First timer goes in the woods

[Tobit]

Outstanding job for your first hang. With practice, you will become a pro at the tarp and underquilt issues. I love the photos and detailed report with GPS track. Which GPS do you have? I need a new one.

[grannypat]

Glad you had a good trip. I learn something new each time I go out. Loved the fungus pictures.

[GregB]

First of all, great trip report. It looks like a lot of fun in a really beautiful area.

Secondly, don't sweat about only doing a 24 hours trip. Heck, I test out new gear in my backyard so if it's too much trouble I can wimp out and head inside to a warm bed.

Third, as Chard said, the underquilt problem may very well be those open ends of the underquilt. In this photo:


I notice quite a bit of gap on the right end of the UQ. If there's a shock cord there I'd tighten it a lot. That gap would let cold air in for sure.

But hey, you got out and did it and tried your new gear. How awesome is that?!

[TeraHz]

Wow, thanks everyone for the nice support. I will play with the underquilt. I'm just scared if it is against the hammock without me in there, when I lay down, the quilt will be crushing the insulation and not work. I guess there is one way to find out

Did you make the mesh ridgeline gear bags as well?

Yes sir. I had some mesh left over from the baffles in my top quilt so I put them to some use. They hold my light and knife pretty well. I might actually make one more

Which GPS do you have?

I just turn my phone in airplane mode and turn the GPS only. Then I track using Endomondo and My Tracks (I have an android phone). The only problem with this setup is that it doesn't last too long, maybe a day, so unless you bring extra phone batteries, or some solar charger or what have you, I wouldn't use that for a long hike.

I've been eyeing the garmin 62s for quite some time now, but they are still a lot more than what I'd like to pay, given that my phone works just as well for short trips.

My camera just came back from canon repaired, so hopefully next trip (I plan to do it before the freezing weather moves in) I'll have even more photos.

[Drewski]

Great report...great photos...and really good job on your DIY's!!!! As others have pointed out, I think you need to change your UQ grade to incomplete and work on your set-up skills. I bet if you get it tighter, you'll find it to be very comfy! Keep up the good work!

[born2roam]

For a first hang that was great!

Beautiful pics and some learning points while being out there, what else can you wish for.

Thanks for sharing and hopefully you'll have many more nights out in the woods.

Grtz Johan

[StormFox45]

Wow, this was really great. Glad it went well overall.

[Throkda]

Agree with others about the air gaps at the end. I also noticed in the picture just above your face-shot that the side looked a little loose even with you in it. I still use my Insultex underquilt from MacEntyre from time to time, and it can be finicky about the setup -- since it's not full of lofting material that puffs it out, it's got less margin for error in the setup than a down or synthetic underquilt. Using something like those Triangle Thingies or Dutch's quilt hooks should help, by pulling up the sides, and I agree with seeing if some shock cord to cinch up the ends is viable for your setup.

Nice color quality on your pictures, though! I like my Canon for most shots, when I'm not trying to do something fancy that requires the Nikon.

[BillnGA]

Loved the photos. Looked like a good trip, all things considered. I always think that a trip where I end up learning something new is a good trip.

[Les Rust]

Great trip report. We all learn from each other here on HF. We all encourage each other to get out there and try things and let us know what worked or didn't. We all benefit from each others' experiences. Thanks for sharing. Try some of the suggestions offered here and let us know how much better it goes next time.