RE: Going Elk hunting- need advice on camo clothes
Coloraodelk: What are 13MWZ's?
As far as the question at hand. If you are able to use camo only (archery only), then don't buy into the marketing ploy that says you have to have the newest "high tech" camo. As far as a pattarn, buy whatever is on sale. I bought "outfitters camo" last year for my elk bowhunt. However, I got it in Cablesas microtex clothing.
To stay warm in the mountains, you layer. And READ MY LIPS: The most important layer for staying warm is long johns. You MUST have quality WICKING long johns. Do not think warmth in long johns, think WICKING! The job of long johns is not to keep you warm, it is to wick the sweat you produce when hiking up and down the mountain. I don't care if it is 0 degrees, when you walk a mile up hill, you will sweat. If you wear cotton long johns, you will literally freeze. I have patagonia capilene, but there are a number of good ones out there today. Don't skimp!
I have:
1) Good long johns
2) Good, well broken in waterproofboots (90% of the time I wear my uninsulated boots). I take a second pair with insulation
3) layering layers (fleece, thinsulate layers, down vest, etc.)
4) lightweight, packable goretex type raingear.
5) A quality sleeping bag, and a thermarest type pad.
If you skimp on any of these items, you will be sorry. Cold nights = misery. Cold,wet, blistered feet = misery.