Overnight at Yellow River State Forest, Iowa

**NOBOZax** · 05-03-2019, 22:02

So I finally got a chance to hit the trails for an overnight and put my new hammock setup to the test. After several day hike setups and in the backyard for test and tune it was nice to finally stuff it in the pack and put some real miles on it

.

As the title states I was in the Yellow River State Forest, Iowa. Paint Creek Unit, Thursday May 2. I started at the headquarters and hiked across the bridge to the Bluff trailhead and did the backpacker loop clockwise to Camp John Schultz. About 8.5 miles

The hike was fairly easy on a cool overcast day in the 50's and very peaceful. I only saw one person on trail all day. Grabbed a Cnoc bladder of water at the last bridge over Paint it Creek on Donahue Rd. (Mistake, could of got water at Brown hollow) and pushed nonstop to camp...whew!

My setup is Warbonnet Eldorado and Minifly with Dutch gear on both (Tarp ridge line with wasp on tarp and Kevlar straps, Dutch hooks, toggles, and Whoopiesling's on hammock) Hammock gear 40 Pheonix underquilt and UGQ 20 Bandit topquilt.

Got to camp and found an awesome site as I was the only one there. It became apparent that I need longer straps for toggles cause the trees were a bit wide. It worked fine for one tree but for the other I had to larks head the Whoopie onto the end loop of the strap and that barely fit. Also was a short spanned hang so not ideal but still fine.

The temps that night dropped to about 42 and the UGQ 20 Bandit was beyond cozy. The 40 Pheonix was true to rating for me, plenty cozy but much cooler and I think I would start to notice. Overall I did not get great sleep but I was very comfortable. Just need to get used to sleeping in hammock.

This is a great place to backpack and worth the 4 hr drive from Peoria IL (not much for backpacking near my hometown).

I am really happy with my gear and learned allot and can't wait to get it out again. I'll answer any questions I can and thanks for looking. Just wanted to share with this community since you guys are a big part of my new setup which I really like.

Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk

**ObdewlaX** · 05-04-2019, 05:10

Nice trail report! Thanks for posting.

**AlanH** · 05-04-2019, 06:13

That looks like a great spot and to have it all to yourself was great. I usually don't sleep all that well the first night unless I'm really tired from the day. Second night is usually lights out.
Great set up. Thanks for the video. Take care, Al

**outdoorsguy** · 05-04-2019, 08:17

Way to get out there after thorough testing in the backyard...no major surprises. Good pics. Thanks for the report.

**Shug** · 05-04-2019, 08:27

Nice looking camp. Makes me want to get out.
Happy it went so well for you.
Shug

**TrailSlug** · 05-04-2019, 10:39

Congrats on getting out with the new equipment. The sleep gets better the more you get out. The noises used to keep me on edge the first few nights out but now I'm so tired after hiking (not in shape) that I crash and a bear could have me half eaten before I would wake

Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

**infrastellar** · 05-04-2019, 11:48

very nice setup ! quite tuned up for the first hike

**NOBOZax** · 05-04-2019, 14:32

Originally Posted by kardinal_emilus

very nice setup ! quite tuned up for the first hike

Ya....With all the great information on this forum I think I was really able nail down a great hammock setup on the first try. Was already a backpacker just always in a tent and I gotta say I really enjoyed this much better.

Thanks again to everyone on here that contributes! Happy trails

Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk