First ever winter hang!

**Hike2Hang** · 01-14-2012, 12:32

So StraighUpHangin and I both went on our first winter hang Fri 13th.
Everything went wrong getting to our location. Pulk kept tipping (every 2 steps), packs were suicidal heavy, StraightUpHangin's snowshoes failed him the whole way.... but finally, we got to our spot.

We put together a shelter that would hold both hammocks, woodstove and have "living space". It was a concept design I had for a cabin we plan to build. This shelter was stick frame and tarps.

We planned to stay until Sunday. Friday night it started getting cold. Waited until about 3am before I loaded the stove full and crashed out. Temps here got down to approx -30c! We were both warm in your sleep systems. I was toasty toasty! My only prob was that I forgot my face mask at home, so my nose was cold as hell.

We were listening to radio, and they were saying it was going to hit almost -40c tonight, so we decided we'd be best to just pack up and head out.

What an amazing experience though!
Wouldn't trade it! So glad we went through with what could have been a VERY bad time.

Video coming soon

**BrianWillan** · 01-14-2012, 17:08

**Hike2Hang** · 01-14-2012, 19:50

thanks, how did u embed?

**wolf track** · 01-15-2012, 01:27

Looks like yall had alot of fun. I like the idea of having a shelter to set your hammocks up in during foul weather.
Try a foam pad underneath for a cheap way to get some extra warmth.

**Hike2Hang** · 01-15-2012, 10:49

Originally Posted by wolf track

Looks like yall had alot of fun. I like the idea of having a shelter to set your hammocks up in during foul weather.
Try a foam pad underneath for a cheap way to get some extra warmth.

That's the thing, StraightUpHangin didn't have a UQ at all, and mine wasn't much of one (more of a spring/fall UQ at best), yet I was plenty plenty warm, only my face was cold and that was due to forgetting my face mask at home. StraightUpHangin' said he was plenty warm too, and only his feet got cold (but he was struggling to keep his feet warm the whole time there, we're not sure why)

Now, it should be mentioned that the wood stove played very little part in our comfort. It gave us a nice warm spot to sit (if right at stove) while we were awake etc, and it aided in cooking, etc. However, because the heat it was putting out was lost due to the way we designed our hut (the fresh air end) and the fact that there's no insulation, etc. it wasn't much use in keeping shelter warm. Our primary gain was the shelter blocking all wind (which could be done as easily (easier, im sure) with a single tarp with doors (single tarp set up per hammock). We also think we would have been better to have made it so stove was in center of shelter, between hammocks. That way we could have sit in our hammocks, off the cold ground and been right at wood stove. it would have also been easier to feed stove (which neither of us did once we got in our hammocks).

**nryche** · 01-15-2012, 20:21

Live and learn. Its the only way. Glad you 2 had fun.

**BillyBob58** · 01-15-2012, 22:11

Impressive first winter hang!

**StraightUpHangin** · 01-19-2012, 12:27

It was so insane that it was the best hang i've done

my feet were cold because my base layer of socks combined with my long underwear cut the blood flow which caused me to shiver. My mummy bag rated to -26c (-15f ) with my summer bag inside was plenty warm and i closed up the hood on it until only my nose and mouth were exposed and even then i had a face mask on. I chose to experiment my sleep system ideas on the coldest weekend and am glad i did it. For myself i have discovered that i will never need an under quilt or over quilt or even a pad for that matter. Other than pack weight and shelter set up, I am very happy with my set up for winter hangs and am confident that I could use my system in most north american winter situations.

Till next time, keep em hangin