This AM at 0530 I went for a stroll with a company of my Marines, so I used it as a chance to test my BOB. A couple lessons learned, or affirmed today that I thought I'd share.
BTW, its was only 5 miles, but it took 5 1/2 hours; this is a company of 20 something, fit specops type Marines. We hiked a ridgeline that spanned several thousand feet in elevation change over the short course. Oh, and it's been raining for two days (getting about 5 gallons per minute off of one rain spout in the backyard). So it was like climbing in a cold shower for 5 1/2 hours. Climbing up a mudslide, then slipping down a mudslide on the other side. Great day for training in other words!
So my BOB itself was soaked through and through, along with me, and everything I was wearing. Boots eventually failed too as far as waterproofing. I had a small dry bag for towel & socks, but I wish I had had a full bag liner. Although that doesn't help all the small stuff in the small pockets, which were mostly impervious to water but got soaked nonetheless. Also, it was a light BOB, but soaked with water it felt twice its weight, and after a couple hours fatigue alone made it feel like I was carrying cinder blocks. A bag waterproof bag cover would've been sweet.
Gortex only keeps you dry from external sources; in these conditions those who chose to wear gortex were just as soaked as those who didn't, from their own sweat. And that's with the slits open, etc.
And we required both hands free for most of the trek just to navigate the trail; so no rifles possible. Although a pistol in a fully enclosed holster would've been no problem. This affirms one of my convictions that a holstered pistol is the first gun to take, followed by whatever else you want, but don't leave home without one. This trail would've been littered with long guns, and all sort of heavy items.
Lest anyone think they'd never face these conditions, these are EXACTLY the type of conditions I'd expect in a major weather catastrophe on an island or coastline, folks trying to reach high ground in terrible rainfall to get out of the path of a tsunami or hurricane. There is no other option but to head up the nearest ridge line as quickly as possible. My house, armory, and food stocks would be washed out with the tide, and the traffic jam from all the people trying to head in and up would just ensure more folks wouldn't make it. You might suggest I move ... folks pay a lot of money to come visit where I live, but I'll gladly move as soon as Uncle Sam says so.
