TX>Fairfield Lake State Park>November 8-10, 2013 - 2013 Texas Fall Group Hang ver 5.0

[UncleMJM]

Let's get the Annual Texas Fall Group Hang planned!

Folks are already talking about the Annual Texas Fall Group Hang on several threads and I’ve already responded to pm’s asking about dates for flights and vacation planning so it looks like time to start the planning thread!

As we discussed last fall, the date and location will be the same again this year so you calendar watchers be sure to save the second weekend in November, and let the tradition continue in 2013 with the 5th Annual Texas Fall Group Hang, November, (11/8-10) at Fairfield Lake State Park.

It’s a great time to renew friendships, make new ones, and play with gear so mark it on the calendar.

In the past, the fun has included car camping for those who like to bring everything; (the location has showers and porcelain facilities for those who won’t leave home without them); day hikes for those inclined; lake paddling, fishing; pot luck dinners; Dutch oven cooking; DIY play time; lots of show and tell along with a little gear trading; group buys; stove tests; drawings for prizes, and some wonderful campfire fellowship.

Here is the link to the planning spreadsheet on Google docs. By posting to it we can keep a running list of folks and stuff past the date that this post can be edited. Please add or update yourself on it.

For those interested in what’s been done before. Here’s the planning thread from last year and the 2012 Trip report links.

So, let the planning conversation begin!

[Caveman]

I'm in! I updated the spreadsheet! Looking forward to it.

[slinky]

I'm in. Calender updated. Looking forward to the cooler weather and old friends.

[Trambo]

It would be great to be able to participate in a Texas Group Hang.

For those curious Fairfield is about 3/4s of the way to Dallas from Houston.

I intend to try and get my girlfriend to plan to go on this with me.
Since we are driving, we will be able to take just about everything needed,
including a backup tent (egads, did I just admit to that?).

How well do the camp areas transition for Hangers? Do we need to plan
on bringing tripods, or are there plenty of trees?

How much does entrance to this park cost and will there be any fees for
the group hang, to help with any of the costs?

It would be great to be able to do a group buy ahead of time, and then have
some DIY group sessions with the group buy materials.

As it stands now, I am a firm "maybe", although I will be lobbying all of my
girlfriend-faction to change this status to two "yes, I am going".

[UncleMJM]

How well do the camp areas transition for Hangers? Do we need to plan on bringing tripods, or are there plenty of trees?

How much does entrance to this park cost and will there be any fees for
the group hang, to help with any of the costs?

It would be great to be able to do a group buy ahead of time, and then have
some DIY group sessions with the group buy materials.

It would be great to have the two of you, or more, join us and you have some excellent questions!

It might be good to look at the threads from last year and before to learn a bit. They may answer questions or create some more.

This will be the 5th year that we've had our group hang at Fairfield, (and several of us hang there regularly throughout the year), and as good as Texas State Parks are, and as many of them that I have been to, there are not any that I can think of that are as hammock friendly as Fairfield.

There are plenty of trees, however if one plans on bringing the kitchen sink and you have some simple stands, bring them along and have even more options. We also love "show and tell" and stands are fun for that too.

As for costs, you are correct that there is a park entrance fee and campsite fees. Each person is responsible to the park directly for those costs. Frequently folks on here share sites to save on costs. For price details as well as park rules and regs, the best thing to do is check out the link in the opening thread for Fairfield.

Everyone is on their own for food too with a couple of exceptions. My bride and I put together the fixings breakfast tacos for anyone that wants to join in on Saturday morning and there will be a pot luck dinner Saturday night, no cost involved, just bring something to share.

Group buys and DIY are something we have done in the past and can certainly consider again. What did you have in mind?

In the past we have had several "classes" ranging from splicing to foraging and bush craft to dutch oven cooking. If you have a skill to teach or an interest to learn, let the group know on here and the odds are good it can be shared.

[Trambo]

I have gotten a tenative YES from my significant other.
We are definitely going to need to practice our hammock
methods, and outdoors skills before going to this group hang.

I have much experience, being an Eagle Scout, and she has
only had limited tent camping experience with me. Luckily,
she has no aversions to roughing it, and the dirty outdoors.

I've bagged a keeper!

As for things that I would like to discuss or talk about on this group
hang, there are MANY different elementary camping procedures
that we can have little lessons on. My favorites are Leave No Trace
(the reason I transitioned to hammocks), Knots (different types for
different uses and how to choose), Fire starting/building/ettiquite
(including how to make char-cloth and vaseline cotton balls),
whittling wood trinkets and custom hiking sticks.

In addition to all of this, I can't wait to see everyone's DIY projects,
and to talk about what they have planned next. There is nothing like
sitting around and talking hammocks and gear.

In addition to a pure giveaway, it would be fun to host a white elephant
gift swap. Anyone who brings an item to swap (value 3 dollars and up)
can take part in the white elephant. It would be funny to see which gear
gets grabbed the most, and a white elephant is awfully fun!

[UncleMJM]

In addition to a pure giveaway, it would be fun to host a white elephant gift swap. Anyone who brings an item to swap (value 3 dollars and up) can take part in the white elephant. It would be funny to see which gear gets grabbed the most, and a white elephant is awfully fun!

That could be fun.

[sargevining]

The place is rife with Cookiecoons. Not that that's a bad thing.

I'm in, will bring the grandchildren, the granddogs, the Wonder Dog, and his Youthful Sidekick.

[Trambo]

I've never thought about bringing my dog on a group campout.
I am too afraid that her baying will not stop. She is a beagle,
and she is friendly, she just loves to bark at any dog.

Do you all bring cages for your pups, or do you just anchor them
to a tree or stake or such? I am thinking my beagle would be a
good Cookiecoon deterrent.

UncleMJM, I am not quite sure what DIY would be best. We are having
a house build for us (done August 31st), and there was a roll of Tyvek
sitting beside the house. This made me think that our builder can get this
quite cheap. If someone can round up a WHOLE bunch of bamboo, it would
be fun to make some tripods like TurtleLady's stands. There are nearly
unlimited uses for tripods when camping, Washbasins, cooking, lanterns etc.

Amsteel Group buy is probably the most useful buy that I can think of.

SideNote: UncleMJM - the 45 pages of last years hang is a bit laborious
to comb through for ideas and thoughts about this years hang, but the
nature's food hike along with some of the other classes sound like a blast.
Dutch Oven Cooking is also great, but takes SOOOO long for food to be ready.

[UncleMJM]

I've never thought about bringing my dog on a group campout. I am too afraid that her baying will not stop. She is a beagle, and she is friendly, she just loves to bark at any dog.

Do you all bring cages for your pups, or do you just anchor them to a tree or stake or such? I am thinking my beagle would be a good Cookiecoon deterrent.

UncleMJM, I am not quite sure what DIY would be best. We are having a house build for us (done August 31st), and there was a roll of Tyvek sitting beside the house. This made me think that our builder can get this quite cheap. If someone can round up a WHOLE bunch of bamboo, it would be fun to make some tripods like TurtleLady's stands. There are nearly unlimited uses for tripods when camping, Washbasins, cooking, lanterns etc.

Amsteel Group buy is probably the most useful buy that I can think of.

SideNote: UncleMJM - the 45 pages of last years hang is a bit laborious to comb through for ideas and thoughts about this years hang, but the nature's food hike along with some of the other classes sound like a blast. Dutch Oven Cooking is also great, but takes SOOOO long for food to be ready.

Quiet dogs are great to have on hangs. If you have a dog that you camp with regularly and is great around other people and dogs, by all means bring it.

As for the 45 pages of last years hang, you're right it is laborious. Part of what made so many pages though came from answering the same questions several times for several folks who didn't read what had been posted in the same thread. As an aide to help keep this year's thread more manageable, my hope is that folks will use last year's thread as a resource.

Amsteel does work well for a group buy. I've actually done one several times and would be happy to do it again if there is enough interest. Thanks for the suggestion.

Also, we'll be at the Springfield, water only section.