First Hang in snow! Ponca State Park

**Dudorino** · 03-25-2011, 19:23

I just spent the last two nights hanging in the Ponca State Park in NE Nebraska. I was the only one in the whole park and was able to find a very secluded spot about 75 yards from the road on the top of a hill covered in oak and cedar.

The first night got down to 22 degrees with 25 MPH winds. I wasn't warm until I started to hang. My BBO, Potomac UQ and 0 degree mummy used open as a TQ did the job. It must have been a new moon. Man was it dark.

Snow wasn't in the forecast, but after getting about 9 hours straight of uninterrupted sleep on the second night, I was awakened by a couple of crows making a huge racket. I opened my hammock and found my tarp was a lot closer than I had pitched it. I pushed on it and found it was covered in snow. We got about 2" overnight. What a surprise. I was hoping to camp in the snow and this was the perfect way to do it.

If you get a chance to camp in the winter, I highly recommend it. You can hang wherever you want, there are no kids or RVs making noise and there are no bugs to contend with. I think I prefer it to summer camping.

What is your favorite time of year to camp?

**OutandBack** · 03-25-2011, 19:32

Congrats on your first snow while hanging. It's pretty neat.
Winter is my favorite time to camp. No bugs no peeps.

**Walking Bear** · 03-25-2011, 19:37

Good to hear that you had such a great time. A little snow is nice, especially if you are nice and warm in the hammock.

**Bubba** · 03-25-2011, 20:59

Nice first snow hang! I agree with you about winter hanging. We had a group hang a month ago. It was my first winter outing and I loved it. As you said, no one around, very quiet, just awesome. I bought an OES 4 season in anticipation of going out in the winter more often. I already went out again last weekend. Thanks for sharing!