'Shelter System' ? The only 'shelter system' that i'm familiar with is the Hennessy Super Shelter system, which unfortunatly wont work, as I have a Blackbird... Please explain?Originally Posted by gardenville
I like the idea about just getting some cheap tarps and dumping them when warmer weather comes, but knowing myself I dont think that would work. Maybe in conjunction with some of the other 'upgrades' that I'd need...
Do or do not; there is no try - Yoda
We're on a mission from God - Elwood Blues
I'm not going to blast you, but agree with you. You will see sub zero temps. Not to mention a lot of darkness. Did I mention a lot of darkness? I finished my southbound AT thru Jan 20th in 07. There were times it was freakin cold, other unseasonably warm. Prepare for the really freakin cold.
Be ready for sub zero and then some. If I were you and dead set on hammocking (I went to the ground after it was a certain temp all the time), still be able to go to the ground when needed. Have a warm pad which is also great in the hammock to add extra warmth.
Warm water bottles and all the other tricks are ok for awhile, but unless you want to night hike a lot, plan on a lot of time in the hammock.
A huge thing for me was eating in my sleeping bag in the morning (yeah right not going to do that when I am froozen). I would sleep with all my clothes in my bag, then get dressed in almost everything while in the bag. Than jump out quick, throw everything in the bag, and take off down the trail. A mile or two later I would warm up enough to relayer or do anything else needed.
Good luck. If I would end up without a job I would join you. Too many people around in the woods sucks...........Southbound Pride!
Is that too much to ask? Girls with frikkin' lasers on their heads?
The hanger formly known as "hammock engineer".
pick up some of those instant heat thingys. toe, foot, hand warmers, whichever ones you can find. Having something like this in your first aid kit will make the difference between freezing some night and sleeping warm. Also, make sure you're packing enough food. Not eatting enough at night will cause you to sleep colder than you have to. And you might be able to string up your hammock inside the shelters!!!
just remember that any quickly designed and built warmth system that you make will probably not last more than one good trip and could fail the first time out. but I think its the adversity that you are looking for to work out those internal demons. with that in mind I wish I was in the position to go suffer that with you.
Well I DEF do have some demons, but that's not why I'm thinking of pushing up my start date - I get off military orders this month. I can live off my savings for 2 months to start in January - not really the case with a March start date. That means finding a job for 4, 5 months. It can work, but I'd much prefer being on the trail rather than working while daydreaming about hiking when the weather clears up.
Do or do not; there is no try - Yoda
We're on a mission from God - Elwood Blues
and I think the shelter systems he was referring to are of the permanent type that sit along the trail not something you actually take with you. those will come in handy if you go in Jan. think of them like rest areas on the side of the highway.'Shelter System' ? The only 'shelter system' that i'm familiar with is the Hennessy Super Shelter system, which unfortunatly wont work, as I have a Blackbird... Please explain?
I like the idea about just getting some cheap tarps and dumping them when warmer weather comes, but knowing myself I dont think that would work. Maybe in conjunction with some of the other 'upgrades' that I'd need...
A-HA! That makes sense - wow, for whatever reason I TOTALLY FORGOT about them! And I wish I was joking about that statement!
Do or do not; there is no try - Yoda
We're on a mission from God - Elwood Blues
Just so you know: Even with a start date in March you can get some cold weather.
I was "with the pack" tween Erwin & Damascus last year, got near freezing temps a few nights, & even snow one night (less than 1/16 inch, but visible snow). After I got to town (Damascus) after the snow fall, the Flatland weather man said it got down to the 60s that night, so flatland weather reports / predictions are near useless in the mountains.
On a happier note, one year as I passed thru the Smokies, the weather report (on someone elses radio) said "Severe T-storms all night, beware of flooding!!!" We all laughed cause above the clouds where we were, it was sunny. That was the first time I saw lightning from atop the cloud cover, , much cooler than below.
When you have a backpack on, no matter where you are, you’re home.
PAIN is INEVITABLE. MISERY is OPTIONAL.
From what I saw, people with issues to work out dropped out. If you can't handle something in your current life. Going on a hike is the worse thing to do. You have all the time in the world with only your thoughts.
Is that too much to ask? Girls with frikkin' lasers on their heads?
The hanger formly known as "hammock engineer".
Agreed!
P.S. and as I mentioned earlier, I started this thread b/c of work timing and the military
Do or do not; there is no try - Yoda
We're on a mission from God - Elwood Blues
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