TN>Land Between the Lakes--planning stages

[L.D. Cakes]

I am a kayaker who has discovered hammocks. This trip sounds to good to pass up. Regarding the gear discussion, I looked up the average water temperature for late Nov-Dec at Kentucky lake and it is 50-55 degrees. This will probably be wet suit or maybe even dry suit conditions depending on the air temps. It should be a good opportunity to test out cool weather hammocking gear. Only 65 days until launch!

Welcome aboard act! I agree, When paddling you measure what you wear by the water temps not just the air temps. 50 degree water is cold then compare it with wind or simply cold air, it makes it even colder with more chance for Hypothermia. I wouldn't skimp on cold water gear on this one.

[ralexander9646]

Hello everyone, I just found this thread last night and am very excited about this trip. I was on the LBL site today though and saw the following:

Due to the lapse in federal government funding, the USDA Forest Service Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area, as with other federal agencies, is closed with the exception of certain essential services. However, we will attempt to make timely updates about public health and safety on this website as appropriate. We sincerely regret this inconvenience. For general information on Forest Service shutdown procedures, please visit the USDA’s website, www.usda.gov.

Roger

[L.D. Cakes]

Hello everyone, I just found this thread last night and am very excited about this trip. I was on the LBL site today though and saw the following:

Due to the lapse in federal government funding, the USDA Forest Service Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area, as with other federal agencies, is closed with the exception of certain essential services. However, we will attempt to make timely updates about public health and safety on this website as appropriate. We sincerely regret this inconvenience. For general information on Forest Service shutdown procedures, please visit the USDA’s website, www.usda.gov.

Roger

Yeah, It says the same thing on all National Parks until the gov starts back up. This is not the time to get any info.

[Firetruck]

I still don't understand how they can stop us from driving, walking, boating, or whatever in OUR parks. Besides if they are not working, who is going to stop us? If I wanted to use any park I would simply use it.

[wisenber]

I still don't understand how they can stop us from driving, walking, boating, or whatever in OUR parks. Besides if they are not working, who is going to stop us? If I wanted to use any park I would simply use it.

A good chunk of it was already closed before the shutdown.

[doc Andy]

During the 1996 government shutdown I did a backpacking trip in the Mamouth cave woods. No problem and we were not the only ones in the woods.

[MedicineMan]

I was thinking t-shirt and cotton shorts but tall mud boots to keep my feet dry when I get out of the kayak.
Anyway back from a long trip and trying to catch up. Heard about the gov while I was gone but where I was the Nat. Park units didn't have visitors centers, gaits, trails for that matter, and I'd guess one ranger for every 5000 square miles. Those parks seemed to work quite well without the gov's glaring presence.....but I forget this forum will clamped me if I do a gov. rant!
So my sights are now turned to LBL (or is Big South Fork next ??), still confused from the red eye flight.
I think like most backpacking trips I'll do a 5 day forecast a day or two before we leave and pack insulation accordingly + a bit for insurance.
I think for me a paddling suit will be packed regardless--can determine how warm it is by what I'm wearing under it.
I lived for 5 days in a dry-suit at paddle camping in Voyageurs Nat.Park and really dont enjoy the latex neck gasket for long long paddling days. The paddling suit has a neoprene neck gasket which is more comfortable.
But hey, remember the old pics of the early AT thru-hikers; they did wear cotton t-shirts and blue jeans, and lived to tell the tale.
Greenland paddle already set aside.
3 Batchstovez Caldera Cone set ups too; hoping to share a muffin or two.
Speaking of food I wonder how many of us there will be? How many are committed?
Time for a roll call of participants (or has that already been done in my absence, I just went to the end of this thread).

[MedicineMan]

Copy and past if you plan on attending the LBL Bridge-to-Bridge paddle hang:

MedicineMan

[hangnout]

Copy and past if you plan on attending the LBL Bridge-to-Bridge paddle hang

MedicineMan
Hangnout

[doc Andy]

Copy and past if you plan on attending the LBL Bridge-to-Bridge paddle hang

MedicineMan
Hangnout
act