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  1. #1
    New Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Roseville, MN
    Hammock
    Yukon Outfitters Single with bugnet
    Tarp
    Chinook 12'
    Insulation
    Woobie (modded)
    Suspension
    straps/Dutch clips
    Posts
    7

    first hammock outing in BWCA

    Fellow Skypeople,

    I have returned from my first-ever hammock camping trip: a full week canoeing in the Boundary Waters (BWCA) in northern Minnesota. Admittedly, every possible factor was perfect including weather, camping sites, minimal insect intrusions, and I even had pleasant people to share it all with. That said, I am a believer.

    Highlights: My DIY underquilt fashioned from a pancho liner worked quite well. If the overnight temperatures had been lower, however, it might not have turned out so well. Chinook Guide tarp worked like a charm, large enough to fend off the light rain (one evening) and morning dew. Also provided excellent sun shade during the day. My summer sleeping bag (40 degree synthetic) worked well as a top quilt. I left the footbox zipped, but draped the rest. The Byer Amazonas hammock was excellent and kept the skeeters away with its integrated bug net.

    Lowlights: Now I have the fever to upgrade everything. I have acquired a used HH and tarp, now thinking about a proper down underquilt. Anybody selling?

    Summary: Best trip of my life.

    PaulInRoseville

  2. #2
    Senior Member 2ply's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Soco Gap, NC
    Hammock
    Clark DLX, ENO SN, BIAS WWM
    Tarp
    OxPalace,Big Squid
    Insulation
    Oxgear, KAQ, WL
    Suspension
    Whoopies/Dutchware
    Posts
    1,798
    Images
    3
    Sounds like a great trip. Glad your gear worked out well for you.
    Everyone ought to believe in something....I believe I'll go set up the hammock!

  3. #3
    Senior Member dammfast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Slayton, MN
    Hammock
    Gt UL, 1.7 wbbb
    Tarp
    GG, monsoon,suprfl
    Insulation
    PLUQ, jarbidge, di
    Suspension
    Whoopie wb-strap
    Posts
    467
    Images
    6
    BWCA is where the "hammock thing", as my wife likes to refer to it, all started. We had too many tents and not enough spots for tents. I ended up with roots, rocks, and a slope. I had no netting or tarp but gave up one night and crawled into the lounging hammock I had brought. I never looked back! welcome to the addiction, I hope you have a big allowance because there are all kinds of great things you are going to "need". Sounds like a great trip.
    Dammfast

    “Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.”

    ― Mark Twain

  4. #4
    Senior Member RedStix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    Hammock
    hk 11' hyperD - The Silver Bullet
    Tarp
    Toxaway Tarp
    Insulation
    Jarbidge & old bag
    Suspension
    Speed hooks
    Posts
    572
    That's a great story. I am so much wanting to head to Minnesota for a backpacking/canoeing trip... Maybe next year.

  5. #5
    TallPaul's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Hammock
    WBXLC, WBBB, LiteOwl
    Tarp
    Superfly, MambaJam
    Insulation
    HG Phoenix, WL Sum
    Suspension
    Webbing, Whoopies
    Posts
    4,076
    Images
    13
    Skypeople... I like that.
    Did you setup a base camp or do a loop?
    Did you fish or just take it all in?
    Sounds like you hit the BWCA weather and bug lottery.
    My one week long trip there started like yours then progressively got worse. I remember day 1 thinking everybody I know would have liked to have been there.
    By day 5, I wouldn't have wished it on anybody.

  6. #6
    New Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Roseville, MN
    Hammock
    Yukon Outfitters Single with bugnet
    Tarp
    Chinook 12'
    Insulation
    Woobie (modded)
    Suspension
    straps/Dutch clips
    Posts
    7
    TallPaul, you are spot on regarding the weather and insect jackpot. I went with two other guys, one skyperson and one groundhog. All three of us have been "up north" many times, including BWCA, Voyageurs NP, and various Minnesota State Parks. We agreed that we had never seen such a perfect run of weather. We did one night in Superior National Forest, then entered the BWCA on Brule Lake (big water near Tofte, MN). One portage into Vernon Lake (highly technical, lots of climbing, but not too long) and stayed there for two days. Then 290 rod portage into Swan Lake for two days, then reversed the whole thing back to Brule (in one morning). We met two other friends on Swan who came in from the east, so there were five of us at one site. The two hammocks made it not only possible, but comfortable. Fishing was good on Swan (walleyes and northerns), but not much on Brule or Vernon. I am sure that I am tempting the gods, but I can't wait for my next trip up there.

  7. #7
    New Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Roseville, MN
    Hammock
    Yukon Outfitters Single with bugnet
    Tarp
    Chinook 12'
    Insulation
    Woobie (modded)
    Suspension
    straps/Dutch clips
    Posts
    7
    It was a total blast. Since my return, I have already upgraded to a HH and am kitting up for winter camping. I'm thinking this is like the affliction common to sailors known as "two foot itis." My boat would be perfect if it were just two feet longer.

  8. #8
    Senior Member tjayblues's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Durham, NC
    Posts
    169
    I like this "Skypeople" term

  9. #9
    Senior Member Refreshing's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Sioux Falls, SD
    Hammock
    DIY Climbing Spec Hammock
    Tarp
    TREEfool Rainfly
    Insulation
    DIY RSBTR Kit
    Suspension
    Climb Spec Webbing
    Posts
    639
    Quote Originally Posted by PaulInRoseville View Post
    minimal insect intrusions
    IN THE BWCA!?? I must be doing it wrong because whenever I go up there the mosquitoes mimic a dark thick fog.
    v
    v

    TREEfool.com < < hammock dangerously
    ^
    ^

  10. #10
    Senior Member ggreaves's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Kingston, ON Canada
    Hammock
    Dangerbird
    Tarp
    HG Cuben
    Insulation
    HG Phoenix/Klymit
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    Whoopies
    Posts
    813
    Images
    69
    Quote Originally Posted by PaulInRoseville View Post
    Lowlights: Now I have the fever to upgrade everything. I have acquired a used HH and tarp, now thinking about a proper down underquilt. Anybody selling?
    If only there was someone in Roseville, MN who also hammocks.... Hmmmm....
    A lotta ins... lotta outs... lotta what-have-you's

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