Sleeping pads

[christopher hewitt]

In general sleeping mats are good if you have to sleep on the floor or
outside. More than padding, they give protection against the cold ground
that might make you sick, cold, or just ache more in the morning. If you
aren't planning on sleeping outside or sleeping on the floor, perhaps you
don't need one, or as was mentioned, perhaps someone will lend you theirs.
Of course, mats also make a nice seat on wet grass and a resting spot for
naps in the middle of a field or beneath a tree.

If you are iffy about whether to bring one or not, you can always buy one
once there. Or someobody might even leave one behind. Although they don't
really weigh anything; they just take up space.

CSH


>From: "Michael F. Clarken" <mclarkenaAMICAPITAL.COM>
>Reply-To: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage <GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu>
>To: GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu
>Subject: Re: Sleeping pads
>Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 10:49:11 -0500
>
>Russ, I absolutely say leave the mat at home.  The times when you are
>potentially unlikely to get space are in August, and even then hitting only
>the most popular refugios, in Galicia, and if you tend to arrive later in
>the afternoon each day.
>
>We did the Camino last year around the same time as you plan to and not
>only
>never would have needed a mat but never ran into anyone who was put on the
>floor.  In addition, it would be a cumbersome addition, and if you DO need
>a
>mat, someone who doesn't need it that night (sleeping in a bed) is sure to
>lend it.
>Buen Camino!
>Mike
>
>Mike Clarken
>San Diego, CA
>mclarkenaamicapital.com
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage [mailto:GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu]On
>Behalf Of Russ Irwin
>Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2001 12:57 AM
>To: GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu
>Subject: Sleeping pads
>
>
>This question is to those who have already made the pilgrimage. Have you
>needed a "sleeping pad" at
>all during the trek? I'll be going from May - June, but I've heard that
>sometimes the only sleeping
>space in a refugio is on the floor.
>
>I ask this especially since I will be taking an extremely light sleeping
>bag. It's a Western
>Mountainering "Mity-Lite" and weighs in at only 1lb 11oz. It's not a mummy
>bag, but semi retangluar.
>I tried one out in a store near here and it gives me all the tossing and
>turning room I think I'll
>need. Also, just in case anyone else is interested in "light" sleeping
>bags,
>there is a website
>where you can compare them at:
>
>http://www.backpacking.net/gearbag-matrix.html
>
>Russ Irwin

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com