Got hit with the cold bug.......

**Lofty** · 02-02-2013, 18:02

Several years ago I would have NEVER thought about camping in the cold.

Now that I've converted to a hammock it seems I've caught the cold bug.....

I tested my gear last night and it was -11ºc .... now I want to try -20ºc and colder. kind of funny how I want to camp more as the thermometer drops.
looking forward to a -20ºc or colder night

- my wife thinks I'm crazy

.................................................. ..............................

I was out in dec at -5ºc with my son - his complaint - he was TOO warm ... wanted to try when it was colder. so we did

last night -11ºc - his take on nice and cold ..... (with a BIG smile) "I was nice and warm, are we gonna go again when it's colder?"

what is it with us hammocker's? The constant quest for hanging in extreme cold....

**Brute1100** · 02-02-2013, 18:14

I went down to 18*F and could have gone a little lower... Be ER got anywhere near that in a tent... Never wanted to go very far in ny tent either...

**Vulture** · 02-02-2013, 20:20

I've got the cold bug too. And I hate being cold! I have found it hard to sleep when my nose and face are freezing (and other places). I guess it's the CHALLENGE of facing and overcoming adverse conditions and proving survival ablility. It makes you appreciate a little fire, warmth, and what you have I guess. I've only tested down to around 15*F and was toasty in my UGQ underquilt and topquilt. May need to augment that if I ever face less than 0*F.

**cvitter** · 02-02-2013, 20:26

Brrrrrrr. I hate being cold so the idea of camping out in those temps makes me shiver. Then again I had hypothermia once (I was in a car accident in which I ended up in a creek in January) and just the thought of being cold can make me shiver.

**Doctari** · 02-02-2013, 21:05

My first winter camp out was 7 years ago (1st MRHO in Jan.) My only complaint was that I didn't do that years ago. Before that my coldest temp while camping was low 40s. Now I go out whenever, year round! Yes, I get cold, sometimes VERY cold, still love it.

**Mountain Gout** · 02-02-2013, 22:55

Supposed to be anywhere from 6 to 12 degrees f. tonite.. On my way out to the back yard..
Will be my lowest yet.. Got my phincubator 0 degree, but my tq, is a hudson river rated to 25 to 30..
So this will be a good test.. Gonna start fairly light clothed and add if needed, even have a nalgene with hot water to try out as well... Let the cold fun begin.... Gnite all..

**jerzybears** · 02-04-2013, 19:37

Yeah, Russ and I have got it bad too!! We've got our gear down to 0 degrees, and last weekend at the Catskills, NY it went to 9.

Now if I can just get a handle on the condensation thing....things can get a little damp sometimes and frost is everywhere.

**fishbait** · 02-04-2013, 21:06

Originally Posted by jerzybears

Yeah, Russ and I have got it bad too!! We've got our gear down to 0 degrees, and last weekend at the Catskills, NY it went to 9.

Now if I can just get a handle on the condensation thing....things can get a little damp sometimes and frost is everywhere.

Yep condensation is a PIA. The last cold hang I was at I had a small water fall trickling down my neck and an Ice cave over the rest of me. Still I was pretty warm 8* outside and 23* in the winter sock.

**Geektechnica** · 02-04-2013, 22:07

Yeah, my friends and coworkers all thought I was nuts when I told them I was going to the NJ hang. Our low temp for the weekend was something like 3°F, with highs in the lower 20's.

That is a low for me, definitely colder than I am used to, but I greatly prefer it to sweating it out in the woods when it is hot, humid, and bug-infested.

I'm a 3 season camper... Spring, Fall, Winter

**Lofty** · 02-04-2013, 22:09

did an afternoon test today

since my son and I are going on a winter hang in less than 2 weeks, he's getting ALL my HG fluffy downy goodness - which leaves me with testing the leftovers ..... I think I found what I'm gonna use
Today I set up the blackbird and lined it with a CCF, an exped down 9DLX, and my DIY synthetic UQ, used the -7ºc mummy (I have another HG -7ºc TQ on the way for the trip)
and at -11ºc there was absolutely NO cold under me.
I had a nice nap for just over an hour. Unfortunately my phone rang and woke me.

I'm just hoping for another COLD night in the next week to test again, forecast is hovering -11/-12 for the low - where's the -18/-20? thats what I wanna try.