VIDEO: A Winter Tactical Retreat

**JeremyL** · 12-03-2019, 09:41

Solo winter backpacking is risky.

It was a perfect plan. My family was spending a couple of days at my mother-in-law's for Thanksgiving. I was in the heart of the Mississippi River Valley and there was a fresh blanket of snow. I set out to do a solo dispersed camping adventure in the Richard J. Dorer State Forest.

Initially, I overcame driving my vehicle into the ditch of the forestry road. I made a beautiful hike to the top of the bluff, found a nice place to set up, and started to unpack.

I discovered I accidentally packed my Ridgerunner Bridge Hammock and not my Blackbird XLC Hammock. In doing so, I also did not pack the spreader bars for the hammock. I decided that trying to sleep in the bridge hammock without the spreader bars (for the first time) in the cold weather alone was not a good idea. I changed plans and completed my day hike and retreated back to the warm house for sleeping.

While disappointed since I had exciting plans to camp, I think I made the safe and smart decision.

**michigandave** · 12-03-2019, 10:05

Smart move...you don't get bonus points for freezing, especially in the winter. Nice job on the video and the snow on the trees was beautiful.

**OneClick** · 12-03-2019, 10:08

Still better than me bringing two tarps and no hammock.

**JeremyL** · 12-03-2019, 10:16

Originally Posted by OneClick

Still better than me bringing two tarps and no hammock.

LOL. Sounds like you have some experience there.

**Cabmanhang** · 12-03-2019, 10:27

Smart move in those temps. Good video to help people see an example of when to use common sense and live to see another opportunity.

**LuvmyBonnet** · 12-03-2019, 16:35

Originally Posted by OneClick

Still better than me bringing two tarps and no hammock.

Lol. My nephew did that once when camping with me. I've called him 2 Tarps ever since.

I think I saw a video where someone cut spreader bars from branches.

**mistone** · 12-03-2019, 17:07

Two thumbs up It’s always nice to go camping in the winter time about the only time I go anymore

**cmoulder** · 12-03-2019, 17:36

I think you did the right thing. Would have been an uncomfortable evening at best.

And it's a lesson that will not soon be forgotten!

**Tato Spud** · 12-03-2019, 19:59

He's making a list, checking it twice... Wise decision based on the situation. Thanks for being brave enough to post this and share for us all to learn.

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