After a couple of stops on the way from Flint to Rose City Mi we arrived at the Sunrise Cafe, near Lupton at around 1 PM.
We were met there by Wildcrafter and Sr1355. We had a good lunch and talked of what we hoped to do during the weekend.
Rifle River Recreation area is just around the corner from where we had lunch. We arrived there at around 2pm. It was very windy and was supposed to get bursts of over 50 mph overnight.
We found the best site possible for our sites and could see about 10 different hang possibilities. None however would be protected from the wind.
We started to set up and Bloomgorge, Steve and Craig arrived. Steve and Craig set up a tent.
Baloonatic, Wetcatcarl and Chris arrived and picked spots and set up
Pack Eagle and Megan arrived after dark and set up 2 set.
We had no special plans so we just visited around the fire, ate butter cookies
and Chocolate no bakes,and many other snacks, and drank a lot of warm water, ( we did use the electric for a hot water pot).
To the Hammock around 8:30 pm due to the high winds.
I had not put up my EOS spin tarp due to the high winds and instead used a 9X9 Tyvek.
By 9pm I could not take the noise and got up, pulled the stakes and stowed the mess in the truck. It was much quieter after that.
The cotton sock blocked about 90% of the wind and the flap only opened at times from it.
For a kit I used a cotton outer sock, similar to the one MacEntyre makes http://www.youtube.com/user/mollymac.../0/DwUQxV4vaKk
2 nested Speer Snugfit underquilts, my Jerry 5 clone hammock, a 15, and a 0 degree REI down bags as quilts. and bugnet tied back.
I was very cozy and at times had to open the flap as I was borderline to warm. Outside temps were around 20*F and winds varied from 20 to 50 MPH.
Sat Morning
Bloomgorge provided breakfast, eggs, bacon, sausage, (it was after all, a car camp)
Some slept very well and some made their way to the heated floors in the shower area of the toilet building. Glad they had that option.
In the Video we will have overnight reports from most all.
Saturday the park had a free fishing day, and also a hay ride and hot dogs and coco. We just had to indulge in the lunch of coco and hot dogs during our around the lake and across tour of some of the park.
There was a drive by, and interview by one of the Michigan outdoor TV shows while most of us were away from camp. I don't know a lot about that but someone else may.
Balloonatic entertained us with his balloon artist skills. He holds a Guinness world record for the most balloon animals created in a 24 hour period. http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/...ours/61819.htm
Back at camp, during the afternoon a bunch of us provided a few items to be used in a give away. I won't list them all here, but all were pretty nice prizes and went to others that could appreciate them.
Bloomgorge had 2 other buddy's arrive in the afternoon but I cannot recall their names. They set up a condominium size tent, and were going ice fishing in the afternoon.
Dblcorona provided a very tasty, near Gourmet, beef soup for dinner. Group meals work really well during cold weather, but should be simple, heat and eat types.
We had a night hike under the full moon, across the lake and then back around, about an hour, that re warmed any cold fingers or toes.
The wind had dropped but the temp had also. We sat around the fire and talked and looked at the stars. Balloonatic left about 8pm and Wetcatcarl and Chris left about 9pm.
Again to the hammock about 9:30. I had used the cotton sock in the give away so tonight had no overcover, or tarp. I did zip the bugnet on, but by morning regretted that as there was a layer of frost dropping on me every time I moved. With very little wind and temps below 15*F I was still very comfortable and was able to watch the stars and the full moon cross the sky. I had to use my frost bib as a eye cover due to the bright moonlight.
Sunday Morning. Wildcrafter left very early morning. We were all up around 6 am and left the camp area by 7. There was rough weather heading our way so we felt we should get packed before we got snowed on heavily.
I arrived home before 11 am and then started hanging and sorting gear to store. I also started planning in my head what I would make next and how.
I had a great time and have enjoyed all of the Hammock Hangers and outdoors people that I have met this weekend and hope to be able to do it again.
The big message..... Get Outdoors, There is no bad weather, just the need to improve your equipment, skill and knowledge.
It can be done and does not need to be expensive.
I seem to be having issues embedding the vids, but here are links
Some are still in process but there are 3
#1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rce8z5vd4p4
#2 http://www.youtube.com/user/TZBrown0.../1/e0277poPSzM
#3 http://www.youtube.com/user/TZBrown0.../0/iBNuoZM40Xs
TZ
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