First night on the trail.

**DeShazo** · 04-26-2009, 22:58

I finally got to put the Blackbird to the real test. I went on my first real hike and used my BB. I started at the Southern Terminus of the Pinhoti trail. It was me and my 2 teenage boys and our dog. My wife dropped us off after they got out of school Friday and we got back today (Sunday) at about 2ish. It was awesome! I'm hooked. We arrived at 5:45PM so we didn't have much daylight. We did 2 miles and made camp. Then did 12.5 Saturday and camped right on the edge of a waterfall. I love the ability to do that with a hammock. Then today we only hiked out 3.5 miles due to my wife was having to pick us up in Talladega, and was trying to beat the end of the race so we didn't get hung up in traffic. It was a great weekend. Thanks to all of you guys who offered advice along this grueling wait while I gathered equipment the past 2 months. Also special thanks to Brandon (Warbonnetguy) for all the answered questions and 3 of the finest hammocks ever made. And to Brian of OES for the MacCat Deluxe tarp. I didn't have to use it this trip because the weather was perfect, but it preformed flawlessly in the downpour in the backyard. This forum is great. Thanks

**TinaLouise** · 04-27-2009, 07:27

I bet you're already planning your next trip!!!
cool pictures, looks like you were able to hang all the hammocks off one central tree.
What were the temps at night, did you have some sort of insulation inside your hammocks for your backside?
Congrats on a very successful first trip and for making memories that your kids will be talking about, way down the road to their kids, one day.

**DeShazo** · 04-27-2009, 14:33

TinaLouise, yes I am already planning to do another section. It sure is addicting. As for the weather, both nights were around 60 degrees. We had brought our 3/16 Landau foam padding, but never took it off the backpack. It was so warm when we went to sleep that I used my sleeping bag as a pillow and was in a 100% polyester light weight sleeping bag liner while wearing shorts and a t-shirt and was hot. It got cool enough to crawl in the sleeping bag right before daybreak, but definately not cool enough for the pad. I may opt for not carrying the pad the rest of the Spring and Summer here in Alabama as it is so humid and warm at night. The pics were from the first night we set up and were able to all hang off a central tree. The second night we hung next to a waterfall. It was amazing. Thanks for the comments.

**rat44** · 04-27-2009, 19:45

That's cool! Where's the waterfall pics!!!

**DeShazo** · 04-28-2009, 07:57

Here is a couple. The first is my boys setting up. The second is a frontal view of the falls, and the third is my set up.

**HappyCamper** · 04-28-2009, 08:57

Well look at you guys! That's so cool. Looks like you are having a great time. And who wouldn't. You're in hammocks!

**rat44** · 04-29-2009, 17:09

Awesome spot! Very cool! I bet you slept like a log with the waterfall in the background!

That Blackbird is looking good!

**MacEntyre** · 04-29-2009, 17:30

In the first picture, I like the way the water climbs the rock before cascading off...

Great site!

**skippy** · 04-29-2009, 18:34

Looks like you guys had a good time, We are lucky to have a great trail so close. Maybe we can get Mark, Ken and Rob to do a section or two this fall.