Okay, actually did this outing the 11th thru the 15th, but been busy. Anyway onto the adventure.
The campout was great. On the drive up it was snowing. After getting to camp, it had stopped, where we were we just a few inches. Not too bad, back down the road a few miles, a good foot or so. First night, I went to bed at 15*. Woke twice, first time was within 2 hours, feet getting cold. Got out assessed the issue. Found that the foot was pulled too tight and compressing the loft, made a quick and hasty loop of shock cord about 12" long. Girth hitched that to the suspension and hooked the foot hook into and readjusted... perfect. On the way back into the hammock, took a swig of the water bottle. It was slushy, GREAT! Even had the bottle stashed inside my boot on the mat below me. Took a few swigs/ chews, and back to bed. Awoke about 4 about to blow my rear gasket. Dear god, nothing prepares you for dropping your insulation at the buttcrack of dawn when it is 9*, luckily the hole was already dug. Finished that duty quick fast and in a hurry, back into the hammock again for another hour until the watch woke me. The booted water bottle had to be shaken and beat for a second to pour, but made some hot granola cereal and Via coffee, then got ready to head out.
Second night it was not nearly as cold, I would bet it got down 15-18* low/ 40* high, this time, slept like a baby, but mud was everywhere. Third night was about the same, with the same result, then the heat spell came. Fourth day, I was down to just a smartwool base layer for the day. I bet the low was 35*. Which in the 0* gear... HOT! Ended up leaving the incubator strung up, but packing the burrow and digging out my HPG Serape. Put it into half bag mode, slipped my feet in and was perfect the rest of the night.
In bed I wore smartwool mid weight tops and bottoms, smartwool socks, a USGI balaclava to prevent frost from building up on the insulation, and a OR down beanie.
My around camp digs were choices between smartwool base layer, camo bottoms, smartwool socks, Danner boots, OR leg gaiters, Arcteryx SV jacket, Tad wool beanie, OR neck gaiter, OR PL400 gloves, wristies (long), and in the morning when getting ready or during the day when sitting for hours my HPG Serape. Two times for a few hours I had to place on my rain gear due to the snow falling, I have Arcteryx alpha top and bottoms.
I am the only one who seen an elk, and I was not hunting, during one of my pushes, seen it take off up the mountain, could not even get the camera out of my pocket it was moving so fast, right thru the trees. Radioed another of the party, with my location and direction of movement, he found the tracks on the back side of the mountain but we knew it was gone. Seen a few moose, dozen of deer, a porcupine up in a tree. All in all a great time out.
I want to thank hammock gear for getting this equipment out in great time, as well as for providing quality gear and service for us hammock folk.
Also please do not bash the hammock, it is a Hennessy Hammock (HH). I have had it a few years and am just starting to get into hammocking heavily. The day I left I got notification that Warbonnet (WB) shipped my XLC (1.9/1.1 multicam) which I need to get out and try here soon. Still have alot of great outtings with this HH, but I know its not a fav to the hammock group. But for beginner hammocking which I got it for, it is a GREAT piece to get one started.
hammock info:
Hennessy explorer deluxe with 2QZQ mod 4, peak bag/ ridgleline org
Hammock gear 0* incubator, multicam +1oz.
Hammock gear 0* burrow, brown +1 oz.
WB superfly, camo. Wanted MC but not at the weight penalty (50oz, compared to 19oz)... if they get material to take it to the camo weight, guess I will be buying another, otherwise I see a Cubenfiber winter palace in my future.
Photo time.....
Camp
Summit and other photos
The campout was great. On the drive up it was snowing. After getting to camp, it had stopped, where we were we just a few inches. Not too bad, back down the road a few miles, a good foot or so. First night, I went to bed at 15*. Woke twice, first time was within 2 hours, feet getting cold. Got out assessed the issue. Found that the foot was pulled too tight and compressing the loft, made a quick and hasty loop of shock cord about 12" long. Girth hitched that to the suspension and hooked the foot hook into and readjusted... perfect. On the way back into the hammock, took a swig of the water bottle. It was slushy, GREAT! Even had the bottle stashed inside my boot on the mat below me. Took a few swigs/ chews, and back to bed. Awoke about 4 about to blow my rear gasket. Dear god, nothing prepares you for dropping your insulation at the buttcrack of dawn when it is 9*, luckily the hole was already dug. Finished that duty quick fast and in a hurry, back into the hammock again for another hour until the watch woke me. The booted water bottle had to be shaken and beat for a second to pour, but made some hot granola cereal and Via coffee, then got ready to head out.
Second night it was not nearly as cold, I would bet it got down 15-18* low/ 40* high, this time, slept like a baby, but mud was everywhere. Third night was about the same, with the same result, then the heat spell came. Fourth day, I was down to just a smartwool base layer for the day. I bet the low was 35*. Which in the 0* gear... HOT! Ended up leaving the incubator strung up, but packing the burrow and digging out my HPG Serape. Put it into half bag mode, slipped my feet in and was perfect the rest of the night.
In bed I wore smartwool mid weight tops and bottoms, smartwool socks, a USGI balaclava to prevent frost from building up on the insulation, and a OR down beanie.
My around camp digs were choices between smartwool base layer, camo bottoms, smartwool socks, Danner boots, OR leg gaiters, Arcteryx SV jacket, Tad wool beanie, OR neck gaiter, OR PL400 gloves, wristies (long), and in the morning when getting ready or during the day when sitting for hours my HPG Serape. Two times for a few hours I had to place on my rain gear due to the snow falling, I have Arcteryx alpha top and bottoms.
I am the only one who seen an elk, and I was not hunting, during one of my pushes, seen it take off up the mountain, could not even get the camera out of my pocket it was moving so fast, right thru the trees. Radioed another of the party, with my location and direction of movement, he found the tracks on the back side of the mountain but we knew it was gone. Seen a few moose, dozen of deer, a porcupine up in a tree. All in all a great time out.
I want to thank hammock gear for getting this equipment out in great time, as well as for providing quality gear and service for us hammock folk.
Also please do not bash the hammock, it is a Hennessy Hammock (HH). I have had it a few years and am just starting to get into hammocking heavily. The day I left I got notification that Warbonnet (WB) shipped my XLC (1.9/1.1 multicam) which I need to get out and try here soon. Still have alot of great outtings with this HH, but I know its not a fav to the hammock group. But for beginner hammocking which I got it for, it is a GREAT piece to get one started.
hammock info:
Hennessy explorer deluxe with 2QZQ mod 4, peak bag/ ridgleline org
Hammock gear 0* incubator, multicam +1oz.
Hammock gear 0* burrow, brown +1 oz.
WB superfly, camo. Wanted MC but not at the weight penalty (50oz, compared to 19oz)... if they get material to take it to the camo weight, guess I will be buying another, otherwise I see a Cubenfiber winter palace in my future.
Photo time.....
Camp
Summit and other photos
