setting up in the dark

[nothermark]

At least you are getting out. As you have discovered that beats the alternative. ;-)

[Chard]

Hey TH,

Setting up in the dark is definitely a challenge, especially when you're unfamilar with all the cranky demands of your hammock setup. Glad to see you still made the best of it.

Get out as much as you can and give yourself plenty of time before dark to set up camp. It'll definitely get easier.

For my part, I've found that looking for widowmakers is the toughest part of setting up in the dark. Even if you have a really powerful flashlight, it's easy to overlook a dangerous limb.

[Shug]

A real bright headlamp works wonders)))))
We always learn best by getting out and doing in real time and real dark.
Shug

[OneThing]

I hiked into Hanover, NH on my 2004 AT Thru Hike. I got there & 8:30 pm, it's foggy, raining and students running around like crazy. Turns out Hanover is not Thru Hiker friendly due to previous idiots causing fights with college students. There wasn't a single motel room available either. I got booted out of a hall on Campus. I got lost on my way out of town, and hiking lost in the forest is not fun with my headlamp growing dimmer. I figured it was best to just hang my hammock and wait for morning. It took me forever due to fatigue, and lack of light, but I got it done.

In the morning, barking dogs woke me up. I saw that I was about 50 yds from someone's house. Take down went at warp speed.

[SilvrSurfr]

Back to the lab! I haven't been out in three months. I probably have a lot to re-learn.

[Mountnman]

I like hiking in the dark especially when the moon is out nice and bright, so I get to camp quit often in the dark. The first time that I hung my rig in the dark I thought oh what a great spot, 20 yards or so from a lake and on the side of a hill. Well woke up the next morning and was hung across a heavily traveled game trail, had a lot of deer tracks. That could have been a rough night had a deer crashed into me LOL!!

I pack everything in order that I hang it, so that helps with the gear. I have a pretty bright headlamp which helps while "staring at the trees" to make sure Im safe and not on any deer trails. This step takes me the longest.

Try packing in order of how you want to set up then practice at home a few times, it really works for me anyway

[titanium_hiker]

"back to the lab" - yep!

"practice at home" - tough when there is no trees...

Great responses everyone! I'll definitely have to get into it again. The weather is cooling down here and I've got a full-on schedule at the high school I now teach at (very exciting, first real job!) but I'll try and get a few things organised.

TH