I live in the Maryland suburbs and was thinking about going downtown for the inauguration. Well, thinking about it long enough to rule it out -- better to watch on TV. I was wondering (if I were foolhardy enough to go) what I should take with me knowing I'd have 8-12 hours of walking and standing in 20 degree cold. The Washington Post had a front-section graphic last week suggesting:

woolen socks
hiking boots
thick pants
thermal coat
scarf
ear mitts
woolen hat
gloves
water in bottles (backpacks not allowed)
toilet paper (for the 5,000 porta-potties)
camera (no tripods or camera bags)
snacks (no coolers, food or beverages if you are close to the Capitol.)
hand warmers

What isn't allowed (besides the backpacks) are the obvious (firearms, etc,) and useful things like multitools.
Of course, where you'd put some of the extras when you aren't allowed to have backpacks or bags is a question. And the no-tripods rule must mean you're only allowed to take bad pictures.

In another article's comments, someone asked about those tripod, cane-like sitting stools, and the official inauguration committee responded with "those would be OK."

In the spirit of equipping to survive, what else should be carried to survive the cold for hours longer than you should be outside? This isn't BOB materiel per se, just what could make the day more comfortable.

Long underwear, felt or insulated insoles for the boots and pants able to stop the wind. Most people are surprised at how much heat they lose through their legs and the soles of their feet.
You might even want a scrap of foam insulation to stand on.
Mitts are warmer than gloves, and a spare pair are light.
Toilet paper can be a pack or two of tissues (Kleenex?) instead of a roll.
A hoody under the jacket might be nice if you don't have a hood on your coat, but at least a sweater of some sort.
Water bottles can have cords tied around the neck and be carried over a shoulder or hung from a belt loop.

Will they allow a fanny pack?

edit: add a thermos of something hot to drink like tea, chocolate, coffee, soup or something like that.

cut insoles from a closed cell mat.

QJS

Is it true they aren't allowing portapotties on the Mall?

A couple of really good friends, and my yellow nalgene with cup of cat litter in it. Like a camping trip.

The seven Smithsonian Museums located on the Mall will be open on Inaugural day. Great places to warm up. The Castle (administrative offices near the Merry-Go-Round) is the best place to hit the bathrooms.

http://www.gosmithsonian.com/inauguration


There are unsightly porta-potties all over the place. And there have been porta-potties on the Mall for the past year, near the National Gallery of Art and Natural History Museum.

I live on Capitol Hill and have been layering up just to walk my dog. Single-digit temps Thursday and Friday nights. Last I checked, tomorrow night's low will be 19 degrees. So I'd be planning for temps in the 20s. Here's what I'd be wearing on Tuesday (in fact I will be walking my dog around the Capitol):

Parka w/hood + lots of pockets
Fleece hat-neck gaiter-ear warmers, 1/2 face mask (which also warms the neck and can be rolled down to not look alarming to security)
Ski gloves
Smartwool ski socks
boots
long underwear
smartwool top + fleece-lined 1/4 zip

chemical hand warmers

Kleenex mini-packets (useful for tp)

The crowds will probably be smaller than forecast in part because of all the hysterical press reports on mass crowds.

In addition to chemical hand warmers, you can get chemical toe warmers, that I sometimes use when skiing. For hunting, and inauguration watching, you might want to have the footbed warmers. They fit the entire insole of your boots, and stay warm for 8-10 hours.

Anyone dumb enough to voluntarily put themselves in that situation deserves whatever comes his way. Just kidding....kind of.....

I can't imagine a worse place to be than in DC, with their draconian 'safety' laws and with zillions of others people. Add in the inauguration circus....oh my.

The older I get, the more I realize that if there is a crowd, I am in the wrong place.

While I love what there is to SEE in DC, I HATE being there with a passion.

I hear there will be 2 million people there for the inauguration. That's too big a crowd for me. Any number of things could happen.

Take some binoculars, or even a telescope.

Sunscreen, lipbalm, more hand warmers, wind proof blanket....

slip a thin plastic sandwich bag over your toes between pairs of socks and your feet will be warmer. handy for those who have to stand in the cold.

I am going to be very comfortable sitting at home. I hate crowds. Find a place to hide your wallet inside your clothes, Take small bills for feeding the food vendors, don't flash cash

AMEN!



I've been getting this way as well. Crowds usually mean hassles, irrational safety rules, long waits, and poor traffic planning. I have so little free time I no longer think that waiting in line is a good way to use it. There is too much other stuff I could be doing.

To bring this back on topic, does anyone know if they will allow SEE-THROUGH packs? Many dept stores allow see through bags for their workers. Some backpack manufacturers have made mesh packs.

Well, the inauguration is over some four days now. At the last moment we decided that the TV was a more practical venue. That, and no one else would go with me.

I appreciate the advice though. I'll remember it for similar cold-weather stuck-outsides... -Gary

The apparently tens of thousands of blue, purple and silver ticket holders who were locked out of the Inaugural after standing in the cold for several hours would say you were very, very wise.

A few thousand ticket-holders were stuck in the 3rd Street Tunnel for hours and were never even able to see the ceremony on a Jumbotron.

Those folks would loved to have traded places with you.

It was a circus around here for days. I'm so glad it's over.