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  1. Replies
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    I hiked Isle Royale in 2017, and wrote a rather...

    I hiked Isle Royale in 2017, and wrote a rather detailed report on hammock suitability. It's been 7 years, so many of the details are probably obsolete (trees grow, tree die). But I think it does...
  2. I am 6'0", and have a 20 degree Phoenix and a 0...

    I am 6'0", and have a 20 degree Phoenix and a 0 degree Incubator. I sleep rather cold, and live a wee bit north (Fargo, ND), so for me the 20 degree is really a summer quilt, and the 0 degree a...
  3. Thread: Going to ground

    by jhersh
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    1,681

    Here is my three-step approach: #1. If I am...

    Here is my three-step approach:

    #1. If I am almost sure I will have to go to ground, I bewail my grievous fate and bring a tent with a full pad. If it's windy on open ground, it's just easier than...
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    As someone with the most active bladder this side...

    As someone with the most active bladder this side of the Rio Grande, I can sympathize with the OP's problem. As far as I know, all bugnets increase the hassle of getting in and out of the hammock. I...
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    I own exactly the same quilts, and take a similar...

    I own exactly the same quilts, and take a similar approach. In fact, even with temps in the mid-30's I still prefer the 0* Incubator. Partly because I sleep cold, but partly because I am a very...
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    As others have suggested, Porcupine mountains and...

    As others have suggested, Porcupine mountains and Isle Royale are both excellent choices: similar, but different than SHT.

    A couple comments: If you go to Isle Royale, I would suggest bringing a...
  7. Replies
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    As previous posters have alluded to, one of the...

    As previous posters have alluded to, one of the key decision points is whether you want an integrated, zippered bugnet, or a netless hammock with a Fronkey or similar removable net. Is most of your...
  8. Thread: Backpack size

    by jhersh
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    13,521

    The issue of backpack size seems to generate a...

    The issue of backpack size seems to generate a huge variety of responses. I read about people doing long distance thru hikes with 50 L packs and have no idea how they do it, unless they are strapping...
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    Many of the places I hang have quite a bit of...

    Many of the places I hang have quite a bit of scratchy undergrowth, which could tear the shell lining of my expensive UQ. I don't worry much about it, or generally need to stomp down the shrubbery,...
  10. In many of the places I hang, there is quite a...

    In many of the places I hang, there is quite a lot of underbrush between otherwise perfect trees. The underquilt protector for me isn't so much about blocking wind or sideways rain (although it does...
  11. Another fine video. I have heard previously that...

    Another fine video. I have heard previously that Andy Creek campsite was not very hammock friendly, so it was great to see that you made it work.
  12. Replies
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    A fair amount of money? Agreed. Compared to...

    A fair amount of money? Agreed.

    Compared to lots of other hobbies? Not even close. Look into what a high-end bicycle costs; hammock stuff is much cheaper, even if you do your quilts in premium...
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    2,508

    My suspension setup emphasizes flexibility, at...

    My suspension setup emphasizes flexibility, at the expense of a little extra weight. I use a whoopie hook suspension, larks-headed onto the spider daisy chain. This gives me an adjustable hugger,...
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    I am not sure how close you need it to be "near"...

    I am not sure how close you need it to be "near" bemidji, but the itasca morraine chapter of the north country trail passes fairly close, maybe 30 or so miles south of bemidji:
    ...
  15. I will second the suggestion of getting some of...

    I will second the suggestion of getting some of Dutch's ridgeline quilt hooks. While not needed for a perfectly adjusted UQ, they are very helpful for us solo hangers who don't have the benefit of...
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    Shaking may speed things up a little; I have...

    Shaking may speed things up a little; I have never timed this exactly. This simplest thing is probably just to leave the cap on loose and let the bottle sit overnight. Obviously not ideal if you are...
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    Warning: Physical Chemistry Nerd Alert! Boiled...

    Warning: Physical Chemistry Nerd Alert!

    Boiled water tastes flat because it has been outgassed. See the tiny bubbles that form when you heat water, but before reaching a rolling boil? That's air...
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    The OP's original suggestion was that repeated...

    The OP's original suggestion was that repeated compression/decompression cycles might degrade the loft of a down bag or quilt, rather than just compression time. The issue then arises: how do you...
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    Another factor is that the optimum strap height...

    Another factor is that the optimum strap height increases if your two trees are farther apart. With an 11-foot hammock, and whoopie slings, I look for trees about 15 feet apart. If the trees are...
  20. This area is somewhat south of my local camping...

    This area is somewhat south of my local camping spots, so my comments are based not on personal experience, but mostly on looking at the MN DNR (state parks) website.

    If you are looking for...
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    The creek is only a few inches deep, easily...

    The creek is only a few inches deep, easily fordable when the bridge was down a few years ago. I am not a fisherman, but I seriously doubt there are any fish there. I think MN lakes are a much better...
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    The NCT thru the Sheyenne national grasslands,...

    The NCT thru the Sheyenne national grasslands, about an hour SE of Fargo, is excellent hammock country. It's prairie mixed with small to medium size groves of hardwood forests, many of which have...
  23. Thread: UQ protector?

    by jhersh
    Replies
    48
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    9,351

    The debate between "small tarp + UQP" vs. "large...

    The debate between "small tarp + UQP" vs. "large tarp without UQP" will probably never end. I go the small tarp +UQP route, however I recognize that a cuben fiber winter tarp like the Winter Palace...
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    Sounds like a great way to get stakes into frozen...

    Sounds like a great way to get stakes into frozen ground, but what happens in the morning, i.e. aren't they really hard to pull out?
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    Great pictures and descriptions. Just a quick...

    Great pictures and descriptions. Just a quick question: How many stakes do you think one should carry with the Thunderfly?

    For a standard hex without doors, one only needs 4 stakes, although I...
  26. Great video, as always. I have two challenges...

    Great video, as always.

    I have two challenges when I try to side sleep in my 11' dutch netless:
    1) As mentioned in the video at 7:20 "I don't know where I would put my arms". I find it very...
  27. Replies
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    Poll: I have a 20* Phoenix and 0* Incubator. I mostly...

    I have a 20* Phoenix and 0* Incubator. I mostly camp in central MN, and I sleep cold. As a result, I mainly use the Phoenix in the summer, but bring the Incubator if overnight low is predicted to be...
  28. another great video. I own the 40 lb. Hammeck...

    another great video. I own the 40 lb. Hammeck stand (no longer sold), which works great for backyard and car camping. I am trying to see what advantages this new stand would offer over the Hammeck....
  29. my trip to the Porkies was a few years ago, so I...

    my trip to the Porkies was a few years ago, so I can't help you with the new reservation system. I can comment on the trails: I was there in late May, before the bugs got too bad (I am sure that...
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    A few random thoughts: 1. Hammock failures...

    A few random thoughts:

    1. Hammock failures officially suck. I have been fortunate so far, but this thread does make one think. Having a backup hammock and pad in the car is certainly a good idea;...
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    For a while, I have been tempted to pull the...

    For a while, I have been tempted to pull the trigger on a Superfly. My current tarp, a much smaller WL Tadpole, with add-on doors for one end, has served me well, but with one caveat: I have...
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    Last year, the night before Isle Royale, I camped...

    Last year, the night before Isle Royale, I camped at Kimball Creek campsite on the superior hiking trail. It's free, hammockable, and only about a half mile hike from the trailhead on
    Co. Rd. 14,...
  33. Really nice to see a video from my neck of the...

    Really nice to see a video from my neck of the woods.
    I like the Horseshoe Lake campsite because there aren't any major roads nearby. Some good piney woods a little north of there. I have never...
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    I think a lot of the variation in people's...

    I think a lot of the variation in people's experiences with this is because of variation in the natural air humidity. If it's humid, your breath will cause a lot of condensation. In cold dry air,...
  35. Another outstanding report from toasty minnesota....

    Another outstanding report from toasty minnesota.

    Here in Fargo, it was about -20 to -25 F last night. I set up in my back yard to test whether I can do this. I sleep rather cold, so I stacked...
  36. Wow. My knot challenged brain would have never...

    Wow. My knot challenged brain would have never figured out something so simple. I tried it, and got the larks head undone within about two minutes.
    Thank you, sir.

    P.S. I will still buy another...
  37. My current setup is whoopie hook suspension,...

    My current setup is whoopie hook suspension, larks headed onto dutch's regular poly huggers. They work fine, but the adjustability of a lightweight daisy chain hugger is really tempting.

    My...
  38. Replies
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    Exactly. See southwestern North Dakota on the...

    Exactly. See southwestern North Dakota on the map? Looks pretty bleak. But that tiny line of dots is the Sheyenne National Grasslands. Now your thinking, what kind of idiot would bring a hammock to a...
  39. I generally store hammock and quilts by stuffing...

    I generally store hammock and quilts by stuffing each separately into a contractor's grade (thick) garbage bag, in the bottom of my pack. I have occasionally tried stuffing hammock+attached quilts as...
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    Most excellent. More data is clearly needed on...

    Most excellent. More data is clearly needed on Lunar (and Martian) hanging. If Elon gives me a free ride, I volunteer to save money by supplying the Dutch netless.
  41. The Hennessy Expedition Asym Zip was my first...

    The Hennessy Expedition Asym Zip was my first hammock. I later switched to a Dutch 11-ft. netless. I have never tried the Chameleon, so my comparison is close but not exact to what you are asking.
    ...
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    This may come as a surprise based on my location,...

    This may come as a surprise based on my location, but actually I am a total wimp when it comes to winter camping. I think everyone's metabolism is higher in daytime than night, but for me the effect...
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    [QUOTE=krazyamateurs;1821541]Hung the hammock in...

    [QUOTE=krazyamateurs;1821541]Hung the hammock in the BWCA in August; it was magical! I did have to get creative in finding the right trees within the campsite - and endure a bit of grumbling by my...
  44. Thanks for the comments. Hiking near Fargo?...

    Thanks for the comments.

    Hiking near Fargo? Actually, yes, if one has modest expectations regarding terrain. North Country Trail (https://northcountrytrail.org) in western and central minnesota...
  45. Great video and trip report. We don't hear...

    Great video and trip report.

    We don't hear much about the northern section of the SHT, esp. north of Magney St. Park. I have often wondered why.

    Is it just because it's more isolated, and takes...
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    Karla: Welcome to the forums. As you are finding...

    Karla: Welcome to the forums.
    As you are finding out, the variety of choices in this hobby can be overwhelming. Some folks here like to try lots of kinds of gear, and end up building an impressive...
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    yep, as mentioned, the water is at or near the...

    yep, as mentioned, the water is at or near the bottom of the hill. I found that out the hard way last year in June (should have been obvious). I think the nearest water was a small brook that crosses...
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    A couple years ago, in late May, I did a 3 night...

    A couple years ago, in late May, I did a 3 night solo loop, starting at summit peak, and hiking little carp, big carp, and North mirror lake trails. My favorite part was the little carp trail; I am...
  49. Isle Royale National Park: Hang report, June 3-9, 2017

    Here are the new hammocking rules for Isle Royale National Park, quoted directly from their 2017 “Greenstone” newsletter, which can be downloaded from the park’s website:

    “Hammocks: In...
  50. Thread: Too cold!

    by jhersh
    Replies
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    As a solo hiker/camper, I initially struggled...

    As a solo hiker/camper, I initially struggled with UQ adjustment. For me, it was a 20-degree HG phoenix in lower-30's temps. Without someone else to check while you are in the hammock, it is very...
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