My UL Weekend Hang

[MDSH]

In February I rolled my truck on an icy bridge. It destroyed the truck and banged me up pretty good. Last week I was finally fixed up and so decided to take the weekend for an UL shake out hang.

My nephew has a ranch not far from here so that's where I went. Left at 5 on Friday.

The problem in this part of the world is finding trees for hanging but by 7 I had hacked out a spot between two mesquites and made a wood pile. There are a lot of dead branches from 5 years of drought, which is now broken:

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By 8 had a fire going and was cooking steak k-bobs:

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The Ti fire helper worked very well but its getting all sooty was a problem when it came time to pack up. Got to figure out a solution.

Temps Friday, 95 during the day and 72 that night with a breeze, very nice. Coyotes, two owls, various insects, frogs at the muddy pond, and a night jar sang me to sleep.

Saturday breakfast was coffee and oat meal. Lunch was this: 8 Triscuits fit perfectly in an Altoids tin so they don't get broken, four pieces of summer sausage, and some Gorganzola cheese:

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Had GORP for a snack at 4 and for supper at 8 a Mountain House FD chicken and potato meal that was very good. The Toaks 750 pot worked perfectly for all meals, just the right size, and design:

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Saturday reached 98 during the day, 74 at night, and fairly calm so it took a while to cool off in the hammock. A coyote came by for a chat but I don't speak that language so did not reply.

Here's my rouge's gallery of ridge line occupants (two lights, a pistol, glasses, bandana, and my ugly UL Kindle cover) (don't yet have a holder for my cell phone):

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Ran out of water. There is plenty on the property (three stock tanks (one spring fed) and a water trough filled by a windmill (the pipe was buried so could not get to fresh water)) but didn't want to fool with filtering or boiling so had barely enough for coffee this morning and came on home early. The heat requires a lot of water.

Sightings: a deer, four juvenile turkey, two chaparrals (heard their unique call for the first time), two covey of quail (one Bob White, one Blue), a lot of dove, and a horned lizard.

This was my West Texas version of the baked butt hang, mindful of our friends in much more miserable conditions this weekend in the Piney Woods.

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[WaffleBox]

Sounds like a lot of fun! I'm not sure a tin just for some triscuits qualifies as UL though

[MDSH]

Sounds like a lot of fun! I'm not sure a tin just for some triscuits qualifies as UL though

Could sprinkle crumbs on sausage and cheese, I guess. ;-)

[MDSH]

BTW, that Permethrin-soaked jute twine didn't work like I wanted. Dropped a piece of cheese on the ground cloth and within an hour there was a gang of ants on it.

[UncleMJM]

Great report Mike.

I didn't know about the wreck. Glad you're back in the saddle again.

[MDSH]

Great report Mike.

I didn't know about the wreck. Glad you're back in the saddle again.

Thanks, brother.

[Texas Hanger]

Nice report Mike. My wife and I did a hang just north of you at Caprock SP this spring. West TX has alot of great places to get some fresh air.

[MDSH]

Nice report Mike. My wife and I did a hang just north of you at Caprock SP this spring. West TX has alot of great places to get some fresh air.

Yes, near Turkey, home of Bob Wills, Texas Swing musician!

Of all the environments in which I've camped (Comanche County, South Texas, Gulf Coast (Texas and Florida), New Mexico, Southern Colorado, Kentucky, Virginia, Arkansas, Maine, Nova Scotia) West Texas is my least favorite.

But it is better to be out than under the constant drone of the AC all summer without a break!

The skies here in the evening and the sounds at night are amazing!

So good for the soul, if I may say so.

[Floridahanger]

Wonderful report, I love the hot days and cool(to us) nights. It keeps most others out and more room for us crazies

In case you forgot or didn't know, a great way to cool off on those windless and warm nights is to use your bandana and give yourself a spongebath leaving yourself a little damp. The hammock will pull the moisture and heat off of you with convection and cool you off as good as a quick AC. Add the smallest breeze and you could even get a refreshingly slight body chill for a few moments.

Glad your better than February. Did this hang hit the spot or what?

[Bl@ckbird]

Thanks for sharing. The scenery looks relaxing.