Greetings HFers. I've been a long time dirt dweller but was looking for ways to lighten the load for long distance hikes. Then I stumbled upon HF.net. I've been lurking here for a few months now and am excited to say I finally spent my first night in a hammock. I've napped in one before, sure, but this was a FULL night's sleep. Well, almost a full night's sleep.
After a long day of wilderness trail work in SNP I made it to a maintenance hut and hung my rig for only the second time (the first was a practice run over the Christmas holiday). Please don't judge, but my first time last weekend...was an indoor hang. So maybe I'm still a virgin for not having braved the cold in my sling but I assure you all I at least did some heavy petting. And as cold as it got in that cabin, I'd say I rounded third.
Had some problems dialing in the hang and angles and all that other stuff (the only two viable attachment points I had were at different heights, however I made it work with some webbing wraps and whoopie adjustments), but I know that will all come with time and experience.
Speaking of cold, for all you other newbies out there hoping to get by in sub-40 degree temps with a medium width pad under your tookas, let me just say you're in for an uncomfortable night of CBS. And I’m typically a warm ground sleeper, too. My GoLite TQ kept my front bits toasty, but at 3am I found myself doing a little Riverdance routine while putting on every single piece of clothing I had with me. Johnny longstockings, puffy jacket, extra socks, fleece gloves, hat, wetsuit, spacesuit, hirsute, his suit, you name it--I was putting it on!
Wow, what a way to spend a weekend! All day sawing logs clearing the way for thru hikers and weekend warriors, and then all night sawing logs in my hammock (except for the clothing jig mentioned afore). Surely I'll keep sleeping in the dirt from time to time, unless someone can verify—with photo or video evidence--that a hammock can accommodate two people (wink wink, nudge nudge, knowdamean?), but I am truly down with being up. So far, all I know for sure I'm going to miss is snuggling with my best girl Rika. My husky circled underneath me for what seemed like forever before realizing that her daddy was suspended and not coming down for pre-snooze nuzzle time.
First thing I did when I got home was order an underquilt from Stormcrow. Can't wait to get it and warm my tail feathers in that thing; until then I'll just tough it out. But what's so tough when you're hanging in the woods?
Ahh, yes...digging a cathole in semi-frozen ground. After chili mac.
So, just want to send a special shout of thanks out to everyone in this wonderful community who takes the time to offer up advice on ANYthing hammock-related to us new folk. Also, to all the cottage vendors I've had the great pleasure of dealing with thusfar: I promise to do everything I can to continue supporting folks like you in my continued gear gluttony. And of course, Shug, especially--your videos have kept me (relatively) sane through torturous winter days here in my office cage. I've learned almost as much as I've laughed. Sure hope to run into the likes of you in my walkabouts. Not like I won't hear you coming or anything, though.
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