Big Sur - First Solo Hang

November 9 2013 I did my first solo hang. Due to a recent, 8 weeks, surgery on my Achilles tendon I decided that though I wanted to experience Big Sur, I did not want to hike far. Good thing I did this because the .5 mile walk from car to camp site with my pack had my ankle begging for mercy.
After some research on hf, youtube, and anything I could google I decided I would head to Botcher's Gap in Big Sur.

I ended up having the 12 site camp mostly to myself, a few sites away was a single couple from the Bay Area. We ended up having coffee in the morning together, because though they remembered to bring coffee, they did not have a way to heat it, and there are no fires allowed in Big Sur right now.

I was concerned about being cold and prepared my sleep system for 30 degrees, what I got was closer to 50.

I learned quite a bit, I learned I can follow internet directions to make amsteel blue whoopie slings tie them to my hennessy and not fall in the night. I was quite concerned with this since I effectively took a brand new hammock with perfectly working suspension and replace it with my own home made system. Having never done this, I felt confident that I could get it right, but was unsure about how many tried it would take. This caused me to wake in the middle of the night dreaming I was falling, though I never did. I learned that though I do like hammock sleeping I have much more tweaking to my setup, I need to add an underquilt to my system and stop using the thermarest. I of course will have to use the mat until I can find the funds for a UQ. I CONMFIRMED that I prefer to camp in colder weather, the summer is nice, but there is something awesome about knowing that you are smart enough to put together the right things in the right order to survive freezing, even -9 or -19. I once sat on the snow, at 13k feet in Austria, a snowboard on feet, a cell phone in helmet talking to a buddy in New York, it was -14 outside and I felt toasty warm. I could have done without the 10k foot drop to my left that I could not see due to a snow squall giving me a white out, hence sitting on the snow waiting it out.

Anyway check out my first YouTube ever, give me feedback on how I have my fly and hammock hung.

Thanks

http://youtu.be/F_ajefsJcrs

I'm jealous, still would like to do a solo myself. Now that I have an UQ I think I can do it in the colder months. I also will be convert to whoopsie slings for my Eno.

Looking for feedback on my setup, hoping I can get some comments in here or on youtube about how I rigged everything. Everything I did was from info on these forums.

Thanks!!

Great first hang. I will have to check out that area later this winter. Thanks for the info and who knows I might bump into you on the trail……..gary

Big Sur...one of my most favorite places in all the US.

Your set up looked great.
I used an UQ on the first part of my hike,
later changed to a Z lite
and in the Whites, used a Neo-Air.
I would inflate it full, they let air out to about 3/4.
That way, not near as much slippage and can hang flat.

As for your pack.
I made an amsteel pack leash with a prussick and biner in the middle
and loop on the other end to hang my pack from a tree by itself
(when it isn't raining). PM Doctari how to make it ( as I have now forgotten, but could show you a pic).

The whole set up looked great, angles looked fine.
Just have to trust your DIY skills :shades:

Very nice first solo hang
and I hope the ahcilles mends well.

Enjoyed your video. My only feedback on your setup is the use of non breathable materials below the tarp.
In my experience the use of vapor barriers is an all or nothing.
Complete VB at the skin level seems to work very well. The farther away from the skin the wetter one seems to get.

hth, liked everything else about your setup should serve you well.

There are handful of us here on HF that consider Big Sur to be our backyard stompin' grounds, good choice for ya! The entire Los Padres backcountry fire restriction is kind of a bummer, but hopefully it will lift soon. Congrats on the successful hike on the wobbly wheel, the mileage will be back before you know it!