Cave Hang

**digrat** · 09-05-2010, 06:47

Originally Posted by TheWild

What temps were you facing in the cave?

I've been down to about 50F with a cheap thin fleece blanket - it was tolerable, but I won't be going any lower than that without proper insulation

/Wild

I'm not entirely sure, but I just Googled cave temps and most hover at about 55F. That sounds about right for this one too. Plus, I'm a pretty warm body and like lots of insulation when I sleep.

I even tried eating during one of my middle-of-the-night shivering spells...not sure whether it helped or not, but at least I wasn't hungry in the morning!

**X-Lem** · 09-05-2010, 07:01

Now I've never seen anyone talk about a cave hang before. How cool is that!

**TheWild** · 09-05-2010, 08:35

Originally Posted by digrat

I'm not entirely sure, but I just Googled cave temps and most hover at about 55F. That sounds about right for this one too. Plus, I'm a pretty warm body and like lots of insulation when I sleep.

I even tried eating during one of my middle-of-the-night shivering spells...not sure whether it helped or not, but at least I wasn't hungry in the morning!

That's cold with only a fleece TQ... I guess we can both say been there, done that, won't do it again

(You just took a notch or 200 up the coolness scale by hanging in a cave

)

Like you, I was also using a Therm-a-rest pad and had no problem with cold below me as long as I stay on the pad (that's not something I'm particularly good at

), so I'd also contribute your cold shivers to inadequate top insulation.

Eating will always improve things.... even if it's not helping against the cold, at least ones mood can still improve with food

/Wild

**KerMegan** · 09-05-2010, 08:53

maybe next time two fleece blanket, pin them into peapod and go all the way around the hammock?
was the hole in the ceiling already there?
Extreme points for adaptability! KM (who dislikes damaging natural places..)

**digrat** · 09-05-2010, 08:58

Originally Posted by KerMegan

was the hole in the ceiling already there?
Extreme points for adaptability! KM (who dislikes damaging natural places..)

There were no holes in the ceiling...we were about 250' into the cave in the utter pitch black. I used climbing chocks and carabiners in existing rock splits to hang from.

**digrat** · 09-05-2010, 09:02

Originally Posted by TheWild

That's cold with only a fleece TQ... I guess we can both say been there, done that, won't do it again

Like you, I was also using a Therm-a-rest pad and had no problem with cold below me as long as I stay on the pad (that's not something I'm particularly good at

), so I'd also contribute your cold shivers to inadequate top insulation.

Yeah, I figured I was pushing it with my single-layer fleece TQ, but my only other option was a too-big sleeping bag and I wanted to travel light. What does not kill us makes us stronger, right?

Originally Posted by TheWild

(You just took a notch or 200 up the coolness scale by hanging in a cave

)

*Blush* Y'all are too kind.

**gunner76** · 09-05-2010, 10:33

So easy a cave man can do it

**TheWild** · 09-05-2010, 10:34

Originally Posted by gunner76

So easy a cave man can do it

**KerMegan** · 09-05-2010, 11:52

Originally Posted by digrat

There were no holes in the ceiling...we were about 250' into the cave in the utter pitch black. I used climbing chocks and carabiners in existing rock splits to hang from.

all good then- my knowledge of caves is very limited- professional/tourist cave tours, or about 12' into a 'wild' cave, then I get all jumpy and have to go out again...but if you were using bits already provided by nature then LNT to the max!
thanks for the pics and report!KM

**The RidgeRunner** · 09-05-2010, 12:23

I would like to do something like that, but my buddy that caves is out in colorado right now. Most of the caves i've been in in PA are not big enough to hang.