VIDEO Trip Report - Ontario 2nd Chance Fall Hang - Valens Conservation Area

**BrianWillan** · 10-23-2011, 17:24

Greetings

Here is the trip report for the 2nd chance Fall Hang for the Ontario Hammock Hangers Association.

So the hang started by me picking up Wolvaroo and heading out to Valens Conservation area Friday afternoon and grabbing the site we wanted. It was a good thing we did as another couple showed up at another campsite and after chatting for a second with them found they were going to grab the site we took.

I got a message from DistoredAxis that he was going to be joining us that evening, and he did show up as it was getting dark (after doing a few laps of the camps roads with his really tricked out Jeep.

Saturday morning rolls around and the rest of the crew start arriving. JeffTrex being the next to arrive. After that we had a few visitors show up to see everyone's gear and to chat. These included forum members [o]TTeR, jodster and grounder. Grounder was the one that was ready to throw in the towel on hammocks as he was suffering at the endless choices. So we walked him around to a few of the setups and he tried out a couple of hammocks. Net result, is I think that Brandon at Warbonnet will be getting another order for a DL 1.1 Blackbird soon.

[o]TTeR decided to stay the night after a rather 'interesting' phone conversation with his wife but he did leave bright and early Sunday morning. So hopefully we will hear from him again.

Other highlights from the trip were the pesky raccoon that got with a few yards of usd and was pawing at dimeotane's food bad. Then he took a while to chase away. These campground raccoon's are fearless. Once it was gone, we didn't see it again.

So without further ado, I present to you:

Cheers

Brian

**Bubba** · 10-23-2011, 18:57

I'm sorry I missed it! Had to go out of town to visit my wife's grandmother (the one whose husband's passing made me miss the Spring Algonquin hang). Such is life and I'm glad to see she is doing well.

Brian I like the looks of your new tarp tent. Looking forward to seeing it in person! I've been recently trying to figure out what to get for this winter season's camping.

[o]TTer you just couldn't resist could you. LOL. I'm not at all surprised. A night out in the woods was probably just what the doctor ordered.

I hope to see the other hangers I have not yet met on future hangs!

**[o]TTeR** · 10-24-2011, 08:39

Originally Posted by Bubba

[o]TTer you just couldn't resist could you. LOL. I'm not at all surprised. A night out in the woods was probably just what the doctor ordered.

Apparently I've become very predictable

My Wife said the same thing when I got home but honestly it’s just banter with us! She knows this insane lifestyle keeps me somewhat sane, I spend 50+ hours a week in a cubicle with a fake plastic plant surround by screens to ensure that even my peripheral vision is “work space”. Getting out between the trees keeps yours truly from a swan dive off the corporate platform into a pool that won’t be filled till the req gets signed….“corporate accounts payable Nina speaking, JUst a moment…”

Glad I stayed, enjoyed meeting more HF members and had a great night as always. Brian, the DIY wood stove is nothing short of awesome, one is on my project list! I really didn’t shoot much but here’s a couple from the hike and a frosty morning.

**mbiraman** · 10-24-2011, 09:36

Very nice pics Otter

**hangnout** · 10-23-2011, 19:00

Looks like a great hangout. Bet you can't wait till it gets cold enough to really give it a test

**BrianWillan** · 10-23-2011, 21:21

Originally Posted by hangnout

Looks like a great hangout. Bet you can't wait till it gets cold enough to really give it a test

Cold is a relative term when you have a heated shelter.

But yeah, this was the first field test in preparation for the upcoming winter camping season.

When I cooked my breakfast on the stove inside the tent, it didn't take long for there to be a very noticeable increase in temperature. I knew cotton canvas held heat in relatively well, but I was surprised how well given the number times that I walked in and out along with the rest of the group to check it out.

Cheers

Brian

**bloomgorge** · 10-23-2011, 19:26

that's going to be a sweat lodge! awesome

**Chard** · 10-23-2011, 19:52

Dang. Now I'm even more sorry I missed Valen's. Some good weather too.

Brian, that tent of your's will probably be the "big top" at the winter hang!!!

By the way, how many do you think you could get comfortably sitting in there?

Cheers!!

**BrianWillan** · 10-23-2011, 21:31

Originally Posted by bloomgorge

that's going to be a sweat lodge! awesome

Sauna was the term someone used. Yeah, life will be rough this winter.

Originally Posted by BearChaser

That's living the sweet life. Some very cool, I mean warm setups there. Thanks for sharing.

You're welcome.

Originally Posted by Chard

Dang. Now I'm even more sorry I missed Valen's. Some good weather too.

Brian, that tent of your's will probably be the "big top" at the winter hang!!!

By the way, how many do you think you could get comfortably sitting in there?

Well depending on how cozy you want to be with the person next you, I figure you could get 4 people on the side with the stove and 5 on other side. I have 'ridge pole ties along the inside top, which, if I removed my spreader bars, I could clip my hammock to the top give a much larger volume of space.

Yeah, it was rather refreshing to get an Ontario hang and have no precipitation. Although the overnight lows were 5C for Friday night and we did hit 0C on Saturday night, or so says my handy min/max indoor/outdoor thermometer.

Cheers

Brian