First overnight with the hammock

Well, I had an extra day off this week, so I decided to do an overnighter in my local area. I was going to drive out west to Mount Greylock, but where I had planned on parking is closed until 2009. The closest area to park was about 9 miles from where I wanted to be, so, I decided on an easier plan.

    Instead, I did part of the wapack trail, about 6 miles in. I weighed my pack before leaving, and, with food for 3 days, and 4 liters of water (water can be unreliable, once you get into the hills), I topped 35 lbs. A little too heavy for an overnighter, and a LOT heavier than where I want it to be normally, but, it wasnt too bad. I had the following (to the best of my recollection):

pack-Golite trek

hennesy asym hammock, with tarp, & underpad

Golite rain jacket & pants

patagonia R4 lightweight fleece

longlseeve nylon flyfishermans shirt

extra pair of socks

wool cap

glove liners

flipflops

small paperback book

my journal

pencil

compass

map

first aid kit

bandana

msr miniworks water filter

Kifaru Woobie synthetic blanket

3 Liter platypus

1 liter bottle for water

metal cup (goes on the bottom of the bottle)

titanium cooking pot 2L

titanium spoon

clikstand stove cover & windscreen

pepsi can stove

1/2 liter of alcohol for the stove

princeton tec micro headlamp

battery powered glowstick

Mora knife with sheath and firesteel

camera

    As you can see, I had quite a bit. I could have easily pared the weight down, but, as I was only out for an overnight, I figured I could pack the extras. So, anyway, off I went, about 11 yesterday morning. I hiked up to Nuuting Hill, then began my journey northward. It was about 75 degrees, sunny, with little breeze. A pleasant day to be ouside, to say the least. I had decided that I'd take my first pack off break at the last reliable watersource bfore I hit the hills. This is located just north of Binney Pond, and I made it there in about an our (just about 3 miles). So, I got to the spring, took out my filter, topped off platypus, and filled the extra water bottle for cooking. It was a little past noon at this time, and I wasnt too hungry as of yet, so I decided I'd hit the top of the first hill, Pratt Mountain, for lunch. I knew there was an excellent overlook of the pond, and I thought that that would be a great place or lunch. So, having topped off, I started up the hill.

    About 20 minutes later, I got to the top. Dropped the pack, and broke out lunch. Lunch consisted of a raisin bagel with peanut butter. I had mixed up some gorp as well, but, the heat destroyed it. I was stuck carrying a baggie of melted chocolate with nuts & coconut in it. Ah well.   

    So, I finished lunch, then broke out the map. Looking at it, I saw that my final destination wasnt that far away, maybe another hour. My trek would consist of walking the current ridgeline, giving up some elevation, then climbing to the top of New Ipswich Mountain, which was my destination for the day. Looking at the map, I thought that there may be another spring in between the two mountains, as it was a fairly steep draw. 30 minutes later, I hit that draw, and, sure enough, a small stream!! Now, this will, in all likelihood, be dried up in a couple of weeks. But, for now, I took advantage of it. I sat down, drank a liter of water at a leisurely pace, topped off the bottle again, then began the final climb of the day. took about 20 minutes to get to the top.

    So, finally, I am at my destination. I begin looking for a place to set up camp. Hanging a hammock makes this MUCH easier. I locate two old apple trees, and string up between them. I set up camp, then settle in & start reading my book I wanted to stretch the lines a little, then tighten them up again when I crashed for the night.

    So, a little while later, I start dinner. Now, I havent tried this stove out before, but am familiar with alcohol stoves in general. I also never tried the clikstand before now, so I was kind of experimenting. I fill the stove all the way to the top, & lit it. I filled my pot to the 1000ml line, poured the macaroni in (only time I ever eat mac & cheese is hiking), and put it on the stand. So, about 5 minutes later, its boiling away. Too much fuel. Also, too much water, as I had to drain quite alot of it out. Other than that, dinner was uneventful. I had some awesome views of the valley though. was nice to sit there & eat, looking out over miles of countryside. I had mount monadnock as a backdrop, which topped it all off.

    I finish eating, clean up, then fart around camp for a bit. I decide to rig my tarp up, just in case. I got everything all set up, crawled in, and read some more. I finished reading about 8:30, and it was still light out. The breeze picked up quite a bit, so I rigged the tarp up to keep it to a minimum. Finaly settled in for the night. I found myself constantly sinking in the hammock. Not realy a big deal, as I was never uncomfortable at all, like I would be sleeping on the ground. I just woke up several times, and stretched out again. The night temps were in the 40s, and I had on only boxers & a T-shirt. I later added a wool cap, as my ears got a little chilly. The combination of the underpad, tarp, and woobie kept me well warm. In fact, I constantly vented to keep from overheating. And, forutnately, I DID set up the tarp, as we had a light rain all night up in the hills. It was all fog in the valleys, and a light rain above that. My pack got wet, but, everything inside it was in a garbage bag, so the stuff stayed dry.

    I awoke next morning, expecting the stiffness I normally experience when sleeping on the ground. Nothing! I wasnt even sore from the walk in! Needless to say, I was quite surprised. I was also completely socked in with fog. I decided that, instead of cooking for breakfast, I'd have another bagel. So, I packed everything up, and ate. I also took a look at my water situation, and decided I could make it back the 6 miles on what I had. Even if I ran out, I knew where I coul locate it, as I passed many streams in the valley on my way up. So, off I went.

The walk back out was completely uneventful. But, walking along a ridgeline, at 6:30 in the morning, with fog banks offering only glimpses of the valleys below you, are truly breathtaking. I tried to snap a coupe of pictures, but I truly dont think they do it justice. It was a surreal feling, standing there, looking down to where the valley is, and only being able to ee a few hundred feet in front of you.

    By the time I got back down into the valley, the fog had lifted. I made good time back to my jeep, as I didnt stop at all with the exception to take pictures. My water situation stayed fine, and I didnt have to stop to filter more. It was a great experience, and a good gear run. I decided though that I need a bigger tarp. Maybe next payday. Please check out the pcitures in the photo album when I post them up (should e tonight). Take care, and I hope you enjoyed reading this!

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Overnighting tomorrow

Well, a REAL brief update; I am going to head out tomorrow night, for at least an overnighter on a local mountain. I want to test my new hammock out. I also picked up a neat little gadget for my alcohol stove called a clikstand.

This little thing folds neatly into my pot, providing a potstand, and windscreen, all without taking any additional room. I will snap some pics of my camp tomorrow afternoon. I plan on leaving right after work. So, it will be an evening hike up the hill, followed by a little relaxation, dinner, and maybe a book. I will also weigh my pack & post if for everyone, so you have an idea what I'm carrying. I try to go lightweight, but am not obsessed about it. Anyway, more later!!!

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A fine spring day

Well, as it was again a wonderful day, I decided to go out geocaching all day. I didn't hit as many as I normally do, which is about 7, but I got a couple of good ones, so it paid off. I started off with a new local one, hear a baseball field. However, with so many folks around, I gave up on it, leaving it for another, less busy day. So, I went off in earnest for others.
I started in on Birch Hill WMA, but only did part one. The second part will require a little planning, as there is no access to it road wise. I'll have to break out the topo, using my maptech program, and work it out from there. So, I went on & did a couple easy ones, and topped the day off doing Spirit IN the Falls and Doanes Fallies. Both were awesome, and memorable. The Spirit in the Falls one, had an awesome view from the first waypoint, and was well worth the hike up to the ridge. See the picture attached to this.
Doans Fallies was a double treat, as, first, this is one of my favorite local places, and second, I came upon a beaver swimming lazily in the pond! I, of course, snapped off a few pictures...unfortunately, only one came out. But, hey, that life, right?
Both of these caches are muliticaches, and required quite a bit of hiking. Which, again, was fine, as it was a nice day.
Then, this evening, I went fishing with my oldest nephew & my brother in law. My nephew, Josh, was the only one to catch on tonight, despite several strikes on everyone's bait. He caught a large mouth bass, but has never taken one off the hook before. Well, I showed him how to do it, and told him he was on his own next time!
One last thing; I am currently trying my hand at two home made items; one will be an alcohol stove, and the other will be a homemade firesteel. I picked up two firesteel blanks recently online, and will be making a handle for one out of black birch. I plan on taking several pics during construction of the firesteel, so stay tuned!!

Odd day out

So, its a beautiful day outside, I have the day off, and decide to go for a little walk in the local wildlife management area. I decide I'm gonna take my hammock, as 1), it hasnt really gotten any good sleep time in it yet, and 2), I was up WAY too early this morning, to bring a buddy to the army barracks, so he could ship out to Iraq today. So, as it was nice, I decided to take my nap outdoors.
A little background of this area; It is located behind a maximum sercurity prison. The area, the size of a small town, used to house inmates that were mentally deficient. It was a small town-like community, and they had the inmates work farms. There used to be massive housing facilities, several the size of mansions. IN addtion, they also had huge tracts of land to farm. They produced fruit & vegetables, as well as dairy & meat products, for the local communities.
In the 70's the state stopped funding the program, and all of the inmates were transferred to traditional facilities. TRhe community was effectively abandoned. It was taken over by the state wildlife commision shortly after they were shut down, and part of it was (and still is) used for training of police and corrections canines, and some national guard training, for fighting in urban areas (the buildings used for these were finally condemned & razed in the mid 90's). The vast majority is now just a wildlife management area (hunting & fishing allowed, no camping), where they are allowing the forest to reclaim itself. Walking in this area is a treat, as you are on some paved roads, that end abruptly, will be walking through the woods, and find an old fire hydrant in the middle of nowhere, a line of telephone poles through a copse of trees, odd things like that. But, all in all, it is a gorgeous area (no vehicle traffic allowed here at all).
So, anyway, this is where I spend the majority of my time wandering. Today, I walked to where I thought was WAY off the beaten path, to set up my hammock, & just relax. Well, I fall asleep, & wake up several times due to snoring (my hennesy is arguably more comfy than my bed). Finally, I doze off good. Then, I hear a truck. In the middle of the woods. Well, come to find out, there is an old paved road about 100 yards from where I was. In it were 3 cops. They ask me if I were living there, which, of course, I wasnt. I explain what I am doing, they are amicable, we exchange niceties, I even turn one of em on to the hennesy website, and they leave. Well, naps over, I pack up, and leave myself.
I dont take a direct route, instead, I wander some old footpaths, heading in the general direction of my jeep. I notice a police helicopter, doing lazy eights over the whole area. Now, I figure its one of two things; a pilot training, or somethings going on. So, I head back to a paved road, to make a beeline baqck to my jeep. I figure, if they have a chopper up, its serious.
Well, I run into the same cops that came across me napping earlier. It seems that a 24 year old decided he wanted to take his own life. He had left a note at his home, stating he was going to overdose with drugs in the woods. They asked if I had seen anyone fitting the description, which I hadnt. I told him of several other folks I came across out for a walk today though, and roughly where they were. They graciously offered me a ride back to my jeep, but I wanted to walk. It was a little less than a mile back, no big deal. The whole way back I kept calling out the kids name, hoping he'd respond. Unfortunately, he didnt.
As of this time, I do not know the status of the situation. I, for one, am hoping for a good outcome, and that maybe this was a call for help. I would hate to think that his life could be so bad that suicide would be the only answer. I sincerely hope he is found. There are LOTS of places one could go to do the deed in this place, and quite possibly never be found. That, IMHO, would be the absolute worst, as the family would never get true closure. Its sad that, on such a gorgeous day, someone elected to attempt to take their own life. My heart goes out to him, & his family.