The NEW Post Your Campsite/gear/knife/hiking/anything Outdoorsy Pic Thread!

[mworley66]

Here are some pics from my recent trip to Mammoth and Yosemite.

 

[OwenM]

Damn, the fires in CO are crazy.

I'm remaining hopeful for my trip, since it's 11 weeks out, but am mostly concerned about the damage to the area and people's homes.

 

[HikingMano]

Yeah, I hope the situation improves :thumbup:

Nice stuff, mworley :thumbup: What fall is that last one?

 

[HikingMano]

Nothin much this past weekend, just a little stroll. Here are a few pics just to keep in touch.

Motion activated cameras strapped to Oaks here and there. The cameras aid in studying the animals that call the preserve home (mountain lions, deer, etc), much like those employed in nearby Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. Ahh! Fond memories of Jasper Ridge... I had a big ole rattlesnake bluff lunge me there, while on a docent led tour through the preserve.
[video=youtube;jy-ngOhoNPU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy-ngOhoNPU[/video]
Mountain Lions...beautiful creatures.

Also played with my Siltarp2 today; I wanted to test out the new Vargo Ti stakes I just got (nail and shepherd's crook). I'm still using MSR Groundhogs for the ridgelines. I do love reflective triptease....

(foot end)

 

[mworley66]

I'm remaining hopeful for my trip, since it's 11 weeks out, but am mostly concerned about the damage to the area and people's homes.

Thanks! That is Yosemite Falls. You can't really tell from the photo, but you can hike right up to the bottom of the falls. People were also swimming in the water at the very bottom of the waterfall.

 

[HikingMano]

Ah ! I've never actually been to see the lower falls yet, I've always seen the upper falls from a distance. I'll have to make a point to not skip it next time I'm in the valley. :thumbup:

 

[redsquid2]

Mano, thanks for the pics (Long Ridge).

I have the same siltarp, I think. I would be interested to know what kind of pitches you use, under what conditions, with what results.

Here are a few I have tinkered with. This first one, I have never actually used while out on the trail. It looks like a hurricane/blizzard kind of setup.

This next one looks nice, but I don't know if I have used it on the trail yet:

...and here's a little modification to increase airflow/reduce condensation at the foot. I just slide the trekking pole through that loop:

The picture below shows what I have been doing lately, when on the trail. It looks like I have the 10' seam running cross-ways, instead of head-to-foot. Can't remember. That cord running across the entrance is pretty useful. Cinching it up a little increases weather resistance quite a bit.

 

[HikingMano]

RedSquid, I'm afraid I can't offer much yet in terms of real world camping out with a tarp; I've moved from traditional tents, to tarp-tents, and I'm only now coming to using just a tarp. I've only used tarps on day outings so far, for rain protection, as a windblock, or as a little bit of shade.

You're way more experienced than I, and I'm actually going to try out your second set-up tomorrow I really like how you maximized head room while blocking off weather from the foot end without totally blocking ventilation. It's only a slight modification of the A-frame I did :thumbup:

I'm pretty sure I'll only ever use an A-frame or a modified half-pyramid like your last pitch. If the weather is really nasty and presents unpredictable wind, I'd pitch the A-frame, stake sides right into ground, and go low on the front as well as the back. I'm still trying to decide if it's better to pitch with the foot into the wind (a la the backpacking community), or with the wind perpendicular to the ridgeline (a la Ray Jardine). I need more experience to decide my preference. Do you ever have problem with wind and low pitches getting your bag wet from condensation in the foot end? In nice weather, I'll do the half-pyramid for the large opening, or just a lofty A-frame. With the A-frame, I can just drop the sides and button down if the weather surprises me.

I think tomorrow I'm going to try playing with another pitch I've been imagining, a sort of full pyramid using the middle tie-out as an anchor for the rear as you show in your second pitch, but a dropped beak for the front end. By the way, I'm guessing your rear pole is off-center in the first pitch because you were limited by line length?


ETA: One more thing, I like the full protection on 3-sides with the half-pyramid, and I was thinking about ways to turn it into a full pyramid should wind direction change and start delivering rain in through the front. I always carry a Silponcho...so I'm thinking it's possible to quickly rig, in essence, a vestibule. If I use the front pole and stake poncho into the ground on the sides, past the corners, I should be able to block rain from blowing straight in. It'd be like an extension of what you're doing with the tautline hitch in your pitch. Shrug, something to play around with tomorrow.

 

[redsquid2]

I'm still trying to decide if it's better to pitch with the foot into the wind (a la the backpacking community), or with the wind perpendicular to the ridgeline (a la Ray Jardine). I need more experience to decide my preference. Do you ever have problem with wind and low pitches getting your bag wet from condensation in the foot end?

I think tomorrow I'm going to try playing with another pitch I've been imagining, a sort of full pyramid using the middle tie-out as an anchor for the rear as you show in your second pitch, but a dropped beak for the front end. By the way, I'm guessing your rear pole is off-center in the first pitch because you were limited by line length?

I always carry a Silponcho...so I'm thinking it's possible to quickly rig, in essence, a vestibule. If I use the front pole and stake poncho into the ground on the sides, past the corners, I should be able to block rain from blowing straight in. It'd be like an extension of what you're doing with the tautline hitch in your pitch. Shrug, something to play around with tomorrow.

Mano, if you get that poncho vestibule figured out, I would like to see how it works. Attach with velcro dots? Grip Clips?

I would like to also see pictures of the dropped beak, if you can work that out. I have thought about that, but I don't know how it would be done, without doing some sewing.

I try to pitch with the foot pointing into the wind. However, if Jardine pitches perpendicular to the wind, I assume he has a reason for doing that. Maybe it has something to do with his beaked entrance.

I don't have any problems with condensation. After the first couple of nights, I had worked out how high to pitch the foot. I sometimes make little adjustments right before crawling into the sleeping bag, depending on wind, or lack thereof.

I think I did the Etowah pitch one night when a thunderstorm came up. I stayed dry, in spite of shifting wind and driving rain. You can find this pitch demonstrated on youtube. Just search "tarp etowah". You can vary the height by lowering or raising your trekking pole and moving the side stakes in/out.

 

[HikingMano]

I didn't have a chance to play with the tarp today like I had wanted to, so I'll be doing it this weekend. I'll be sure to snap some pics if I come up with anything worthwhile.

Yeah, the etowah modified half pyramid vid is one of the better ones on YouTube. I like that pitch for the speed and simplicity. I've just worried that it wouldn't do as well in situations where the wind changes direction. It's reassuring to know that hasn't been a problem for you :thumbup:

 

[MyDogsHunt]

Here's some pix from a camping trip on Dworshak Reservoir in No. Idaho.
The property is owned and maintained by the Army Corp of Engineers and is only accessible by boat.

our campsite. We spent five days there and only saw two other boats. One of which was the Army Corp camp knombs that maintain these sites better than any place I've seen in my 62 years of life.

This was the view we woke up to every morning.

Took this one from a trail about a mile from camp.

Did I mention that it was only accessible by boat?

 

[lambertiana]

Dworshak looks nice. 25 years ago I interviewed for a job in Kellogg, and I really liked that part of the state.

 

[HikingMano]

Very Nice :thumbup:

 

[Mr Spud]

Wow!! Those are some pretty incredible pictures!! Its a stark contrast to where i live in oz. lol I need to get out more.

 

[redsquid2]

You can vary the height by lowering or raising your trekking pole and moving the side stakes in/out.

Of course, you knew that. I didn't mean to insult your intelligence.

Also, I like to have a line going across the entrance, with a taut-line hitch. If it starts to rain, I cinch it up:

Makes entry and exit trickier, but I like being able to adjust the entrance.

 

[HikingMano]

Haha, no insult bud, I know you're just being thorough :thumbup: Yeah, I like the tautline you threw on there :thumbup: It's like having two side beaks rather than a single beak coming down from the top.

Do you prefer the tyvek for a groundsheet (vs. Polycryo, 2-3mil painters tarp, space blanket, etc)?

 

[redsquid2]

Haha, no insult bud, I know you're just being thorough :thumbup: Yeah, I like the tautline you threw on there :thumbup: It's like having two side beaks rather than a single beak coming down from the top.

Do you prefer the tyvek for a groundsheet (vs. Polycryo, 2-3mil painters tarp, space blanket, etc)?

I don't remember exactly why I switched to Tyvek. I know some other backpackers who use it, so maybe I was just being a copycat. I like it, and it does seem lighter than the painters tarps I was using.

I learned a trick for making the Tyvek a little softer: you crunch it up, by hand, then send it through a cold water machine wash, with no soap, followed by drip dry.

 

[HikingMano]

Yeah, I heard of that one! My tyvek groundsheet for my Tarptent is still pretty crinkly, so I've been considering washing it. Does it affect the water resistance at all?

 

[redsquid2]

Yeah, I heard of that one! My tyvek groundsheet for my Tarptent is still pretty crinkly, so I've been considering washing it. Does it affect the water resistance at all?

I haven't noticed any affect on the water resistance.

 

[HikingMano]

Good to know, I'll give it a go :thumbup: Thanks!