Snowy Cold Weather Hang - North Ga Mtns.

**kudzu** · 01-01-2011, 10:17

EDIT: Didn't realize facebook wouldn't allow me to embed images here, until I set up a picasa album just follow the links.

I decided to take my new Warbonnet BrownBird 1.0 and bag out for a trip before the new year. I headed up to Vogel State Park in Blairsville, Ga to do the Coosa Backcountry Loop (12.9 miles) with my good friend Ross. We are both new to hanging, and these forums have been a godsend. Shug's n00b series came in quite handy too!

The first night we hiked in late, and the wind was whipping. Roughly 30 mph gusts and the temp before the windchill was 18* or so. Still managed get a few miles in and over the highway, get hung, and tuck in for the night. No way could a tent have been comfortable anywhere near where we hung. I had a nice low pitch on the tarp (difficult in the wind though, I'll be lookin at some skins asap), and I stayed toasty on top of my homemade wingpad, ridgerest, and inside my Big Agnes 15* lost ranger once I warmed up.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...73&id=39807393

Ross's Hennessey is in the foreground, my Warbonnet under the Mamajamba in the background. I know the hang was sloppy but cut me some slack, it was the second time I ever hung it, first time I pitched the tarp, and it was dark and c-c-c-c-cold!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...6e&id=39807393

Breakfast time. You can see the homemade wingpad and tarp tensioners.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...65&id=39807393

Ross and first water.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...45&id=39807393

Close up of the stream.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...69&id=39807393

Trekkin through some deeper stuff.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...5c&id=39807393

View from the trail.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...1b&id=39807393

Ross's brother in law and a friend met up with us.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...68&id=39807393

Trail along the gap.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...5f&id=39807393

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...cf&id=39807393

Spectacular views along the trail.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...f6&id=39807393

My second night's hang, we were nestled in 3/4 of the way up Coosa Bald. Thanks again to Shug, shock cord on the panel pulls makes a for a sturdy pitch, and the porch area option is great around camp.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...4b&id=39807393

Inside the hammock.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...83&id=39807393

The view from inside my hammock, the grounded guys kept sliding down in their tent, and one of slept on a rock. I don't miss those days.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...f5&id=39807393

On the way up Coosa Bald.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...62&id=39807393

Ross and Me. (I'm on the right)

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...49&id=39807393

Puttin' down some miles.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...1e&id=39807393

Looking out on the way to Slaughter Gap.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...65&id=39807393

Snapped this shot literally seconds before a good sized buck came blowing past, eight pointer at least and big, running with a pretty doe.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...b2&id=39807393

See if you can spot the doe. The buck was gone before I could get a pic.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...5b&id=39807393

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...b5&id=39807393

Blood Mountain and Bears!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...d7&id=39807393

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...09&id=39807393

Thanks for reading guys, and a big thanks to Brandon (warbonnetguy) and Shug! Couldn't have done it without y'all.

**DoWhatIDo** · 01-01-2011, 10:28

no broken image icons.

**kudzu** · 01-01-2011, 10:41

You mean the pics are showing up, or they aren't showing up at all? If they aren't showing up I'll make a picasa album or just post links.

**Shug** · 01-01-2011, 10:43

Whoooooo ..... no pix but I still enjoyed reading the captions!
Shug

**cataraftgirl** · 01-01-2011, 10:43

Originally Posted by kudzu

You mean the pics are showing up, or they aren't showing up at all? If they aren't showing up I'll make a picasa album or just post links.

Not showing up at all. Would love to see them.
KJ

**kudzu** · 01-01-2011, 11:00

Temporary fix, got the links up, let me know what y'all think!

**ShadowAlpha** · 01-01-2011, 11:10

Looks like a good - fun trip! thanks for sharing

**cataraftgirl** · 01-01-2011, 11:16

Looks like fun. Love the bear tracks. Did you sleep ok after seeing them?
KJ

**DoWhatIDo** · 01-01-2011, 11:17

loved the shots of the bear tracks.

**kudzu** · 01-01-2011, 11:35

Originally Posted by cataraftgirl

Looks like fun. Love the bear tracks. Did you sleep ok after seeing them?
KJ

I'll be honest, Ross was pretty edgy about it, especially since we watched one of those Animal Planet "I Shouldn't Be Alive" type shows about a bear attack on a mountain the night before we left.

It took me a little bit to get used to being up in a hammock, I know it is mental thing, but I do feel a little more exposed vs a tent. Rigging the tarp with a porch helped cause I could see whats around me if I heard something go bump in the night.

The black bears around here don't bother me so much, just hang a bear bag and don't sleep with a snickers bar in the pocket.