Winter Hanging When It Is Dark Early

**aceatc** · 12-06-2007, 01:21

I enjoy going with others as I'm still rather inexperienced and help is always appreciated and of course returned.

I backpack in a national forest so campfires are illegal so I don't have that luxury. I just came back from a good winter overnight-er. Temp got down to 15F so being so bloody cold and camping in thigh high snow it was enough to race to camp to beat the darkness. Which blankets the land at around 4:20 where I'm at.

We pretty much have to stay in our hammocks, but that doesn't rule out a little harmonica harmony at night.

**slowhike** · 12-06-2007, 06:43

i've particularly enjoyed going winter hammocking w/ a good friend, someone that's easy to talk to, but were both fine & comfortable when there's no conversation too.
we hang the foot end of both our hammocks from the same tree & the head ends from two trees a few feet apart & overlap our tarps.
that way we're close enough to talk as we lay in the comfort & warmth of our hammocks.

but for those long, dark winter eves were i do go solo & spend a lot of time in my hammock, i recently got an ipod.
so far it has bluegrass gospel, oldies, & bird songs<g>.

**landcruzr** · 12-06-2007, 07:51

With my everyday life being what it is- I look foward to an early night in the hammock- I get more rest there than at home. The fire is always nice, and my flask of cognac helps pass some of the time before bed

**NCPatrick** · 12-06-2007, 09:38

I like the iPod idea. I'm trying to come up with an iPod holder that I can hang from the ridgeline that will let me watch video hands free. It would be specific to the new iPod nano. Anyone already have something that would fit the task?

Then you could watch video, listen to books, podcasts, music, the works... even better if you add the flask of cognac (or your favorite beverage).

**slowhike** · 12-06-2007, 16:56

Originally Posted by NCPatrick

I like the iPod idea. I'm trying to come up with an iPod holder that I can hang from the ridgeline that will let me watch video hands free. It would be specific to the new iPod nano. Anyone already have something that would fit the task?

Then you could watch video, listen to books, podcasts, music, the works... even better if you add the flask of cognac (or your favorite beverage).

yep, patrick & me were talking about that on the last trip.
i told him i had planned to post here & see what some of the more electronic minded might suggest for a really small set of stereo speakers.

i know you can buy them for the ipod that are pretty small, but i think a DIY person could do better.

i'd like to clip one to each side of the hammock near my head. stereo hammock<g>.
they would only need to be loud enough for listening while not only laying down but sitting up as well.

**Coldspring** · 12-06-2007, 18:14

Music usually gets on my nerves when I'm out it the woods, unless I've got a lousy song stuck in my head.

Has anyone on here tried the new Amazon Kindle in these situations yet?

**headchange4u** · 12-06-2007, 19:06

Originally Posted by Coldspring

Music usually gets on my nerves when I'm out it the woods, unless I've got a lousy song stuck in my head.

Has anyone on here tried the new Amazon Kindle in these situations yet?

I just carry the book with me

**slowhike** · 12-06-2007, 19:24

Originally Posted by Coldspring

Music usually gets on my nerves when I'm out it the woods, unless I've got a lousy song stuck in my head.

Has anyone on here tried the new Amazon Kindle in these situations yet?

the wireless book is a pretty cool deal.
as far as the music goes, i've only taken it on two trips so far.
i only listened to it for 10 or 15 minutes before going to sleep one trip, & didn't even listen to on the other.
it's something i'll use sparingly.
and as far as using speakers, i would definitely only use those w/ consideration for any others around<g>.

**BillyBob58** · 12-06-2007, 20:52

Originally Posted by aceatc

. ...........I backpack in a national forest so campfires are illegal so I don't have that luxury. I just came back from a good winter overnight-er. Temp got down to 15F so being so bloody cold and camping in thigh high snow it was enough to race to camp to beat the darkness. Which blankets the land at around 4:20 where I'm at..............

Where were you exactly, if you don't mind telling? BTW, you can have fires in some NFs and even N.parks. We had a fire every night in the Olympics last Sept, and we always have one in the National Forests ans Wilderness areas of Wyoming and Arizona unless drought causes a temporary ban. Sure sounds like you could have used one wherever you were!

**Redtail** · 12-06-2007, 21:41

Heard about this free audiobooks site on WhiteBlaze:
http://librivox.org/
"LibriVox volunteers record chapters of books in the public domain and release the audio files back onto the net. Our goal is to make all public domain books available as free audio books."

Hiking/backpacking related podcasts here and here