So I went with a buddy (with same limited experience as me) this past 4 day weekend.
After the 8 hour drive to Ponca Wilderness region of Buffalo River Arkansas (which we las minute chose due to the crap weather that hit our entire region) we did 3 days and 3 nights - kept mileage low and easy as possible in case we needed to bail. However the two bits of hike we did where we go UP from the river to the top of 2 ridges were 1 mile like STRAIGHT up! A real butt kicker! Views were awesome! Had my best EVER hammock sleep on the 2nd night and a solid one on the 3rd. The first night I realized I forgot my pillow (down jacket in a pillow case) and this destroyed my sleep...my friend let me use his which he slept like a log without thankfully and after that...11 hours sleep (with one pee break)!
Navigation was intimidating but I used this "Gaia" app and it was wonderful.
I also had picked up a Delorme InReach to keep my wife in the loop or to alert me if a parenting emergency came up...or heaven forbid an SOS were needed. That was piece of mind! The cell phone all with GPs only on (otherwise airplane mode) worked amazing...had a physical map and compass as well but boy was it fun to plot our trip - did great with battery actually as well.
I debated on my 3/4 length UQ vs full length (wooki) and boy I'm glad I brought the wooki - toasty head to toe - I am it turns out quite the cold sleeper.
I am learning more and more about dialing in my lay - can be a world of difference.
I had so much anxiety going into this trip and starting it...it felt amazing to get past that to experience the polar opposite feelings - fun - awe - exhilaration - and relaxation .
Also - I gambled and brought my bushbuddy...zero regrets there - loooooved using it.
Big thanks to HF's for helping me in so many ways to this point.
Note my Tarp is my DIY which saw no rain
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Originally Posted by kardinal_emilus
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