Bring two shirts for sweaty approach hikes

You’re heading up Mt. Hood to try Leuthold Couloir in March.  Your team is setting a good pace on the approach, and you are sweating a fair bit.  At Illumination Saddle where you stop for a break and to rope up, you are suddenly chilled by the wind that often appears at passes, even though you’ve put on your puffy belay jacket and hat.  That damp first layer seems to draw the warmth right out of you.

Solution:  Bring 2 shirts, 1 lightweight and 1 mid-heavyweight.  Tackle the fast paced sweaty approach hike in a light synthetic shirt.  When you arrive at base camp or start the technical climbing, which usually means moving more slowly, remove the drenched shirt and replace it with a dry, thicker synthetic top.  The few seconds of discomfort you’ll feel from exposing your upper body to the elements are outweighed by the immediate warmth, comfort and psychological boost that comes from donning a fresh, warm shirt.  If you take the rest of the climb at a more modest pace, the second shirt should stay dry.