Tate Branch, Tallulah Gorge

**Strapped-4-Cache** · 10-17-2010, 16:04

I spent a few days at the Tate Branch campground in the Coleman River Scenic Area near Tallulah Gorge. A few of the guys at my church organized the gathering, and we eventually had 20+ in attendance.

I walked the campground and noticed two other hammocks on-site. One was an ENO DoubleNest with the ENO tarp, the other was unfamiliar to me. It seemed to be a minimalist, single layer number with no manufacturer indicated on it.

Days were in the low to mid 70s and nights were in the mid 30s. The nighttime temps proved to me that I am a COLD sleeper. I brought Mac's IX UQ, my knock-off version of the IX UQ, and my SPE. After the first evening I had set up my hammock with all of the insulation I could put in place. The second night was much better, and I actually had to vent my top quilt.

I was also able to test out my Chinook 12x14 tarp. It fit in the skins that I had used for my Guide Gear 12x12 tarp. A search of the DIY section should turn up the plans I used. Basically a tube going from 3.5” to about 8.5”in diameter. Since I'm a car camper I don't mind the extra weight, and it's handy to have in case of bad weather. The new tarp is, in the words of one of my friends, “gihugeamagantic”. Plenty of room for a covered front porch area, and can be fully closed if necessary.

Although the nights were cold, we had zero humidity and completely clear skies so I ended up furling the tarp on the second day and enjoyed being able to see the moon and stars at night. Absolutely beautiful!

Here's a few shots of my setup:

**gunner76** · 10-17-2010, 16:29

Always like it when you can set up your hammock overlooking water.

**Hawk-eye** · 10-17-2010, 16:38

Love those temps ... sounds like a great weekend.
Mighty pretty place to hang ... but if there'd been a rain storm that ditch under your hammock might have gotta bit exciting!

**Strapped-4-Cache** · 10-17-2010, 17:40

Originally Posted by Hawk-eye

Love those temps ... sounds like a great weekend.
Mighty pretty place to hang ... but if there'd been a rain storm that ditch under your hammock might have gotta bit exciting!

Believe me, if rain had been anywhere in the forecast I'd have placed the hammock somewhere else. The river was WAY down since we haven't had steady rain in a while. Normally where I was hanging would be almost over the water instead of next to it and above it by a few feet. I tied off the lower edge of my tarp to a rock that is normally underwater at least a foot or more.

Last April we camped in this area and had heavy rain on and off. At that time the river was at least two feet deeper and I wouldn't have gotten anywhere close to that hanging spot. If I have to choose between clear an cold or warm and wet, I'll choose the cold every time.

**Hawk-eye** · 10-17-2010, 18:49

Originally Posted by Strapped-4-Cache

Believe me, if rain had been anywhere in the forecast I'd have placed the hammock somewhere else. The river was WAY down since we haven't had steady rain in a while. Normally where I was hanging would be almost over the water instead of next to it and above it by a few feet. I tied off the lower edge of my tarp to a rock that is normally underwater at least a foot or more.

Last April we camped in this area and had heavy rain on and off. At that time the river was at least two feet deeper and I wouldn't have gotten anywhere close to that hanging spot. If I have to choose between clear an cold or warm and wet, I'll choose the cold every time.

Seeing that up in NC before I left ... hope there's been some rain since then. Sure is sweet hanging by a stream ... you can practice Observational Hydrological Engineering

. The advanced degree requires lolly gagging by rivers and creeks much more than I get the chance to do!