I bought a Marmot Precip after my first Bearwaller Gap hike (Jan 07), and before my GSMNP Hike (Feb 07.)  It's time to make a few comments about it.

LIKES: 

• I like the fit, I like the pit zips. 
• I like the hood and it's the first real rain jacket that has the potential to keep you dry (without rain running down your neck.)  I like the double sealed zippers - velcro that covers over the zippers to keep dry. 
• I like the large pockets for stuffing gloves, hats and whatever in, to dry via body heat.

• The material wets out.  Rain soaks through if the material isn't pristinely clean.  I called Marmot about it and they recommended I wash it.  I did, it seemed to work a while, and it's soaking through again.  The arms are particularly bad.
• It's also not breathable.   Don't believe all that crap.  I think the only material that's potentially breathable is eVent, but I haven't tried it.

OK, I finally did it. I bought a tarp off craigslist. It arrived this week, and I'm gonna write a review of it.

Initial thoughts after backyard testing:

• SilNylon is not as delicate as I had imagined.  And the Golite Lair seems very well made.  I wonder why they discontinued it...
  
• The package with a plastic ground cloth is very small.
• The stakes that come with the Lair 2 are very much like MSR Groundhog stakes (my personal favorite.)
• It takes some practice to set up a Lair.  And there's nearly nothing on the Internet as far as tips (I hope to write some.)
• The Lair 2 is much bigger than I would have thought.  There's much more space in it than any of my 2-man tents.  And it's only a pound.
• I use trekking poles anyways, and it makes the tarp setup much easier, especially to elevate the rope on the foot end.
• I'm gonna have to weather a hard rain in warm weather to ultimately make up my mind.  But, initial impression is this is the way to go.

OK, I had one overnight backpacking trip under my belt to Bearwaller Gap where it rained the second day while the temerature was in the low 30's.  I needed something more difficult if I were to top that trip!  Why not accept the invitation to hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in February?

Plan was to leave on Friday night, stay in Cades Cove Campground. Leave Saturday for Russell Field shelter on the Appalachian Trail, head to primitive campsite #9 for Sunday night, and hike out on Monday. Our plans definitely changed.

I learned a lot about COLD weather camping. Read more to find out about what will be one of the most memorable outdoor experiences I may ever have.

Quick review of overnight hiking Bearwaller Gap on January 20 and 21.  This was my first overnight hiking trip, and I learned a lot.