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Sleeping Bag, made by "Snow Lion"
(click to view a larger image)
In an attempt to escape the Midwest blizzard of 1978, I headed west. I arrived at the Grand Canyon in late February to as much, if not more, snow than I had left back in Kentucky. It certainly was more scenic than the hills back home though.
The climate and terrain of the Grand Canyon was new to me, and I soon found myself gearing up for the rugged conditions. I needed boots, heavy socks, gaiters, down jacket, sleeping bag, etc. Blizzard conditions are a regular occurrence here, unlike the rarity that I thought I was escaping in Kentucky. The severe weather here requires appropriate gear, not only for personal comfort, but for safety from the elements.
There's some good outdoor gear stores in Flagstaff, so a few of us headed to town with our first paychecks, all intent on buying warmer gear. On my list that day were boots, jacket, and sleeping bag. The boots died in the early eighties, but I still have the jacket and sleeping bag I bought that day.
I wasn't familiar with the name "Snow Lion" from Berkeley California, but that's who made my sleeping bag. They are no longer around and I've only found mention on the Web from other owners who had nothing but good things to say about this bag. I guess I can't say anything bad either, seeing as how I still use it. Originally it was rated as a zero degree bag, with about 3-1/2 pounds of down. It lived up to its rating, but over the years it has lost its loft and would only suffice for a summer bag now. Cleaning was never a problem, I just washed it on the regular cycle with about 1/4 cup of laundry detergent. I then dried it in a clothes dryer set on gentle cycle, and tossed a tennis ball in to help raise the loft.
This has been a great sleeping bag and I hope its eventual replacement lives up to a similar reputation.
(Photo copyright 2001 David J. Sweet, licensed to About, Inc.)
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