneville, Pilotville, Sedalia, Clinton- all these towns have gas stations. Most have hotels and/or stores like Walmart where you could warm up.
Again, this isnt camping in a remote mountain or whatever.

Squeezebox

Your point does make sense, but winter camping, particularly solo, even on the Katy does need some "what if" planning. You pointed out some what ifs.

Squeezebox

It's 50* and raining this afternoon. With some foolish decisions a situation could go hypothermic.
Certainly below freezing hypothermia is possible.

Squeezebox

Back to the original question.
Anyone want to do the Katy Trail sometime this winter?

Ridefreemc

When are you planning to go? (not sure I saw that in earlier posts).

Gosh, I skerred though with all that hypothermia talk (JK)

willibrord

Maybe we could do a bike forums Katy group ride.

Squeezebox

Maybe the week before christmas or the week after, Jan? I'm pretty open.

robow

Several years ago we put together a Bike Forums group ride on the GAP-C&O from Pittsburgh to DC and had about a dozen riders participate and it turned out rather well imo. A couple years ago there was some talk here about doing a group ride on the Katy but the fellow that was kind of heading it up, had some personal problems come up and the ball got dropped, and to my knowledge it never came off. You just need someone to spearhead the thing and a Katy ride would be pretty easy to set up. If you have enough riders, using Amtrak and/or arranging for a shuttle becomes very economical.

Squeezebox

PM me if you are interested. I do have a personal problem that could yank me out of this. We could meet at my house. Train to Sedalia, $37 with bicycle IIRC. Limit on # of bicycles? Can you offer shuttle or such? Time you can make it? Other issues? Anyway drop a note.

willibrord

if we are going to do it we need some rules.

Squeezebox

So Rule Away!
What are you thinking of?
Where to meet lunch and evening? Phone service was poor in some places.

willibrord

Rules about tire size and such. But its your trip, you get to set them.

jonc123

I'm wimpy and I think I'll stay next to a fire as much as possible over the winter!

I do have a couple thoughts...

You'll be able to get your bikes on the train...not too many bike riders in this area that ride in the winter.

If you know where all the commercial campgrounds & state parks, etc. are, you might find them closed this time of the year. So if you like a nice warm shower you might be out of luck.

Expect water sources to be shutoff and restrooms closed.

Watch out for the wet wooden bridges. Wet wood is like ice. It can be so bad that you can slip and fall while pushing your bike across them. I would rather slip and fall pushing my bike than have a tire come out from underneath me.

Active advisories here, notice a couple trail closures with no detour:

https://mostateparks.com/advisories?parks=53010

mstateglfr 

Heh, nice reference.