Second night out tonight...
First night was severel weeks ago, first time in a hammock. Location was my wooded backyard, NW New Jersey. Started at about 25, ended at about 20.
Lasted the night, got snowed on too. Equipment was an Eagle Creek Hammock with a nylon tarp just draped over all. I clipped a silver tarp to the bottom outside and put two ridge rests in the hammock sleeve next to one another. Slept in an ancient Sierra Designs synthetic bag, weighs about seven pounds. Stayed warm enough, but just. The RR's shuffled together like a deck of cards so my sides got cool/cold. Not a great night's sleep. (Coyotes or coy-dogs woke me several times yipping and howling...)
So tonight it's supposed to snow about 10 t0 16 inches, temps should be a few degress cooler than last time. I'll be in a HH ultralight with the undercover and their open cell foam insulation. Probably put a thin space blanket in there too. In the hammock I'll be in a 20 degree down Marmot that's in a Big Agnes 40 degree synthetic. The BA has a RR closed cell in the bottom. Over it all is an 8x10 yard tarp. I'll be wearing some fleece and either a fleec or polarguard balaclava
I don't look forward to wrestling into the bag(s) inside the hammock. Any suggestions there?
Well any words of wisdom will be appreciated. Wish me luck....
Jeff
Getting into a bag inside a HH
I've been camping out a good bit lately in my HH to test this cold weather as well as how different gear works in the hammock. I was out when it was 3 degrees and 15mph winds last week.
I have a HH ULB asym with a MacCat deluxe over it. I used a Walmart 25" full length 3/8" CCF pad covered with a "Neatsheet". http://www.theneatsheet.com/ I also use another CCF pad just 36" long for under my back to neck slipped inside the neatsheet as well. I also use two 36" x 10" CCF wings for under my arms. I used a Marmot 0 degree down bag with a full length Right hand zipper.
1. Place the CCF in the HH just like it should be when you will on it.
2. With the bag zipped up insert it into the HH and center it over the CCF pad.
3. Place the wings into position, one on the right , one on the left of the CCF pad
4. Now unzip the bag 3/4 the way down and open it up. Push the top of the bag over to the side exposing inside the bag where you will want to sit.
5. Turn around and sit inside the bag. I scoot back a little inside the bag, clip my shoes onto a biner hanging from the ridgeline, and stick my feet into the bag.
6. I zip up the bag to above my waist.
7. At this point, I place my feet inside the bag at the right spot on the CCF pad then push back on the pad.
8. With a little wriggling, I zip up the bag, check the wings positions, set my pillow under my head, put the headlamp in my pocket and fall asleep.
I can now quickly get into the bag without too much effort and center myself over the pad. The neatsheet on the pad works well. If the HH is inclined properly, which is slightly tilting down.. towards the head end.., I stay put without sliding and stay warm all night. The sleeping bag seals any drafts against the CCF pad, the wings keep my arms warm, the double CCF layer under my back keeps that warm as well.
I was thinking of a under quilt, but have come to the conclusion I can handle the above system well without spending any more money. The CCF pads and wings can be removed according to weather requirements and all roll up into my Equinox Katahdin bag.