Last time out this winter

bearfacedkiller

bearfacedkiller

Gold Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2014
Messages
2,631
I made it out for one last night in the woods while it is still winterish. It was in the 40s while I set up and got down to about 25 at night. Happy to get out one more time. :) Sorry for low quality pics. I forgot my camera and my cell phone recently died on me so I am currently using and old old iphone 4 until I get a new phone. The iphone4 takes some mediocre photos. That is why I didn't take more.

All set up. Got my Bark River Wilderness Explorer, my BK9 and my Husqvarna boys axe ready to go. It is hard to tell in the pics but the 9er is sporting Geoff's red dyed micarta scales I won in a GAW. Thanks again brother. Loving them.
W2GjaSNh.jpg


Firewood gathered with the axe and the BK9. This is about as much as I process it down.
Oh yeah, sucking down a Heady Topper while I work. :)
RCxRTO2h.jpg


Fire started! Yay birch bark!
WkdXPJVh.jpg


Getting bigger!
8oL3AvVh.jpg


Brought a Spyderco Caly Jr too.
JEF6aMJ.jpg


Love this thing too. Bark River Wilderness Explorer. Fire burned its way through about a foot of snow.
GL8ufZXh.jpg


Staying nice and warm after dark as I polish off a 4 pack of Heady Topper.
ApVSlw7h.jpg


Morning and all packed up and ready to head out.
GTurzahh.jpg


Been waiting for this pack to die for years so I can actually buy a nice one but it yet again survives another trip. One of these days.
rZQnqZ4h.jpg


Thanks for watching and thanks for the always awesome Becker BK9! Where I live it can be a firewood gathering machine.
 
Last edited:
The Warrior said:
Looks like a good time man, thanks for sharing. Gotta love the niner. I wouldn't let Ethan see that photo of the Bark River. ;)
Click to expand...

I know. I almost left it out for that reason but I decided to share all the tools I brought. If it makes Uncle E feel better I own only one Bark River and I own a couple of dozen Beckers. Sure do love my Beckers.
 
I'm jealous of all that snow. Everything is blooming here and it's pollen season!

Any time in the woods is a great time. Which reminds me, it's getting time to go get lost somewhere in the woods! Long live the king! I know it makes Uncle E proud to see the 9 in its natural habitat. :thumbsup:
 
What?!? No homemade tarp? JK. That looks like a great setup. Haven't invested in a winter tarp yet - also haven't gone winter camping in quite a few years. I just move the hammock indoors when it gets below freezing. I'd bet the Heady contributed as much to your warmth as the fire did. Tho, birch does burn pretty hot...
Lovely setup all around, friend. Glad you were able to get out.
 
Aikiguy said:
Nice one BFK. One of these years I’m gonna have to suck it up and actually do an overnighter in the winter.

What kind of hammock setup are you packing? Did it keep you warm enough?
Click to expand...

Winter's a little more deadly serious where you live, ain't it? Tho if I'm remembering when I last did it, I don't think you'll have to "suck it up" - If you can handle ice fishing, then all you have to to is just make the commitment and go - it's kinda fun once you get over the hump of overthinking it. Kinda like winter surfing in New England: takes more mental effort to don the wetsuit and commit than it does to get in the water once it's on.
 
granitestateofmind said:
Winter's a little more deadly serious where you live, ain't it? Tho if I'm remembering when I last did it, I don't think you'll have to "suck it up" - If you can handle ice fishing, then all you have to to is just make the commitment and go - it's kinda fun once you get over the hump of overthinking it. Kinda like winter surfing in New England: takes more mental effort to don the wetsuit and commit than it does to get in the water once it's on.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I couldn’t see myself in a hammock during winter. We had six weeks straight of lows in the -35 range this year. Not for me.

There’s usually 2 or 3 weekends in between killer frost weather and forest fire season that are still snowy and cool but not too cold; maybe I should plan for one of those weekends to try it out...
 
Aikiguy said:
Yeah, I couldn’t see myself in a hammock during winter. We had six weeks straight of lows in the -35 range this year. Not for me.

There’s usually 2 or 3 weekends in between killer frost weather and forest fire season that are still snowy and cool but not too cold; maybe I should plan for one of those weekends to try it out...
Click to expand...

That is WAY too nippley to be out overnight, voluntarily....involuntarily, I almost turned my 2 daughters into popsicles at our first Beckerhead gathering...it was pretty cold; frost inside the gargantuan 3 season (and 3 room!) tent cold. My bad. As the experienced member of this sortie, I shoulda checked that my definition of "it's going to be cold, bring bring warm clothes" translated correctly, and I did not. I let them pack for themselves...mostly cuz I couldn't manage that level of organizational complexity + pack all their gear and mine. Lessons learned. They were troopers, I gotta say. Tho I doubt that either of them will accompany me again to go camping - unless it's summer.

I think you have an excellent plan: crisp but not freezing. My favorite kind of weather for hiking and sleeping out of doors.
 
The oil skin tarp is still in need of repairs. One too many windy nights got the better of it.

Not really going lightweight with the axe, BK9 and heavy sleeping bag. I was only about a mile from the truck.

I have two of the same tarp. It is a Kelty Noahs Tarp. Not overly light but definitely durable. I use the 12x12 set up like this when it is cold for some more protection and I set the 9x9 up like a diamond when it is warm.

I was plenty warm. I have an old Eureka -15 bag that weighs about nine pounds. It sucks carrying it but I have never been cold in it. I have even used it at -30 and with all my clothes on and a couple of hand warmers under my winter hat I slept like a baby. That was in an adirondack lean to when climbing mount marcy one winter and not in a hammock.

The best part of winter camping is that there are no bugs. Stupid ticks and black flies.
 
TheMadIndian said:
I dig the hat!!
Click to expand...

It is a Dorfman Pacific Outback Hat in weathered cotton. I like it very much. It has a wired brim so it is moldable. It also comes pretty weathered so you don't have to baby it. I'll bring it to the gathering. I have their oilcloth boonie hat too. It is nice as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top