A big HOWDY from Montana!

**Roadmarker** · 07-19-2014, 23:20

Hi All,
I finally gave up lurking and decided to join up. It's been two years since I discovered what I was missing hammock camping. Like most others I was an avid tent camper, but that ground just kept getting harder and harder. My first year was spent on what worked for me. I loved the ease and simplicity of 1" straps and caribiners. 550 cord made up my tarp ridgeline and a quick tighten before I crawled in for the night seemed to hold up fine. I used my U.S. poncho as an asym tarp and it worked well even in inclement weather.
Then I found Shug...what can I say, what an ambassador for the hammocking community.
My wife thought I was crazy going out in -20 degree weather on a winter's night for a cold hang. She was probably right. I did use my ground pad, but my sleeping bag that said it was good down to -15 must have been talking centigrade. Even bundled up with my best thermals, a fleece balaclava and knit wool cap, I spent a rather unpleasant, although quiet, night. Better in my backyard than out in the woods away from civilization though, at least for my first cold hang.
Anyway, I finally talked my wife into hanging and just got her setup this week. I made my first Whoopie slings for the both of us and I've upgraded my suspension. We haven't made it out just yet due to the smokey dry conditions in our neck of the woods but I might just break her in out in the backyard. Plenty of time in the future to bring up my idea of a couples weekend cross country ski trip and hang to some hot springs I've heard of.

**Vincethebutcher** · 07-20-2014, 00:14

Welcome! I would definitely suggest trying your hand at a little DIY. My first UQ kept me warm at the MN frozen butt hang. I bought some thirft store down jackets ripped them open and harvested the down. Got some 1.1oz ripstop from diygearsupply.com and off I went. It's cheap and not to hard. And by the way, I will be passing through Helena in about 2 months on a bike trip. Happy hanging!

**Roadmarker** · 07-20-2014, 00:32

Thank you for my initial welcome Vince!
DIY is half the fun. I've actually been working on what I call an overbag. Basically a sleeping bag with access for the hammock to pass through the head and foot ends. It's a work in progress, but it might evolve into an easy way for folks to convert an existing bag to hammocks.
Your bike trip sounds like quite an adventure. You'll be rawhide and leather when you finish it. The nights might be getting a bit nippy in September especially along the Continental Divide. I wish you safe travels enjoy your trip and thanks again for the welcome.

**MAD777** · 07-20-2014, 00:55

Welcome from sunny South Florida during the monsoon season. We'll be glad to send you some rain!

**Adahy** · 07-20-2014, 10:32

Welcome! I've always wanted to visit your state.

**Roadmarker** · 07-23-2014, 22:22

Thanks guys! I'd love to spend some time hanging in your AO too! I spent a couple weeks in a hammock a little further southeast of you. Lived on coconuts and sandcrabs just after Hugo. Nothing like a hammock on the beach! Thanks again.

**Shug** · 07-24-2014, 01:40

Whooooo Buddy)))))) Enjoy the hammock quest there in Montana. I'll be doing the Fair in Billings Starting Aug 9th.
Shug

**grannypat** · 07-24-2014, 20:18

Welcome from SC.

**Roadmarker** · 07-24-2014, 20:25

Thanks Sean,
I wish it could have been the Stampede in Helena. Knock 'em dead. I'll tell my Billings friends to stop by.

**JToon** · 07-24-2014, 22:53

Welcome to the craziness from the Black Hills of SoDak. Can't say I have spent any time in Helena but the time I have spent in Missoula, Kalispell, and Glacier Park I must say the old MT is a great state.