Suggestions for 27 degree hang

[vitamaltz]

Off-road, where are you in the Valley? I'm in Waynesboro. I concur about the density of bears - especially in Massanutten. My border collie mix has just enough of something else in her that her recall isn't reliable, so she doesn't come camping with me. It's a good strategy, though. Collies are the perfect trail dogs, I think. I keep telling my wife I want a rat terrier that can sleep on my belly at night and keep me warm.

[Off-road]

Small world.....Sherando lake is one of my favorite campgrounds and love backpacking Big Levels,also visit Rockfish gap outfitters.

I live on the Massanutten Mtns against GWNF and we often have bears at our bird feeders among other places but the area I'm referring to in specific is Western Rockingham Cty where i do most of my back-country backpacking.

Hunters harvested 187 bears in 08 from this county and can tell you first hand that i see as many bear as i do deer when backpacking.

[vitamaltz]

Yep, 1 bear for every 2 hours of hiking was my average in GWNF this summer.

[TinaLouise]

I keep telling my wife I want a rat terrier that can sleep on my belly at night and keep me warm.

I've got a 10 pound rattie, that dog puts out more heat than a blazing fireplace!!! She loves my hammock too. I do worry about her little claws, if she's in there with me, I have to keep the netting open so she can jump in and out when she wants to. Oh, by the way, it's not your belly they sleep on, think lower

[east_stingray]

Did someone mention bears?
Well....sometimes i see nun and sometimes i see 5 so you get the picture.

I think I'd rather run into a bear in the backcountry than a nun. The bear lives there, but seriously, what's a nun doing out there?

[Off-road]

[QUOTE=east_stingray;167233]I think I'd rather run into a bear in the backcountry than a nun.

Depends on how long you've been in the backcountry.

NONE!

[DuctTape]

Wear a hat.


seriously.

[lori]

Wild bears in the back country are very fearful of dogs and humans and need very little encouraging to move on,i just clap my hands and there off and running,beautiful creatures they are.

You have to be careful about generalizations like this.... If you hung a pack with food on your hammock in the Sierra Nevada in Yosemite or along the John Muir Trail, you would be awakened by one of two things: a bear trying to rip apart or drag away your pack, or a ranger writing you a very large fine for failing to follow the regulations mandating that you use one of a short list of bear canisters. Then the ranger would escort you out of the wilderness and tell you not to come back until you have rented a bear canister. The bears will move on if you try to scare them off, but they require a lot of persistent yelling and rock throwing (in the general direction of, never at, the animal). Sometimes they come back multiple times a night.

There are a lot of regions in the US with food storage regulations due to this sort of problem. On the Pacific coast, you need to hang your food to avoid the rats and raccoons getting into it. In the Grand Canyon it's the raccoons, ring tails and ravens.

[jscalia]

I wanted to post a follow up to my first time low temp hang last weekend on the NY state AT. Temp was as predicted 27 deg F on Friday night and 33 degrees on second night both with 10-15 mph breeze. My HH with BA insulated pad and 20 degree Zirkel bag kept me warm until about 2AM when I awoke cold and remained uncomfortably cool for the remainder of the night. I had on a good baselayer with hood and fleece pants. The second night I opted for sleeping on the ground with a Ti Goat bivy and Tarp-tent shelter over a nice level and leaf covered site that although kept me much warmer, caused my bag to become damp with condensation. I have slept warm and comfortable in the HH, BA bag+pad to about 45 F. I think this may be my temp limit with this set up. I will consider underquilt and top quilt combo in future.

[kayaknut01]

do 100 sit-ups to warm up eat lots of calories and a hot tea or cocoa