Video: Shug & Wander'nFool Do The North Country Trail

[Shug]

Finally got out for a two night quick and fast backpack trip on the North Country Trail. Joining me was an old friend and noobie backpacker Wander'nFool. He did wonderfully .... he studied here on HF and bought tons of new and terrific gear and practiced with it! That is the way to do it. He had a Warbonnet BlackBird hammock, a Warbonnet Yeti UnderQuilt, ULA Circuit pack, MacCat Tarp from OES, a JetBoil stove, Leki Hiking Poles and some SmartWool.
Shug $ Wander'nFool.jpg

Packed the Kelly Kettle wood-burning stove in the outside pocket of my ULA OHM backpack. Stripped it down to backpacker mode by removing the cork, putting on a lighter handle, leaving the base home and testing out a light-weight home brewed base I made from a pie tin and hardware cloth. Saved about 6 ounces overall.

Used the Dutch Clips for the first time in the woods on my hammock suspension. Flawless and ever-so light. Replace you biners and save some weight .... for food!

I brought my DIY hammock and since we passed one car on the hike at a shuttle point I traded out for the BlackBird the second night. Just testing comforts. Both get 5 stars but BB has a bugnet and on my DIY I left it off. Did get a skeeter or two buzzing me in the morning of camp one. Drats!
Camp 2 hammocks.jpg
Camp 2 .jpg


One tiny issue with the BB hammock is the ridge line when you use it as a lounger at camp. It tends to droop in your face depending on your tree spread on the hang. As we sat lazing around I saw a solution to that ...... easy fix to a wonderful piece of gear. It is at 4:05 in the video...

We ate well ... the Kelly Kettle was a terrific and easy to use as long as you take time to make sure your initial fire is done right. As always .... I made my breakfast from the hammock with my Mini-Atomic Alcohol stove from MiniBullDesign. 3/4 oz of fuel and I am chowing on grits and having instant espresso! Man ... livin' right
The Jetboil is a rocket. The Dutch Clips are super fast. Our ULA packs rode like a dream.

Had coyotes both nights and one came into camp on the first night and howled his drunken warble. Wander'nFool had a small air horn his wife made him take along for bears aso he blasted that and the coyote was back with his pack in the woods in no time.

All secure in sector seven,
Shug
Shug & Wander'nFool Do The NCT

[Cannibal]

He had a Warbonnet BlackBird hammock, a Warbonnet Yeti UnderQuilt, ULA Circuit pack, MacCat Tarp from OES, a JetBoil stove, Leki Hiking Poles and some SmartWool.

Dang! That's a heck of a list for a newbie. Nothing like starting the game off on the right foot.
We've got coyotes bedding down in the back of our property. I elected to get an AirSoft sniper rifle to deal with them from the roof of the stable. But, an airhorn might be more fun for the neighbors.

[Wander'nFool]

Backpacking with Shug a trip report

I am a very fortunate to have had Shug as my trail guide and teacher with my first awesome adventure in the piney woods. We've known each other for years, and he has invited me to the trail in the past. The hammock is what made me finally accept his offer.

Been fiddling with my gear in my man cave for quite a while. Wow! What a difference when you get out in the field!

In Northern WI you never know what the night or next day will bring. We changed out our clothing at the trail head after Shug looked at the sky and smelled the air. You know he is part Cherokee. It was great to hear Shug reminisce along the trail about the spring HF Northern Hang on the NCT. The lookout tower Stormcrow and crew climbed, off the NCT, is waaaaaay higher in person than on video. The NCT colors are really starting to burst. I am sure next month on the SHT the colors will be awesome.

Really like my Leki poles. I have been practicing in the bluffs about my hometown. It took a bit to get used to the straps. I was good about checking that they remained tight along the trail. The cork handles were very comfortable.

The Blackbird and MacCat Deluxe together are great. Just as everyone on HF has professed. I found I really liked hanging low to the ground. Much easier to sit and cook this way. Shug's ridge line fix worked very well for keeping the BB ridge line out of my face. Working on lightening my suspension system on both. When are the Dutch Clips going to be available at the HF store?

I learned a lot from trailcooking.com and freezer bag boiled most of my meals with my Jetboil. When I practiced, I did not like holding the bag in my hand and eating out of it ... awkward. So, I drop the freezer bag into my empty Jetboil pot, fold the bag opening over the pot edges and dug in with my long REI spoon. No pot cleaning! A quart Ziplock freezer bag fits nicely in the Jetboil. Shug stressed the importance of finishing your food to lower your pack weight. He graciously finished my peanut butter oatmeal garnished with dried banana chips, apricots and cranberries. Shug, no need to mention my food weight

I can not say enough good things about the ULA Circuit. I picked it up new on ebay and it fit me perfectly ... uhhhhh, after Shug showed me how to make it fit perfect. A far cry from the exterior frame packs I used so many, many years ago in scouts.

Talk about gear envy ... Shug's ULA Amigo Pro, kept us easily and quickly hydrated. I look forward to getting mine after the first of December.

In closing, since June I have been living vicariously through all the HF trip reports. I had very high expectations for my first backpacking adventure and those expectations were far exceeded. I think it also might have had something to do with the company I travelled with.

Much appreciated,
Wander'nFool

PS -- Really, I think a coyote sniffed my butt.
PSS -- Shug is freaky when he whispers on the trail.

[JerryW]

Great trip report from both of you and another two-thumbs-up video from Shug! Can't wait for the Northern Hang, only three more weeks!

Wander'nFool - Will you be there? Didn't see your name on the list, but it was on the poll.

Here's to hangin' in the piney woods!

Jerry

[Wander'nFool]

Wander'nFool - Will you be there? Didn't see your name on the list?

Man, I wish I could. I'm on the road working that weekend.

Wander'nFool

[angrysparrow]

Great stuff! Thanks for sharing...

I like the custom trip music.

We're not solving all of your problems...just most of them.

[Hooch]

Whooo buddy! Excellent vid as always, thanks for sharing. Looks like y'all had a great trip.

Hammocks rule, groud dwellers drool.

[Roadtorque]

Looks good. I thought we might see your new jrb quilt in this movie but I guess we will get to see that another time? Keep um' comin'

[Optimus]

Great video as always Shug. Love the openning song.

" Wooooo Budddy Yeaahhh , Hammocks Ruuule !!! "

[Shug]

Dang! That's a heck of a list for a newbie. Nothing like starting the game off on the right foot.
We've got coyotes bedding down in the back of our property. I elected to get an AirSoft sniper rifle to deal with them from the roof of the stable. But, an airhorn might be more fun for the neighbors.

WF totally gave me a case of gear-envy.....
Airhorn was a brilliant idea!

Great stuff! Thanks for sharing...
I like the custom trip music.

Sang it in one take .... made it up in the apre-hike jacuzzi!!!!

Whooo buddy! Excellent vid as always, thanks for sharing. Looks like y'all had a great trip.
Hammocks rule, groud dwellers drool.

Hammocks are cool and rule!

Looks good. I thought we might see your new jrb quilt in this movie but I guess we will get to see that another time? Keep um' comin'

It is in the post on it's way .... wish I had had it.

Great video as always Shug. Love the openning song.
" Wooooo Budddy Yeaahhh , Hammocks Ruuule !!! "

We had a blast! The song just came to me in my post-hike daze.....