After fiddling with an UQ at home yielded marginal results in colder temps, I decided it would be best to get some trained eyes on my gear. We were forecasted for a winter storm, but I figured.. what better way to prove myself as a transplant to New England than a winter hang?
After a short hike by a beautiful river (which I plan to fish come spring), I found two trees and set up my hammock. This was the first time using whoopie slings and I found it ridiculously easy. With the help of a new friend, I got my UQ set up, then my tarp. I was still nervous as the night went on that I would still be cold. Night time lows were forecasted to be in the low to mid twenties, with potential for gusty winds, so I set up behind a thicket of trees hoping my site selection could at least block some wind. My tarp does not have doors, and I didn't check the weather to see which direction the wind was coming from, which I should have. Thankfully, there was little wind this night.
There was good banter and much interesting conversation around the camp fire, which was a massive one. The trip organizer brought a cord of wood, which he used to cook a hunk of meat on a spit, using a set up with pulleys and counter weights that you would have to see to both understand and believe. We all sat in our reflectix lined chairs talking about everything and nothing all at once. The forecast varied wildly throughout the night, ranging from a foot of snow to 15 inches. As the sun tucked behind the horizon and the first of the flakes began to fall, we gathered around to enjoy the pot luck. After a massive feast, we sat around the fire chatting away again.
I had the opportunity to check out several cool rigs. Some had typical GE hammocks, others brought bridges. I got to see my first cuben tarp and even learned a new knot for rigging out stakes. One by one, the great campfire-to-hammock slumber migration began. Three of us remained chatting until 10 pm. I retreated to my warm nest of comfort, immediately finding myself in a space of (oh my god so this is what I've been missing). I downloaded a movie and also brought a book. Oddly, I found myself just wanting to close my eyes and ignore my phone.
I got up perhaps twice (or was it thrice) during the night, to find a winter wonderland enveloping everything around me, including my tarp. Of course, everything under my tarp was totally dry, as was I. I awoke for good at 6 AM, not wanting to get out of my nest. In tent world I'd be up before daybreak, just to stretch out whatever knots and kinks came from sleeping on a pad.
Some kind soul had rekindled the camp fire that morning. After a short lived reunion, we began packing up our gear to prepare for the treacherous drive ahead. The storm was bearing down on the highways and interstates. Not many plows had been heard through the night. I said my goodbyes and set sail back to NH, confident that I would be hanging between two trees many, many more times.
Now I need to figure out to do with these tents in my basement
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