another day hike: ice and spooky fog.

[JV3]

first hike of the new year and i almost didn't make it out of the parking lot. the recent warmup made all the snow into a thick layer of ice now...as soon as i stepped out of the car i nearly hit the ground it was so icy

it was pure luck my microspikes was in this car's trunk and not in the others...i was expecting with all the rain that i'd see bare ground so i didn't make sure i had it with me.

anyway, the plan was to scout out more overnighter spots and get my new tarp rained on to test if it'll leak (before i waste the effort in seam sealing it only to return it..happened before). i worked my way up barely out of the parking lot and it was already crazy foggy! that pole was only 25 ft away and i can't see anything past it. i thought i was in colorado on the first day it went legal

not wanting to waste the trip, i just pushed on anyway...standing under that pole, i can hear a distinct electrical buzzing sound never heard anything like that before.

one of many stream crossings...with the warmup, everything is running strong.

it's not snow but i'll take rain too over sun/heat.

the ice didn't make me turn back but the fog almost did...it was downright spooky!

this is the same area that bearthedog and i overnighted the first time last month and we saw some big animal tracks in the snow that time. bear tracks or not they were big so i was thinking about that the whole time...if i get mauled i at least want to see it coming! or maybe not.

 

[JV3]

some interesting patterns in the ice/stream that didn't show up in the pics...i kinda wished i brought a real camera instead of using my cell's camera.

the waterfall is flowing really well too...i've seen that slow to almost stagnant last summer.

just keeps going up...i like this area - keeps the beer drinkers away. it's a known timber rattlesnake area too. "here, hold my beer and watch this..." news travels fast

once up top, i started venturing out to an area i've never been on.

now the fog was ruining my plan - i can't see anything for any distance if there's a good overnighter spot or not...going to have to come back there on a sunny day.

some big fungi on that dead-standing tree.

i know exactly what bearthedog will use this for if he sees it fits 6 slices of spam perfectly.

 

[JV3]

finally got tired of wandering around and was hungry...setup my new tarp (swack shack 7.5'x9') in the worst location i could find - directly in the driving wind and rain to see if the fabric itself will leak.

i had a spare 3'x3' or so of 1000d cordura from another project that i brought along...turned out perfect as a fire prep mat.

...kept my tools and firewood off of the wet ground. crappy cell phone camera but ofcourse it's blaze orange

convenient especially for my feathersticks/shavings. i normally just use my bandana but during this time of year it's usually covered in snot

another new gear that needed breaking in asap - the 1.1 liter mors pot.

the emberlit is definitely one of my favorite pieces of gear - i get to practice fire starting, extremely efficient with fuel, warms up my hands and bagel, and it's just as entertaining to watch as a real camp fire...try that with a canister stove!

my nessmuk trio for this trip.

fire kit pouch that my niece gave to me for christmas

 

[JV3]

more gear pics - kifaru timberline 3...the fabric itself repelled water but the webbing soaked up the rain like a sponge - i'm glad it's not covered in molle.

testing is over - only a small part of the seam leaked, the fabric itself stayed dry. after seeing first hand two brand new, very expensive tarps leak badly (wasn't this brand), i'm happy to see this one worked just fine...time to seam seal it - it's a keeper!

i pulled all the stakes (connected to rivets and directly against the wind) to show how strong the wind is...or rather the strength of the rivets. i often read people say that rivets are crap but in my experience if done right it's just as strong, if not stronger, than sewn loops. on cheap hardware store tarps, sure i've seen them rip but haven't on a quality tarp yet.

drip...drip...drip...this was actually on the ground and flat. an air pocket made the melting ice drip horizontally.

nope, not 3 separate leaves...it's one giant leaf! anyone have any idea what tree it came from? i'll take better pics of the tree/leaves next time.

anyway, my first hike of the new year. hopefully there'll be more snow so i can overnight again.

 

[Translash]

great pics as always! Im so glad that things arent so dry anymore. All the streams were so dry during this past summer/fall.

 

[scruffuk]

Cool. I love fog. Its so atmospheric.

Love the buzz from fog or mist on power cables too....we get that a lot over here

I'm pleased to read the new tarp is decent, and not too much in the way of sealing to be done.
Hope it keeps you dry when you use it in anger :thumbup:

Stay warm & thanks!

 

[Joe L. Bachs]

I'm pretty sure that is a maple leaf, just all tattered and separated.

 

[Woods Walker]

That was a spooky fog. Looked like a fun time.

 

[JV3]

great pics as always! Im so glad that things arent so dry anymore. All the streams were so dry during this past summer/fall.

thanks! yeah all the streams are flowing again. i'm thinking of going up to certain spots and stash some water now so i can overnight there in the summer. i still remember last summer going up to a specific shelter only to find the spring nearby completely dry and had to walk back to the car.

Cool. I love fog. Its so atmospheric.

Love the buzz from fog or mist on power cables too....we get that a lot over here

I'm pleased to read the new tarp is decent, and not too much in the way of sealing to be done.
Hope it keeps you dry when you use it in anger :thumbup:

Stay warm & thanks!

thanks! perfect time for a big foot spotting too

i probably should stop buying more tarps and be happy with the ones i already have though...it's probably because the seam sealer is potent stuff and it's a cheap high that i keep wanting to buy more tarps to seal, haha!

I'm pretty sure that is a maple leaf, just all tattered and separated.

thanks! got another confirmation from a local that it's a sugar maple.

That was a spooky fog. Looked like a fun time.

thanks! truth be told, i wish i had a tipi and stove to shelter in that time...the sound of rain drops against the tarp is perfect rhythm for napping!

 

[neeman]

I love those hills in the fog
The Catskills got alot of fog

Your cell phone camera did just fine

How thick is the 'Mors' pot?
It looks good
Where did you get it from?

 

[Helrazr]

As a small aside if you don't mind saying on here, what part of Jersey is that?

 

[JV3]

I love those hills in the fog
The Catskills got alot of fog

Your cell phone camera did just fine

How thick is the 'Mors' pot?
It looks good
Where did you get it from?

thanks!

the 1.1 liter mors pot is about 4.40" wide by 4.65" high and 8.5 oz with the bail kit installed. i highly recommend paying the extra $4 for the seller to install the bail kit by the way - very professionally done. the rivets look like they've been pressed with a round die since there's no signs of any hammering at all. the 1.8 liter pot already comes with a bail kit installed.

i'm not sure if they're a site sponsor so i won't link directly but google "four dog mors pot" and it'll come up.

[video=youtube;7Ksg9DI1zsk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ksg9DI1zsk[/video]


here's mors kochanski showing the 1.8 liter version:

[video=youtube;k5FKUJFb1Co]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5FKUJFb1Co[/video]

As a small aside if you don't mind saying on here, what part of Jersey is that?

it's in north nj, right at the border with ny...the area actually spans both states depending on where you park/how far you hike you'll criss-cross several times. what's strange is the address to that parking lot says ny but google maps shows it's still within the nj border

 

[Camber]

Hey JV3,

I've always liked your reviews. Any chance you could do one talking about the tarps you've had experience with? Every time I think about getting one I get overwhelmed with all the possibilities.

 

[daizee]

thanks!

it's in north nj, right at the border with ny...the area actually spans both states depending on where you park/how far you hike you'll criss-cross several times. what's strange is the address to that parking lot says ny but google maps shows it's still within the nj border

Heh. I used to work up at the LDEO campus there by the river. The entrance was in NJ, but the campus and address were in NY (Palisades).
Thanks for the pix, I've been gazing wistfully into the 'woods' for a month or two, but not venturing at all.

 

[JV3]

Hey JV3,

I've always liked your reviews. Any chance you could do one talking about the tarps you've had experience with? Every time I think about getting one I get overwhelmed with all the possibilities.

thanks! that's easy - bcusa 10'x10' hands down! specifically, the silnylon. it's lighter, more waterproof, and believe it or not it actually has a higher tear strength than 70d (what usually normal tarps are made of). that last part actually surprised me as i thought silnylon was more delicate than 70d but several people/makers/industry insiders in backpackinglight.com provided specs.

i've had all the different fabric types from bcusa's 10'x10' and unless you really want the multicam pattern and the extra fire-retardant properties, silnylon is what i recommend. otherwise their normal multicam (stay away from the ultralight one with the nanosphere coating. not the seam but a whole quadrant of the fabric itself leaked badly on my first overnighter with it) is also a keeper for me.

i don't recommend their 5'x7' - too small to use regularly. you have to pitch it really low, low enough that you have to crawl inside and sleep in a fetal position not to get rained on...it's strictly for emergency use for me (3-season day hike trips).

the swack shack i used in this trip is nice too. same fire-retardant properties as the bcusa but a more manageable 7.5'x9' size. it's 1.8 lbs compared to bcusa 10'x10's 2.8 lbs. this is now going to be my winter day hiking tarp...big enough to get full coverage and i can have a fire in front of it in an emergency.

i have an integral designs (now owned by a company named rab i think) silnylon 8'x10' as well that's well used. but for just a little bit more weight, i much prefer a full 10'x10' setup. for one thing, i don't have to figure out which way is the long side...i'll just pitch it fast and i know i'm covered regardless.

my current preferred setup is now this:
- 3-season day hike: bcusa 5'x7' silnylon
- winter day hike: swack shack
- 3-season overnighter: bcusa 10'x10' silnylon
- winter overnighter (with clear forecast or light snow): bcusa 10'x10'. silnylon or the multicam will depend on my mood or how close the camp fire will be.
- winter overnighter (with snowstorm in the forecast): kifaru supertarp with annex and a 5'x7' as backup and loaner to friends just in case.

let me know if you want more info or detailed pics and i'd be happy to take some

 

[JV3]

Heh. I used to work up at the LDEO campus there by the river. The entrance was in NJ, but the campus and address were in NY (Palisades).
Thanks for the pix, I've been gazing wistfully into the 'woods' for a month or two, but not venturing at all.

you're welcome! what a small world!

 

[tjiscooler]

What is the "seaming" process you mention?

Nice pics as well! I live near a slightly wooded area with low bridges and the fog was so thick I almost ran off the road not far from my house. Ive driven that road a million times but it was so thick i had maybe 20-30 feet visibility! spooky for sure.

That little stove/pot setup looks great too.

 

[JV3]

What is the "seaming" process you mention?

Nice pics as well! I live near a slightly wooded area with low bridges and the fog was so thick I almost ran off the road not far from my house. Ive driven that road a million times but it was so thick i had maybe 20-30 feet visibility! spooky for sure.

That little stove/pot setup looks great too.

thanks! on bigger tarps (usually bigger than 5'x7') the tarp maker has to use two separate fabrics (since the fabric maker i think sells them by the roll and it's maximum 7' wide or so) and it's stitched together to make it one big tarp. that stitching punctures the water-repellant fabric and lets water get in. a seam sealer is just a clear glue made specifically to be applied over those stitching to make it waterproof again.

there are other brands but i use mcnett brand's "seam-grip" for 70d tarp and "sil-net" for silnylon tarps. i just wipe it over the stitching with my index finger until there's a light coating...then i apply a 2nd coating the next day.

if you have a rain jacket look inside where the stitchings are. depending on the brand, there might be a clear tape over those stitching already. the maker used seam tape to keep it even more waterproof.

 

[tjiscooler]

Ahh i see. makes total sense haha. Ive been thinking about getting a silnylon tarp for years but never wanted to drop the coin on one. I use a hennesey hammock with the hennesy rain fly, and I believe its the same material. unless I leave the hammock home and try to sleep on the ground I dont know if its worth getting a full sized one.

 

[Camber]

thanks! that's easy - bcusa 10'x10' hands down! specifically, the silnylon. it's lighter, more waterproof, and believe it or not it actually has a higher tear strength than 70d (what usually normal tarps are made of). that last part actually surprised me as i thought silnylon was more delicate than 70d but several people/makers/industry insiders in backpackinglight.com provided specs.

i've had all the different fabric types from bcusa's 10'x10' and unless you really want the multicam pattern and the extra fire-retardant properties, silnylon is what i recommend. otherwise their normal multicam (stay away from the ultralight one with the nanosphere coating. not the seam but a whole quadrant of the fabric itself leaked badly on my first overnighter with it) is also a keeper for me.

i don't recommend their 5'x7' - too small to use regularly. you have to pitch it really low, low enough that you have to crawl inside and sleep in a fetal position not to get rained on...it's strictly for emergency use for me (3-season day hike trips).

the swack shack i used in this trip is nice too. same fire-retardant properties as the bcusa but a more manageable 7.5'x9' size. it's 1.8 lbs compared to bcusa 10'x10's 2.8 lbs. this is now going to be my winter day hiking tarp...big enough to get full coverage and i can have a fire in front of it in an emergency.

i have an integral designs (now owned by a company named rab i think) silnylon 8'x10' as well that's well used. but for just a little bit more weight, i much prefer a full 10'x10' setup. for one thing, i don't have to figure out which way is the long side...i'll just pitch it fast and i know i'm covered regardless.

my current preferred setup is now this:
- 3-season day hike: bcusa 5'x7' silnylon
- winter day hike: swack shack
- 3-season overnighter: bcusa 10'x10' silnylon
- winter overnighter (with clear forecast or light snow): bcusa 10'x10'. silnylon or the multicam will depend on my mood or how close the camp fire will be.
- winter overnighter (with snowstorm in the forecast): kifaru supertarp with annex and a 5'x7' as backup and loaner to friends just in case.

let me know if you want more info or detailed pics and i'd be happy to take some

Oh man, this is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you much. I hadn't even thought about the fire retardant properties. Thank you again. If I have any more questions I will PM you, but for now I'm good!

Thank you again.