It was great meeting all of you yesterday. Oh and whoever let me borrow their NiteIze 9s send me a pm and ill mail them to you, just found them cleaning out my pack.
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It was great meeting all of you yesterday. Oh and whoever let me borrow their NiteIze 9s send me a pm and ill mail them to you, just found them cleaning out my pack.
It was a GREAT trip. A few difficulties to be had by some, but for the most part, GREAT trip!!!
Good to meet so many new hammockers & see some that I hardly ever see.
I believe we had close to 40 show up & about 9 or 10 states represented. Maybe we can get better figures on those things later.
The raffle was a big hit too!!! I'll let the Jacks tell more about the cash raised for Hammock Forums & Whiteblaze, and the others that contributed to the prize pile!
More later... my hammock needs me for a while:rolleyes:
how was the weather?
Weather Friday wasn't bad at all, had sun most of the day and then at night we had a maybe a 20 minute sprinkle. Saturday about 4-6am we had a freezing fog/mist/ice mix that kind of floated through the camp. Was sunny and windy when I left yesterday at noon. We heard coyotes or foxes depending on who you ask up around the camp friday night and saturday morning early am howling and singing and then killing a few rabbits. Also saw some pony droppings, but never actually saw the ponies.
Friday night was pretty warm, got to 30 F. We had some excellent wind, excellent at least for those of us whose tarps were pitched in preparation for it! Really strong gusts that shook the trees I was hanging from. We had a touch of precipitation, started as sprinkles in the evening, with a dusting of snow during the night.
The temperature dropped through Saturday---was perfect in the high 20's, and very sunny. Great for hiking, which many us of did in small groups. After the sun set the temps dropped to...well there are various reports. I heard that Stormcrow's device measured 10 degrees F at the shelter around 10:30 pm, someone else said 11 degrees. My device was inside the tarp (enclosed on 3 sides), registered 14 degrees as a low. Interestingly it warmed up as the night went on. I went to see a man about a dog around 2:30 and my device read low 20s then. By the time I got up around 7 it was warmer still, higher 20s.
A spendid time was had by most, although there were some injuries due to slipping and falling on the iced-over paths. HC4U shoot some footage of various people's hangs, and drafted me to be the "host" on interviews he taped with the Jacks, and Ed Speer.
It was fun to meet those I knew from last year and other hangs, to meet some folks I've hardly met electronically, and some others with notable presence on HF who I've not met in person before.
Grizz
Nice to be able to put faces with some of your Trail Names/Real Names. Thanks for all of the helpful Tips & Tricks ----which I will use the next time.
The trip was great! For old friends, it was great to see y'all again and to the new folks I met, it was an absolute pleasure! Hope to see plenty of y'all in Hot Springs or somewhere else along the trail. Maybe another RRG hang some time? HC, that's a hint. :D
So, can anyone say if my son's won anything? Pan had 2 tickets for them...
A couple of clips from Saturday, 6-ish......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl-Y4ZZMAiM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-2YKp12GA8
I learned a lot from Mt. Rogers.
...HF folks are characters, but also most pleasant, helpful and generous!
...Frog Sac + poncho liner top quilt can keep you warm at 10 degF
...garda hitch on Omega Pacific rings works w/ HH suspension line
...Mt Rogers ridges look more like wild west terrain than Virginia
...I can still hike with people a bit older than half my age
...pulk sleds capsize often when overloaded.
...port is an exceptional trail drink
...the AT is still a bear highway
...coyote pups whine like foxes
...wild horses beg like dogs
...Ed Speer snores
- MacEntyre
Ahh yes the what I learned portion of the trip.
The short list would be how to properly set up my triglides thanks to compass and doctari's hiking partner.
The best places for Trout fishing and on tap beer from dave from carolina.
Happy Camper showed me how put my JRB STLs on correctly which made Friday night so much better.
Hooch for the tips on staying warm and layering the pads.
Compass for help with using my WM bag as a quilt instead of a bag and the lesson on compressing loft and loss of insulation.
Grizz and all those friday night involved in the RO water treatment discussion and the effects of flouride on the body.
So many other great people and a hell of a time all around.
Personally I learned that
1. I packed way to many clothers.
2. I need a JRB Nest to get rid of all the pads and such
3. Trying to use a sleeping bag as an under overquilt doesnt work when the bag has a huge hood without a draw string.
4. Russian tea ie Tang, Lemonade, Cinnamon, and Cloves is a great way to warm up in the mornings.
5. Always look for mp3 players in the jacket I don't end up wearing the entire trip.
6. Packs are much lighter without water and that Jeff from MRO was right about not needing to carry water in.
7. If you bring enough water for 3 days dont bring a filter and iodine.
8. Pick bigger trees to hang from because mine flexed during the night and kept slamming my back into the ground.
9. When its cold hang your tarp in a tight A frame to prevent the wind from annihalating your face.
The list goes on. Next Winter I'll be ready with another WM bag for an overquilt and a JRB winter nest.
See ya'll in Hot Springs.
Oh well. Glad you had fun.
Well I sure had a great time. Met lots of folks, finally got to see the ponies, tested some new gear, and oh yeah, I won 9 oz. of 900 fp down from Ed Speer (there just aren't enough smileys ! :D). I hope everyone made it down safely. That ice was treacherous. Here are some pics.Attachment 2996Attachment 2997Attachment 2998Attachment 2999Attachment 3000
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The April hammock campout is usually the 3rd weekend in April, but this year the dates are still not set. We try & make it the same weekend as the AT TrailFest in Hot Springs, but I've checked with the Madison Co folks who sponser TrailFest & they haven't settled on the exact dates yet--their website gives April 3-6 but that doesn't jive with the past festivals & no one at the county courthouse seems to know what's going on. I'll let everyone know as soon as I know. Anyway, it should be a bit warmer than the Mt Rogers Hang with low teens Sat nite! Hope everyone made it home OK.
Darby, don't forget to send me your address so I can send your down winnings. If I'd been smart I would have had the down in the car to give you when we made it back to the parking lot--but I packed too fast to think everything through. Will mail your down as soon as I get your address. Congrats & let us know what you make with it.
A few pictures can be seen by clicking "My Gallery" below my name.
Oh yeah, you can add your own comments below pictures. Check out the one of Grizz & the pony... it needs a caption.
WOW! What a good time!!
I think 3 days isn't enough. Can we change it to 3 weeks next year?!?!???
My guest Rob is a total convert. Says it was the best weekend ever!
I do believe that next year I'm not bringing nearly as much STUFF. Just my stuff, one extra set up, & whatever food for Sat.
My pulk / sled was wonderful. AND, I came up with a few improvements to try, so will keep you posted as to how that works out.
And I guarantee I will not have the largest pack next year - I already have a bet with Stormcrow that I will have a lighter pack than him next year because I won't be carrying 3 full setups, plus extra gear if anyone needed it. NOBODY needed it this year, so I will never carry that much again. Kinda like the venison bacon - if you didn't take advantage of it while it was there, you missed out.:tongueup:
Oh yeah... all kinds of great venison as well as brats & all kinds of other good stuff!!! Both home made & store bought!!!!
I made it home to PA!! Long drive but worth it. Great time, lots of food, good conversation with many, and lots of new hanging tricks to think about. Thanks to everyone who had a hand in organizing the event and all the peripherals. And now HF posts will have faces and voices behind them.....I never would have guessed what Doctari looked like!!
New winter snow project to obsess over....a pulk sled with a custom gear bag so I can eliminate the backpack. Thanks Doctari...your fault I'm hooked!
How much farther down the road is Hot Springs??
Animal Control, Indy Dan and Mule made it home safe and sane, (and Sound). Thanks to everyone for a truly enjoyable weekend. I am hoping to see you all again soon. Pictures coming, Mule
Maybe I can talk ZQ into coming with me. She'll not hang around us as much as hanging around a shopping mall somewhere. She'll need electricity, showers, flush toilet, and a tent! (ground dweller for sure...on a twin size air mattress)!! Maybe I can get her to pack her Bernina thread injector too!!
I uploaded pictures in a new album but I don't see them under my pictures. Gallery is called Mount Rogers 2009. ??? How do we view it?
Here are some of them. Be sure to open the black one too. It's the night sky over the mountain.
Find the Album here: http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/album.php?albumid=33
One more Photos found in the Album, Mount Rogers 2009, wherever that is.
Brilliant pix Slowhike ... fun to see all those faces. Looks like all was fun and tasty ... with FishinFinns Brats!! M-m-m-m-m-m-
I enjoyed seeing all those hands in wrist warmers.... I wept.:D
Wow. Now I have seen faces to match with the names and online personalities... Looks like it was a blast!
Yep, really good to put faces (& personalities) w/ names.
They are great pictures, for memories.
These wrist warmers (shuggies, I call 'em) were a big hit. Nine pairs distributed (that's to nearly 25% of the attendees), with proceeds on their way to HF central.
Just goes to show that the HF crowd has style and class, and appreciate functionality. Dual use too, when your nose ... oh never mind.
Grizz
So...........Much.............Fun...........
And I can now tell everyone I just spent my wedding anniversary with 40 men.
:lol:
Did anyone else have their dog try to roll in them when they got home? :rolleyes:
And next year, I say "Pony on a spit!" if those buggers get in our food again. Why would they go for beer?
I also have to say it was a pleasure hanging with y'all, and getting to meet you! Now I truly know that the "Internet Hammock Weirdo's," as my wife and co-workers call you, are truly great people. Still Internet weirdos, but good people. ;):thumbup: Special thanks to all the people who put in the effort to make this the great experience it was. And to Grizz for the "shuggies." And to Ed and Pan and Smee for the raffle, as well as mrprez's contribution (I really wanted that stickpic.) This was a very memorable event, and just a heck of a lot of good, clean (mostly) fun. I hope everyone made it back home safe, so we can all hang and hike together again sometime.
Sounds like everyone had a great time! Glad all trips were made safely. I just have to know, from the pics in Slowhike's gallery, why did FishinFinn have a refridgerator wrapped in green fabric strapped to his back:lol::scared::lol:
I'd be happy to feed 'em if they would pack stuff in and out for us. Wouldn't that be unique? A state park with pack horses hanging around, willing to carry a load for a few carrots...
As I anticipated, my daughter saw pictures of the ponies, and she wants to go to Grayson.
I went with my daughter last summer with NCP and his daughter, a great daddy/daughter location!
Yep - we all had an awesome time, too. It's amazing how we can get so many internet people together and everyone is civil to each other all weekend.
Big thanks to the Jacks and Ed for the raffle, and to everyone who brought something to make Saturday's dinner so good. Too many brats to eat, lots of sweets to keep the calories up in the cold, and plenty of firewood to keep us warm. "Brats out!"
The hourly readings on my Brunton show it was coldest Saturday night at ~10:30p...I read 13F on mine hanging a few hundred feet from the shelter. It read 16F at midnight, then jumped to ~22F for the rest of the night. It was a balmy 25F for the pack-up Sunday morning. And hardly any wind at all. Great hangout.
Key things I learned.
- Don't use a full cider jug to cushion your fall. At least not on ice.
- Ponies are only cute until they go for your food, beer or hammock. Then they're just big rodents.
- The MWUQ works awesome as a top quilt too. But it's so thick that it's hard to not breathe on it so a facemask is important.
- The JRB hood is so warm that I didn't want to wear a facemask so my MWUQ was wet all the way down its entire length! And I wasn't using a sock or anything! Some sites had lots of condensation and others had none.
- The winter tarps make double hammocking MUCH easier. I used the JRB 11x10 and it's so nice to just set up camp and not have to worry about keeping both of us dry. Did an awesome job of blocking whatever wind was out there, too.
Me, Skippy and BooBoo made it back yesterday. Thanks to Skippy for driving the truck back to his place. Gave me some time to catch some zzzzzzs. Had a great time, met a lot of people and gave away some knives. I was plenty warm in my Hennessy/PeaPod/Speer Winter Tarp arrangement. Looking forward to the SEHHA event this spring in Hot Springs. The venison bacon was the best!
One more thing I think is amazing - so many people get their first hangs in winter. All three of my friends had sub-freezing temps for their first time ever in a hammock. Every year there's at least one newbie hanging in gear scrounged from HF's members. Anyone else get their first hang last weekend?
This shows two things.
- HF members are generous.
- Generosity is a good rationalization for our gear addiction. Is it still an addiction if you're sharing?
I was smuggling pony meat! Somebody else suggested I was smuggling immigrants over the border in my pack.
Mule, you were as lucky as NCPatrick! Keep your stickpic, I just need to stop at the local camera store and buy one. Heck, I started making a video on Saturday morning, my batteries ran out down at the "watering hole", and I just never got back to it - too busy doing the hike to the different parking lots OVER AND OVER AND OVER again. I barely took another picture. And Walks In The Dark, you earned your name again. It was a pleasure hiking out in the dark with you on Friday to the parking lot, and it's too bad you didn't use the Clark that first night. Heck, If I had known that Stormcrow and Thorwren had showed up with more of my extra gear that they weren't even going to use, we wouldn't have even had to make that walk.
I will probably get around to thanking everyone eventually by name, but for now I have to give a shout out to Jeff, Slowhike and AngrySparrow, for being the quiet gears behind some of this machine - especially at the packing up/cleaning up stage. And HappyCamper and Thorwren, you are truly amazing women, and very happy, pleasant people to be around. I rarely run into happy women in the woods - you two are a rare breed.:cool:
Hope everyone got back ok.
I had a great time this weekend. Good to see so many folks make it, visit with friends and meet new ones.
I won a few things at the raffle, so my string of good luck continued. Lots of other folks won multiple things as well (Hooch, AnimalControl, Slowhike, etc.), and Mule won the grand prize JRB MWUQ (read up on your acronyms). Thanks again Ed, Pan, Smee, and everyone who helped make the raffle a huge success for HF.
I won the posolutely, absotively last pair of unopened JRB Python skins, although I'm sure Pan'll find just one more set in the warehouse for next year's raffle ;)
At FishinFinn's suggestion, I took a pack of venison bacon to take home, then learned next day that I almost got visited by a pitchfork and torchlight mob to get it back. I would have shared :). Great stuff, by the way. We had fantastic stew made by Thorwren and Stormcrow, venison, brats, more great food than you could possibly imagine. Nobody went hungry, that's for sure.
Headchange made videos of folks explaining their setups, and interviewed the Jacks and Ed Speer. Should be a great vid to watch once he's through piecing it all together.
When the ponies were out in the field, they were "cute". When they were mooching and pooping at the shelter, they were a bit more annoying. I saw one go through the campsites and munch on whatever he found (he ate someone's tea-bags they had left out). Had to drive them out before they finally decided to move on.
I don't know what the final count was, but just about everyone who said they'd make it actually did make it. We even had a surprise appearance by Angry Sparrow.
Had a great time, looking forward to next hangout!
I was impressed but not surprised with the generosity and camaraderie of the "Internet weirdos". What a relaxing weekend with great folks. I know we had concerns about me keeping warm this weekend, and I had my doubts. After a 10 degree night, I can solidly attest that a chronically cold person can achieve warmth with the right gear! NOW your wives have no more excuses. ;)