Dixie (aka Jessica aka Homemade Wandelust) just announced in her latest YouTube video she’s going to try hammocking again and has chosen the Blackbird and Minifly to test out.
If you’re not familiar with Dixie she’s a Triple Crowner and has one of the biggest Youtube followings of any of the hiker/backpackers out there.
If she gives positive reviews of the Blackbird that’s advertising money can’t buy and definitely will increase a Warbonnet’s exposure.
I wouldn't count on her to stick with hammocking since she's quit it before.
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." Ralph Waldo Emerson
True, but OTOH, look what she switched from! I haven't seen that video in a while but IIRC, she was using a short ENO with a Walmart tarp. Dixie is not a short girl by any means so she should be much more comfortable with her new rig. Also, she had not used the hammock much if at all before Springer (which was her first night in the woods!) and she gave it up a couple days later when she got to Neel Gap/Mountain Crossings. Maybe now she's found out that hammocks take some fiddling and have a learning curve so perhaps now she will devote a bit more time in getting a proper lay.Originally Posted by SilvrSurfr
She also did a video about 3 years back on why she doesn't ( or didn't ) use a hammock. Typical newbie mistakes. Got a ENO which are not camping hammocks ( I own one and would not
take it backpacking ), tried using a thin foam pad and no UQ ( she said too much weight ), diy bug net and a tarp made from clear plastic and duct tape. Her mistake was that she was too focused on getting low cost stuff instead of getting stuff that would work and then did not learn how to use the gear she had.
Hopefully if she does get some good gear to go along with the BlackBird, I hope she takes the time to learn how to use it properly.
Last edited by gunner76; 12-19-2019 at 12:59.
I am still 18 but with 52 years of experience !
Did not even try to learn. Homemade Wanderlust says she started her AT trip without so much as one night in a hammock or a tent. Not one night of practice! And I don't think she came up with that ENO setup (which she calls EEEE - NNNN -OOOO) on her own. Looks like somebody with very little knowledge of hammocks taped it together for her. For this hammocking attempt with the Warbonnet, she says, "I know y'all have suggested some different resources for learning about hammock camping, and I'll definitely be checking those out," but I have my doubts. I mean, who starts an AT thru-hike without even testing out their gear, without ever having done an overnight camping trip of any kind?
If I was Brandon, I'd pay Homemade Wanderlust NOT to take the Warbonnet Blackbird, because she's just gonna do another half-hearted attempt at hammock camping. Then she'll bash the Blackbird to her 200,000 followers and say "it didn't work out."
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." Ralph Waldo Emerson
there is a lot of people that start (and complete) an AT thru hike without ever done an overnight camping trip of any kind. I'm pretty sure liz kidder's (aka Handstand) first night on the AT was her first overnight camping trip of any kind also. they both have accomplished a lot more than a lot of people on this forum. good thing they didn't listen to a lot of people on this forum, then Liz wouldn't be a thru hiker and Dixie (homemade wanderlust) wouldn't be a triple crowner, and completed the Camino De Santiago in Spain.
yes there are a lot of people that haven't never done an overnight camping trip of any kind that starts the an AT thru hike that fails, but there is also a lot of people that have camped their whole life that fail an AT thru hike attempt also.
Last edited by soul embrace; 12-20-2019 at 06:35.
There's magic in the woods,
if you know where to look for it.-Pete's Dragon
I concur. The AT rate of attrition is very high for either people with lots of experience or little/none. I've never done anything remotely ambitious, and although I feel I could, I could also envision myself simply deciding after 1000 miles that it ain't my thing and going home.
But I've watched some of Dixie's later videos and it's obvious she's learned a lot after 10,000+ miles in all kinds of weather and terrain.
Five Basic Principles of Going Lighter (not me... the great Cam Honan of OZ)
“If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.” ~ Gen. George S Patton
Actually, when Jonathan and I were down at Trail Days a few years ago for the podcast, there were quite a few thru hikers that we interviewed, that the first night that they ever slept outdoors was their first night on the AT. A couple of them bought their hammocks the day they started their hike and their first night on the trail was the first time they ever set them up and slept in a hammock. I couldn't believe the thought of going on a 4-6 month journey and not thoroughly testing my gear, but here they were up in Damascus with no plans of stopping. I wish we got contact info from them to see if they actually finished the trail.
Wow, that's a bit harsh. I have watched almost all of her adventures . . . from first stepping off at Amicalola Falls, sounding kind of nervous and unsure of herself (which, I'm sure she was), to thinking nothing of doing 20+ mile days. We all were newbies at one time. Maybe she should have spent weeks or months dialing in her gear before stepping off on the trail but, she didn't and, through grit and determination, she has become more experienced and knowledgeable about long distance hiking that most of us.
Will she stick with a hammock? Who knows but, I will still enjoy her videos regardless of what sleep system she uses.
Kinda harsh take, don’t you think? The Dixie from her first night on the AT to today is vastly more experienced and pragmatic. You watch her YouTube videos? She doesn’t “bash” any gear maker or vendor. She gives fair and comprehensive reviews, and leaves the viewer with her honest evaluation. I expect her to give her second try at hammock camping a solid go. The fact she did her research and chose a solid system gives me the strong impression she will invalidate some opinions.
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