View Full Version : Heading out to Thru the AT in comfort
billslade
03-05-2009, 13:31
One more day of work left and I'm heading out to live a dream of Thru hiking the AT!
I want to say a big thanks for all the good advice I have received here on Hammock Forums.
I'll be taking along:
HH Hyperlite w/ Zipper mod #2 and ringbuckle/strap mod
OES MacCat Deluxe in Spintex
Cold temps:
JRB Mt Washington Underquilt
Nunatak Arc Expedition Topquilt w/ Balaclava
Warmer temps:
JRB Nest Underquilt
Nunatak Arc Ghost Topquilt
I won't be keeping an online journal but will report back on the hammocking experience. My Dad is joining me on this journey and he is a ground dweller, maybe by the end he will be a convert! :D
All the best and happy hanging!
- Bill
animalcontrol
03-05-2009, 13:34
One more day of work left and I'm heading out to live a dream of Thru hiking the AT!
I want to say a big thanks for all the good advice I have received here on Hammock Forums.
I'll be taking along:
HH Hyperlite w/ Zipper mod #2 and ringbuckle/strap mod
OES MacCat Deluxe in Spintex
Cold temps:
JRB Mt Washington Underquilt
Nunatak Arc Expedition Topquilt w/ Balaclava
Warmer temps:
JRB Nest Underquilt
Nunatak Arc Ghost Topquilt
I won't be keeping an online journal but will report back on the hammocking experience. My Dad is joining me on this journey and he is a ground dweller, maybe by the end he will be a convert! :D
All the best and happy hanging!
- Bill
outstanding!
Best of wishes to you and your Dad on your journey
Cannibal
03-05-2009, 13:37
Just remember you're there to enjoy it. Don't let it become work and you'll have the best time of your life!
Safe and happy journey.
NCPatrick
03-05-2009, 13:50
Wow, good luck and happy hiking!
Ramblinrev
03-05-2009, 13:53
Is there a forum pool for when dad sees the light and goes to the trees?
Cannibal
03-05-2009, 13:55
Is there a forum pool for when dad sees the light and goes to the trees?
I bet he is shopping for one by the time he hits Hot Springs...and that's a conservative estimate.
Take-a-knee
03-05-2009, 14:02
Nice gear selection but you should have picked No Snivelers for top quilts, or a Rock Wren/Winter Wren.
billslade
03-05-2009, 15:21
Nice gear selection but you should have picked No Snivelers for top quilts, or a Rock Wren/Winter Wren.
I'm happy with the Nunatak quilts but thinking I may have been ok with a 20deg quilt instead of the 5deg. But if I see single digit nights it sure will be nice. When I tested this setup we had a low of 25 and I had to loosen the quilt and balaclava as it was getting to warm.
My Dad's has already mentioned he wouldn't mind trying the hammock while we're out. I guess that means I would have to "try" his pad. Ughhh
Cannibal
03-05-2009, 15:25
My Dad's has already mentioned he wouldn't mind trying the hammock while we're out.
That's how it always starts.:D
I guess that means I would have to "try" his pad. Ughhh
No call for getting all crazy; I mean he's only your dad.
Ramblinrev
03-05-2009, 15:26
My Dad's has already mentioned he wouldn't mind trying the hammock while we're out. I guess that means I would have to "try" his pad. Ughhh
Don't do it.... don't do it... let him try it for an afternoon nap. He decided to ground dwell... you don't need to suffer. You won't get it back. He'll pull the decripit old man routine and make you feel guilty... or try to anyway. I know this.... I've done it. No no... don't do it.
HappyCamper
03-05-2009, 15:35
Good luck and safe journey! Will be waiting for your future posts.
Narwhalin
03-05-2009, 15:55
Awesome! I know you and your Dad will have an awesome time together on a journey such as this one...good luck to you. :)
Just remember you're there to enjoy it. Don't let it become work and you'll have the best time of your life!
Safe and happy journey.
My thoughts exactly. Don't listen to everyone else around you or to what you thought it would be like. Go out and enjoy the moment and go where ever it takes you.
Rockdawg69
03-05-2009, 16:30
Enjoy. A chance to go with your Dad - how cool is that??
Im jealous of your thru and your gear!!! happy hiking to both of ya
Best of luck! Although it seems you're making your luck. Have a grand adventure. Good for you and your Dad.
Raven-US
03-05-2009, 20:57
Good luck!! Laugh first... and last... at everything. Then get down to figuring out what to do about it.
Take-a-knee
03-05-2009, 21:07
I'm happy with the Nunatak quilts but thinking I may have been ok with a 20deg quilt instead of the 5deg. But if I see single digit nights it sure will be nice. When I tested this setup we had a low of 25 and I had to loosen the quilt and balaclava as it was getting to warm.
My Dad's has already mentioned he wouldn't mind trying the hammock while we're out. I guess that means I would have to "try" his pad. Ughhh
Oh, Nunatak makes top shelf stuff for sure, I'm sure your quilts work GREAT as quilts, they don't work as camp insulation so you have to carry that too. We've all had to make a mental leap from sleeping bags to quilts as hammockers, go ahead and make the jump to a do it all piece of kit.
Good Luck! Enjoy the time with your dad . . it all goes by so quickly.
kayak karl
03-06-2009, 07:20
have a great time. take a lot of pics:) it is so cool you are doing it with your dad. itll be an adventure of a life time.
Youngblood
03-06-2009, 07:26
Have a great adventure.
Enjoy. A chance to go with your Dad - how cool is that??
That's what I was thinking as well. What a great event to share.
TWS
billslade
03-06-2009, 13:47
Thanks for all the wishes and GREAT advice.
My goal besides making it to the big K, is to enjoy the journey and not focus on the destination.
I do feel very lucky to be able to take this journey with my Dad. He had triple bypass surgery last April and has recovered very well.
Only two hours of work and its quitting time (at least for six months!)
Cannibal
03-06-2009, 14:02
I'm so jealous! Best of luck on your journey.
One piece of advise: It will be very tempting to take lots of pictures of the beautiful scenery, which is fine. But, what you will want when you are done (trust me) are pictures of all the interesting people you will meet along the way. Don't forget to take their picture. Helps if you write their trailname somewhere, but I found I usually remember most of them.
Best of luck and keep working on your dad about hammocks! :D
SIGH!
Take me with you,,, PLEEZE!!!!!! :)
:D :D :D :D
Peter_pan
03-08-2009, 15:04
Enjoy your hike and hanging....
Pan
bonsaihiker
03-08-2009, 20:03
Godspeed! Enjoy this time. I'm making the mental leap forward in time right now when I do this with my son, and maybe my daughter. Wow . . . that would be awesome.
Good luck! Have fun and when times get tough, remember "You're on the AT dangit!"
I had the good fortune to run across Bill yesterday on top of Max Patch hiking with his Dad. I do believe that both parties concerned were having the time of their lives.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/100_0498.jpg
Bill, it was nice meeting you and your Dad. I hope you guys have a wonderul hike!
Now I'm jealous. And to rub it in I am working out of an office that I can see mountains out the window, but won't have a lot of time for hiking.
Cannibal
04-14-2009, 09:51
And to rub it in I am working out of an office that I can see mountains out the window
Welcome to my Hell!
Welcome to my Hell!
Yeah it was rough today. Hoping to take off to the west coast this weekend and see some better mountais and coastline.
Shadowmoss
04-14-2009, 21:14
Coffee, anyplace close to Tacoma/Olympia (and I consider 'close' to cover a pretty wide area :) ). Not that I'm homesick for some hanging buddies or anything. I've looked over some nice looking (on maps) coast hikes over in the Olympics.
Coffee, anyplace close to Tacoma/Olympia (and I consider 'close' to cover a pretty wide area :) ). Not that I'm homesick for some hanging buddies or anything. I've looked over some nice looking (on maps) coast hikes over in the Olympics.
It's more of a big hill and less than a mile away, way higher than I am used to in New Orleans. Spending some time in Norway for work. Planning on taking the train somewhere to weekend to see what I can find.
But I am feeling the start of the yearly Katadin fever. It starts hitting about now through January.
TinaLouise
04-15-2009, 07:07
Bill, enjoy your trip with your dad... you're making memories to last a life time!!
Don't be surprised when your dad casually asks you if he can try your hammock and then you can't get him to get back out of it.
Question: have you weighted your's and dad's packs???
What kind of food are you carrying? and what's your stove??
Oh, another question..... you've got two under quilts & two over quilts, Could the thicker under quilt (your cold temp one) be used in the warmer temps by just hanging it a bit looser???
Can't wait to hear your reports when you come back....
billslade
05-04-2009, 22:15
I had the good fortune to run across Bill yesterday on top of Max Patch hiking with his Dad. I do believe that both parties concerned were having the time of their lives.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/100_0498.jpg
Bill, it was nice meeting you and your Dad. I hope you guys have a wonderul hike!
Hooch,
It was nice meeting you as well.
We are now in Damascus, VA and enjoying this town very much. Tomorrow we head out and continue northward. It's hard to explain how amazing an experience this is.
The hammock setup is working out well. I had no problems staying warm even in the Smokys during mid teen temps with 1 1/2 feet of blowing snow. The hardest part as always is getting up in the morning.
My only issues has been keeping my tarp from flapping loudly in the wind. I'm still working on the pitch and may have to have additional guyout points added.
My Dad is very interested in a hammock after he saw how soundly I'm sleeping but I'm going to get a friend to lend him one to test. I can't see going to the ground after almost 2 months of comfortable sleep!
Hope everyone is well. Nothing to complain about here and I feel very lucky to be living this dream!!
Happy Hanging -
- Bill
billslade
05-04-2009, 22:29
Bill, enjoy your trip with your dad... you're making memories to last a life time!!
Don't be surprised when your dad casually asks you if he can try your hammock and then you can't get him to get back out of it.
Question: have you weighted your's and dad's packs???
What kind of food are you carrying? and what's your stove??
Oh, another question..... you've got two under quilts & two over quilts, Could the thicker under quilt (your cold temp one) be used in the warmer temps by just hanging it a bit looser???
Can't wait to hear your reports when you come back....
Hello TinaLouise,
Dad is already asking about the hammock and wondering why I sleep so well. I had one person tell me I could save weight if we shared a tent... Ohhh they just don't understand!
With 2 liters of water and four days of food my pack is about 37 pounds. I am carrying about 2-3 pounds of books (my luxury items), my Dad is about 41 pounds.
For food we carry the typical dried food (Lipton Side, Ramen, Instant Mashed Potatoes and also Trail Foods). It's been pretty easy to resupply in a Dollar General or Grocery Store.
I'm using a Bushbuddy wood burning stove and my Dad has an alcohol stove. I stated using my alcohol stove as a backup after fooling around with wet wood starving while watching everyone else eat. It's working out good and when things are dry fuel is unlimited and it's easy to start.
The Mt Washington Underquilt has worked wonderful. The warmest nights have been around 60 and I left it attached and slept with my top quilt to the side. If it was warmer you could easily loosen the shock cords to vent it. The only disadvantage would be carrying slightly more bulk and weight as opposed to a lighter underquilt.
Hope this helps and let me know if you have any more specific questions.
Happy Hiking!
Bill
callook66
06-06-2009, 12:31
When it comes to the rough spots, Im always reminded of the "Lou" scene from Fight Club, and try my best to be as much of a masochist as possible when it gets hard. Also, the hit song It Only Makes Me Laugh by Danny Elfman. Cause you know the worst stuff will be your favorite when it's over!!
vitamaltz
06-06-2009, 16:57
I ran into Bill and his dad today in the Three Ridges Wilderness. I'll second Hooch's opinion, they seem really happy. His dad ordered a Blackbird as a result of TD; I forgot to ask where and when he expected to pick it up. BTW, Cannibal, Bill says he has a good waterfall hanging photo for your project.
I'm so jealous! Best of luck on your journey.
One piece of advise: It will be very tempting to take lots of pictures of the beautiful scenery, which is fine. But, what you will want when you are done (trust me) are pictures of all the interesting people you will meet along the way. Don't forget to take their picture. Helps if you write their trailname somewhere, but I found I usually remember most of them.
Best of luck and keep working on your dad about hammocks! :D
I couldn't agree more. I always enjoy seeing pics of the characters met along the trail much more than any scenery shot.
Best of luck with the trip. My best hiking days ever were with my daughter.
Miguel
BillyBob58
06-06-2009, 21:37
One more day of work left and I'm heading out to live a dream of Thru hiking the AT!
I want to say a big thanks for all the good advice I have received here on Hammock Forums.
I'll be taking along:
HH Hyperlite w/ Zipper mod #2 and ringbuckle/strap mod
OES MacCat Deluxe in Spintex
Cold temps:
JRB Mt Washington Underquilt
Nunatak Arc Expedition Topquilt w/ Balaclava
Warmer temps:
JRB Nest Underquilt
Nunatak Arc Ghost Topquilt
I won't be keeping an online journal but will report back on the hammocking experience. My Dad is joining me on this journey and he is a ground dweller, maybe by the end he will be a convert! :D
All the best and happy hanging!
- Bill
All right! Go man go!
billslade
06-08-2009, 07:10
I ran into Bill and his dad today in the Three Ridges Wilderness. I'll second Hooch's opinion, they seem really happy. His dad ordered a Blackbird as a result of TD; I forgot to ask where and when he expected to pick it up. BTW, Cannibal, Bill says he has a good waterfall hanging photo for your project.
vitamaltz,
It was nice meeting you and talking hammocks! Hopefully Dad will have his Blackbird in a few weeks or less. He's looking forward to it.
Hammock living on the trail is wonderful. I love getting in it after a good day on the trail. Unfortunately now the bugs are back out so the netting has to be zipped up. It was real nice for the first month or so leaving it open. I loved looking up at the trees and sky.
We're staying in Waynesboro now and will be starting Shenandoah N.P. today. It's still an incredible adventure! :D
Moving On - Bill
Bill, gret to hear you're still enjoying your hike and that your dad is back out there again. Congrats on getting him converted. :thumbup: It was nice to see you again at Trail Days.
Update on Billslade_
Was out tending to the section of the AT I oversee in the North portion of SNP and who should come through but.. Bill and his dad. I'd read the posts here and knew of their adventure but had not heard of Bill Sr.'s conversion to the Blackbird. Bill's dad is anxiously awaiting his hammock so he can get off the ground and start living. Bill Jr. had just finished his blackberry milkshake and was already plotting a hammock overthrow to win the BB.:cool:
Bill was loving the hammock and shared lots of helpful advice with me about the insulating set up required for summer hiking in VA.
SmokeHouse
06-13-2009, 21:47
good luck and have a safe trip...
Hey Guys,
Great thread and of much interest to me personally.
I am currently planing for a long AT section hike starting in Feb 2010.
The idea of doing this using hammocks as our primary sleep system is of particular interest.
Looking forward to reading more.
Thanks,
Darrel :)
billslade
07-23-2009, 13:16
As of a few days ago Dad is now hanging and enjoying sleeping in his new Blackbird double layer 1.1 hammock. :) The first night was not so great but the last few have been wonderful. Just thought I would pass on the good news.
We are now in Kent, KT and the trip is wonderful. Now off to shower... Don't want to stink up this library to bad.
billslade
08-16-2009, 14:39
We just arrived in Hanover, NH today. Hanging on the trail is wonderful. Dad is sleeping better than ever in his BlackBird. He would never go back to the ground now. I'm amazed at how quick he adapted.
The hike is going good. Vermont was beautiful. We'll be heading into the Whites shortly. I'll let everyone know how the hanging went there.
Sleeping great on the AT!
Cheers- Bill
We just arrived in Hanover, NH today. Hanging on the trail is wonderful. Dad is sleeping better than ever in his BlackBird. He would never go back to the ground now. I'm amazed at how quick he adapted.
The hike is going good. Vermont was beautiful. We'll be heading into the Whites shortly. I'll let everyone know how the hanging went there.
Sleeping great on the AT!
Cheers- Bill
Awesome that you guys are still out there and enjoying your hike. I'm sure your Dad is enjoying it more now that he's comfortable in a hammock. Keep us posted on progress when you can and keep on movin' down the trail. :thumbup:
Hey billslade .... I concur about Vermont being beautiful ..... we are in Windsor at our favorite Mansion right now. Wish I were on the trail but it is hot today!
Have a terrific time in the Whites in glorious comfort!
Shug
kayak karl
09-06-2009, 19:22
Saw bill and his dad at full goose shelter last night. Had a good time talking hammocks :) have fun in Maine
KK, thanks for the update. Good to see that Bill Jr. and Bill Sr. are getting right along. Do you know if they ever got trail names? I don't think they had when I saw Bill Jr. at Trail Daze.
billslade
09-08-2009, 14:11
Hey Hooch -
No official trail names we're just know as "The Bills" on the trail. My Dad has been called "Wild Bill" a few times because of his wild stories.
We're now in Andover, ME. Maine is wonderful but still very hard hiking. I'm enjoying this journey so much I'm stretching out the last few weeks. Last night we hammocked right next to a small creek, it was so nice. Dad would never go back to the ground now.
Moving north... Slowly...
Hey Hooch -
No official trail names we're just know as "The Bills" on the trail. My Dad has been called "Wild Bill" a few times because of his wild stories.
We're now in Andover, ME. Maine is wonderful but still very hard hiking. I'm enjoying this journey so much I'm stretching out the last few weeks. Last night we hammocked right next to a small creek, it was so nice. Dad would never go back to the ground now.
Moving north... Slowly...
Way cool! I'm totally envious! Hope you guys can maybe make the MAHHA hang in November after you "get back to civilization". Make sure to get a great summit shot at Mighty K for those of us who have been following you!
ikemouser
09-13-2009, 14:53
Awesome times "bills", Keep it up, will be watching your progress from kentucky!
slowhike
09-13-2009, 20:07
We're now in Andover, ME. Maine is wonderful but still very hard hiking. I'm enjoying this journey so much I'm stretching out the last few weeks. Last night we hammocked right next to a small creek, it was so nice. Dad would never go back to the ground now.
Moving north... Slowly...
That's awesome to hear Bill & Bill!!! Very glad that you both discovered the hammock before heading out!
Looking forward to hearing a few highlights from your journey.
LyttleBryan
10-06-2009, 08:18
Welcome to my Hell!
you and me both. I can see the Smoke rising from the Smokies here.
kayak karl
10-19-2009, 06:53
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55083
ltruelove
10-19-2009, 07:35
congrats bills!!!! way to go!!
My heartfelt congratulations to The Bills! Way to go, guys. I hope you enjoyed the trip of a lifetime and continue o enjoy each other's company for many more years to come.
Cannibal
10-19-2009, 09:03
Great job!
Peter_pan
10-19-2009, 19:23
Hats off the hikin' and hammockin' Bills... Well done.
Pan
Congratulations!!!! You guys are truly an inspiration :D
NorseAmerican
10-28-2009, 17:42
Congrats Bills!
Was VT still muddy? I would love to one day hike the AT with my son-in 2015 when he gets out of Highschool. We made a LT attempt this summer but got mudded out after a week in July. Still a life changing experience to do something like this with your Father/Son.
NA
affreeman
10-28-2009, 19:29
Hey Hooch -
No official trail names we're just know as "The Bills" on the trail. My Dad has been called "Wild Bill" a few times because of his wild stories.
We're now in Andover, ME. Maine is wonderful but still very hard hiking. I'm enjoying this journey so much I'm stretching out the last few weeks. Last night we hammocked right next to a small creek, it was so nice. Dad would never go back to the ground now.
Moving north... Slowly...
Hey Bills! I met you both at Pine Ellis in Andover. I'm assuming you both finished in good form; congratulations!
How are you readjusting to your other life?