1st Annual MS Hang - Official Report Thead

**Dead Man** · 11-16-2014, 19:26

Well the First Annual MS Hang is in the books. It was held at the Homochitto National Forest Clear Springs Complex and was an excellent time.

A double handful of thanks go to the following:

To Squidbilly: For the chili Friday night and the fire wood. If you know Squidbilly, you know he is a pathological giver. Gracious doesn't really come close to describing him.
BringerofGame: For the firewood and the food Saturday night. The HamMac and Cheese and the pork ribs were awesome. The beard is epic and something for us all to aspire to.
Drifter: For the amazing dutch oven peach cobbler on Friday night. The stove testing, stove making and fire skills fun were fantastic. You rocked.
SouthernExposure: For the totally great dutch oven peach cobbler on Saturday night. In my world there can never be too much peach cobbler. Ranger Rick will miss your parking prowess. He hasn't had anyone to Barney Fife since you left.
MississipVol: for the extra food, fine fellowship and for bringing your kid. This adult was glad to have someone to play with. I lost count of how many Bratwarsts I ate.
KirkHangsley: For the music and fellowship. We love hosting new guys. It gives us a chance to talk more gear and induct another person into the brotherhood of hammocks.

The first night the temps got down to 30 degrees thus garnering us a sub designation of a frozen butt hang. Saturday night only got down to 49. Twenty degree swings from one night to the next. That's how we roll in MS. We didn't do much except laugh, eat, tell stories, talk hammocks, splicing, down, stoves of various incarnations, food, and poke the fire the whole time we were there but I couldn't think of a better way to spend a weekend.

You guys were all aces. There will be a 2nd Annual MS Hang next year for certain and it will be even better, if that's even possible. Please post your photos and comments here. How will the masses know unless we share.

**dukhntn** · 11-16-2014, 21:53

Hate I couldn't make it, but work got in the way. I'll try to keep an eye out for the possibility of a Rocky Springs hang later in the year or early next year.

**bringerofgame** · 11-16-2014, 22:10

First off, I shall apologize for people fearing my untimely demise in my hammock Saturday. It was just so comfy, I forgot to wake up. Everything said above is spot on. It was great to finally get to know these fine folks. The storyteller prize is a tough split between southernexposures fishing tale and drifters exploits in the heart attack administration to a turkey. Both were epic, and oh so unforgettable. Excellent food throughout the trip, as well as even better company. Thanks to squidbilly for the thread injector conversation late Saturday night. It inspired me to go ahead and pull the old treadle out and see how much it would take to get it straight. Mississippivol, it was exceptional to meet your group, y'all have got it going on. That kid definitely has a Frisbee magnet in his palm. Matter of fact, the younger generation seemed to be better behaved than any of us fogeys. Good parenting, proven firsthand. Scarface (drifters navigator) and southernexposure deserve special recognition for being brave enough to allow me to lead them through the drastic elevation changes occurring so close to camp. An attempt to get an earlier start will be made next time. It also seems the only pics taken by me were on that little stroll. I'll post them in the next comment. All in all, it was good enough that you can go ahead and count me in for the next one. Thanks for putting this together DD, Mississippi needed to get something going and you pulled it off. Not to mention your indefatigable wit with words. Amish biker, indeed.

**bringerofgame** · 11-16-2014, 22:16

Southernexposure is in the green jacket and Scarface in the orange hat. If you can't figure out which one is me, I'll see you at the next family reunion.

**MississipVol** · 11-17-2014, 10:30

Thanks everyone for allowing us to come to our first group hang!! Everyone was most gracious to us and we appreciate the hospitality shown by everyone. Thanks especially to squidbilly for the use of the underquilts and topquilt Friday night and for your generosity in the pad for my WBBB. It was greatly appreciated as was your chili Friday night! :-)

We hated we couldn't stay and enjoy another meal and some more stories Saturday night. But we are already looking forward to the next one and I will be working on my backcountry cooking skills to see if I can contribute more to the next get-together! It was great seeing how much my son enjoyed the trip, especially since he was a little hesitant about going. It was funny to hear hear him talk to his mom about it - how "nice" daddydaddy was and how that man squidbilly was "like an expert" on Sipsey trails and hammocks. Sadly I did not take too many pictures but I did get one of him trying the fire piston. Thanks drifter for brining some things to entertain the kids! I have the pics below. And due to your "tests' I ordered a fancee feast stove as soon as I got home! :-)

Also enjoyed the few stories from Southernexposure and glad you finally woke up to say hello bringerofgame! :-) Enjoyed meeting everyone and look forward to the next one!!
Ethan fire piston 1.jpg Ethan Fire Piston 2.jpg

**Gumbo** · 11-17-2014, 10:41

Looks like you guys had a great time. I'm delighted to see you plan to make it an annual event. Perhaps next year the timing will work for Timberrr and I to join you.

Now, bring on the pics!

**SouthernExposure** · 11-17-2014, 10:45

My first group hang is now in the books and I gotta say that I had fun the whole time. What a relief it was to talk to people using terms like Prussick knots and Grizz Beaks and have them nod knowingly instead of rolling their vacantly staring eyes at me. Thanks go out to SquidBilly and Drifter for great chow Friday night, and to DD and BringerofGame for their awesome culinary prowess Saturday evening. I now love Hate beans. SquidBilly, a man after my own heart, showed me the details of all of his DIY crafting. I also loved being able to jam with BringerofGame Saturday evening. The lofting dulcet tones of uke and harp through the treetops was simply the way things should be. I was also very impressed with the yutes in attendance in that they were perfectly behaved and were fun to be with. They were great examples of excellence in parenting,

Let's do this again soon.

SE

**squidbilly** · 11-17-2014, 11:48

Thank you, DaddyDaddy, for organizing the first official Mississippi Hang. I am honored to be a part of it. If a hang is remembered by how much you enjoyed it, then this one was a smashing success. We had a great time hanging out and meeting new friends, and can't wait to do it again. To everyone who thanked me for something: you are certainly welcome, I am glad to help out. That's what makes hangs great: we all contribute something. Thank you all for being there.

www.dropbox.com/sc/rllnzm4gbw8zlkt/AADXMRBDQSReJo9B1VcjNfvCa

**drifter** · 11-17-2014, 21:20

After reading all the other post there’s nothing I can add, only confirm what a great hang out that was. Got to meet some members face to face, swap ideas, try out equipment they had, and sample their meal time specialties. My thanks to DaddyDaddy for his effort in heading up Mississippi’s very first group hang.

**bringerofgame** · 11-17-2014, 21:38

On a side note, the brass rings I used to hook my extension whoopies on were not as good as I hoped. They didn't fail, but putting the SRL on there was a bit too much for the soft metal. They looked more like eggs when I broke down camp. I'll be going a different route now, just wanted to let everybody know since I did speak about it that they didn't pass muster.