And the backpacking trip is now over..

[Edm]

We hiked the Red River Gorge this weekend with the Boy Scouts. Used my Blackbird XLC and new mamba jamba. Don't own a good backpacking sleeping bag so I took my USGI green patrol bag. Also don't have an under quilt so I took an old USGI sleeping pad. It rained both nights and the tarp worked great. I was a little concerned because it isn't ALL that much longer than the hammock. But it worked well. The low last night was around 46. That's about as cold as I would recomend with that pad. I didn't freeze, but if it was lower than 40 I'd have been waking up cold. I know that pad sucks but my thermorest is to big to pack. It was a good trip. Got some good exercise and a chance to use my new gear. Now I need to start hunting for an under quilt, cause it's only getting colder...

[gfstanley]

Check out Costco, if you have one local, for $20 down throws. I have recently bought 2 and are sewing tabs around the perimeter of each to use as a double layer UQ in colder weather, single layer UQ and TQ in warmer weather, or an actual throw in the house or other times. You can follow the "costco thread" here.

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...wn-throw-19-95

I have one throw finished and need to sew the tabs on the other. I will post pics of both when finished, but if you want to see a current pic, let me know.

[ShellHammock]

It sure is getting colder here in the Bluegrass! Sounds like a great trip. I know the Gorge was hoppin' this weekend with the Rugged Red Trail Run, but the rain may have kept others' away...

Pads work well for a lot of people, but it's generally accepted that UQ's are the most comfortable way to insulate a hammock. If you ever want to demo a hammock with a built in UQ, lemme know. I'm in and out of Lexington all the time and would be happy to have you use one of my demo Boone Hammocks on your next trip.

[kev138]

Just about the perfect time of year for hiking ans camping up there. Always loved being in the mountians in the fall. Don't get much color change down here in Florida. I was curious to know how well my military sleep system was going to work in my hammock. I've used both bags down into the 50's with no pad in the past, good to know with a sleep pad i can probably put off an underquilt untill next winter.