Dark and alone

**Cursnfurs** · 07-09-2015, 05:59

Well after owning my blackbird for 6yrs last night. Is the 1st time I woke up not knowing a clue where I was at and no idea where the zipper was at. About all I could do to keep from tearing my way thru the bug net to get out

**mrh_on** · 07-09-2015, 06:31

heh I'm guessing you made it out since you were able to post this? Or are you still in there...in the dark...waiting to be rescued?

**Caconym** · 07-09-2015, 06:41

You'll get used to it.
—Posted from the cocoon where I live now.

**dudeman_atl** · 07-09-2015, 06:47

Were there bears and cougars?

Did you have your fire steel?

#historychannelAlone

**DuctTape** · 07-09-2015, 06:49

Like most things, I try to use a routine. I do this for safety, as I am often on solo trips and in extreme or emergency situation a routine instead of having to "figure things out" can be a matter of survival.

That said, zipper placement is not likely to be a life/death matter, but I can imagine it must have felt that way. So, back to my "routine". When I zip up my bugnet, I make sure the zipper pull is in the same exact place everytime. I know exactly where it is and can grab it in the dark without looking. I would encourage you and others to experiment with this, and other routines. How many times have you noticed someone digging through their pack looking for something? If everything is packed in the same place everytime, there is no searching. I also set up/take down my tarp/hammock in the same order as though it was raining. That way when it is, I dont even think about it. Icould go on, but I think my point about routines permeating our techniques is clear.

So find a good spot where you like the zipper pull, and ensure it is there everytime.

**mrh_on** · 07-09-2015, 07:01

Originally Posted by DuctTape

So find a good spot where you like the zipper pull, and ensure it is there everytime.

I ended up putting a small (maybe 12") zing-it dogbone on my zipper pull so I can reach it without much effort and find it a little easier in the dark. Though when it's closed, the Blackbird XLC's zipper is always in the same place so I know roughly where to start looking. But many times that dogbone has made it easier to find out where the zipper is if I've moved around a bit in the night.

**Bonepile** · 07-09-2015, 07:14

I attached one of the little glow in the dark linelocks to my zipper pull. There are other things made to add light, but I just used a left over linelock I had.

**WeWalked** · 07-09-2015, 09:07

A glow in the dark cord or zipper pull is a great idea. I think nitize makes glow in the dark s-biners.

**Dux** · 07-09-2015, 09:56

Originally Posted by DuctTape

Like most things, I try to use a routine. I do this for safety, as I am often on solo trips and in extreme or emergency situation a routine instead of having to "figure things out" can be a matter of survival.

That said, zipper placement is not likely to be a life/death matter, but I can imagine it must have felt that way. So, back to my "routine". When I zip up my bugnet, I make sure the zipper pull is in the same exact place everytime. I know exactly where it is and can grab it in the dark without looking. I would encourage you and others to experiment with this, and other routines. How many times have you noticed someone digging through their pack looking for something? If everything is packed in the same place everytime, there is no searching. I also set up/take down my tarp/hammock in the same order as though it was raining. That way when it is, I dont even think about it. Icould go on, but I think my point about routines permeating our techniques is clear.

So find a good spot where you like the zipper pull, and ensure it is there everytime.

+1