DIY/MYOG Tarp and new suspension: Quick Test

[MatthewMeredith]

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The site I selected. I was in some heavily logged area so finding a spot not completely covered in salal was a challenge
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Unpacking the backpack! First out: the kitchen. This is my home-made wood gasification stove. I didn't use it on this trip as I was just out for the evening to test out the new tarp, but I brought everything out of habit.
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Here's the tarp! I went with the DIY Gear Supply plans with some alterations. I shortened the ridgeline a bit as my hammock's fixed ridgeline is only 90". I have 15' tieouts on D-rings on top, 3' tieouts with LineLoc 3s on one side and 5' on the other. Total weight: 1lb on the button.
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Next out, some Farnese.
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The completed kitchen!
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I loosely stuffed my hammock/sleeping bag into the bottom of my pack. I have plans to sew an UQ and an integrated bug net into my hammock and make a bishop bag that will hold hammock, UQ, TQ, and sleeping clothes.
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My kevlar tree straps (5' with a sewn loop at one end). These were salvaged from my old SCBA emergency bail-out belt (I'm a firefighter). Super light!
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I don't use whoopies! My hammock suspension is 15' of 7/64ths amsteel with a fixed loop at one end and that's it. Feed the loop through the hammock channel (and ridgeline loop), make a lark's head, and you're done. This is a quick hitch with a chunk of aluminium tent peg as a toggle. Remove the toggle and pull the tail end of the amsteel and you're disconnected - easy peasy!
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My sleeping bag with the hammock fed through and my ridgeline fed through the suspension lark's head knot.
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The only picture of my new tarp! I was getting eaten alive by mosquitoes so I hunkered down for the rest of the night. I'm super happy at how well it pitched up. I like to hang low (2"-3" off the ground) and I pitched the tarp pretty low and flat so I had plenty of ground around me protected to stash my backpack/book/wine/etc... (Note, I adjusted my setup a bit after taking this picture so it isn't super-accurate to how I slept)
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Discussion time! I'm pretty happy with my set up at this time but I will be making some improvements. First and foremost:

• Bug net: I literally got bitten on my eyelid and woke up to my eye practically sealed shut. I'm thinking of doing an integrated net with a zipper on one side.
• Underquilt: I'm leaning towards a DIY 3.6oz APEX full length as I won't be camping below 5 or so degrees Celsius.
• Topquilt: Probably just a fleece blanket or something.
• Bishop bag: I want it to hold the hammock/bugnet, UQ, TQ, and sleeping clothes.
• Ridgeline organizer bag: Probably made from extra mosquito netting from the bug net.

Any suggestions?

[kduvey]

Those pictures are scrumptious looking! What lens are you using? Looks like a 50mm 1.4 or 1.2? Maybe even a 0.95?

[MatthewMeredith]

Those pictures are scrumptious looking! What lens are you using? Looks like a 50mm 1.4 or 1.2? Maybe even a 0.95?

Jeez, good eye! It's an old Pentax SMC 50mm 1.2 (from the mid 1970's) on my Pentax K5-ii. The pictures were all shot at 2.8 though because the d.o.f. at 1.2 is INSANELY short, especially for the closeup shots. Thanks for the kind words!

[BigGreenMoose]

Bottle of wine and a book! Sounds like a fantastic solo trip.

[MatthewMeredith]

Bottle of wine and a book! Sounds like a fantastic solo trip.

Yea minus the continuous barrage of mosquitoes! Nice to have some luxuries for a close-to-home one night trip though :-)

[Enobuffalo]

Matt,

Xtrekker's Youtube video's are invaluable for making the integrated bug net.

[BrianWillan]

A simple, lightweight and inexpensive solution to the bug issue is to wear a head bug net. That way you continue to use the gear you already have. The sleeping bag as a peapod system is quite effective as a combined underquilt and top quilt.

Cheers

Brian

[MatthewMeredith]

A simple, lightweight and inexpensive solution to the bug issue is to wear a head bug net. That way you continue to use the gear you already have. The sleeping bag as a peapod system is quite effective as a combined underquilt and top quilt.

Cheers

Brian

Cheap too! It seems like all the good underquilts come from the states and after shipping and Canada's exchange rate right now, a $130 sleeping bag that does double duty seemed like a good way to get started! Now that I've done my own tarp, I think I'll just DIY my underquilt :-)

[MatthewMeredith]

Matt,

Xtrekker's Youtube video's are invaluable for making the integrated bug net.

Thanks, buffalo! That video is actually what inspired me to do an integrated net as opposed to the Fronkey style. I think I'll just do a 3/4 zipper on one side though to cut down on bulk.

[FLScouthanger]

Great job on the tarp!

All the other DIY projects you mention aren't difficult at all. Give them a go...