Spring's here. Who's hanging?

Around Chicago it has been a nasty April. Drizzle, cold, wind, overcast.... Spring has not sprung yet.

I'll be slogging through the mud and snowy muck of the trails within the next two weekends.

Nothing stops me.

Spring Hanging in Illinois

I just purchased a hammock...haven't got it yet. But really eager to try it out.

Some friends are going to a state park in a couple weekends, so I plan on making that the inaugural campout of the season...can't wait to give it a try.

I'm sure before that date I'll be giving it a dry run somewhere in or around Chicago.

I am planning a trip to the BWCA later in summer. Want to get in some hang time prior to that so I make sure I've got the setup down before my trip.

Hi, sue - Welcome to the board.
One place to give the new hammy a try will be at the Rockford Spring Wing!

Thanks for the notice. I'll have to see if I can make it out to Rockford that weekend.

Thanks, also, for the welcome. Good to be here.

quote sueb2b: "Thanks for the notice. I'll have to see if I can make it out to Rockford that weekend.

Thanks, also, for the welcome. Good to be here."

What did you get? What's the set-up?

I bought a used hammock...don't physically have it yet. Per the description, it was set up a couple times, but not really "used".

It's a warbonnet blackbird 1.7 double layer w/superfly.

quote sueb2b: "I bought a used hammock...don't physically have it yet. Per the description, it was set up a couple times, but not really "used".


It's a warbonnet blackbird 1.7 double layer w/superfly."

That is the exact set up I have. I like it a lot. Welcome to the site.

tony

I too have that set up. Can I ask how much you paid? Does the superfly have snap on doors or are the doors built in?

I also have a wbbb 1.7 dbl.
I don't have a WB tarp.

Ok you guys go me going now.....Going out to hang the Blackbird up and try out the new Burrow top quilt tonight. 35 tonight and 70% chance of rain.

Well the Blackbird, Superfly, and 20 deg Incubator under quilt are all set for the first hang of 2013. This will also include the madden voyage of the 20 deg Burrow top quilt with 2 oz. of over stuff that I purchased from the Black Friday sale. And I also installed my 2QZQ ridgeline organizer that I got for Christmas.

quote sueb2b: "I bought a used hammock...don't physically have it yet. Per the description, it was set up a couple times, but not really "used".


It's a warbonnet blackbird 1.7 double layer w/superfly."

I have that exact same set up also. I hate it.



Just kidding....like the others, it's a great set up. I have both the 1.7 and 1.1, the SF and the Mamajama tarps to mix and match too.

The Lorax...I have to admit you had me for a moment.

The hammock arrived yesterday. So did multiple inches of rain. I was hoping to try it out today on my way home when I was near a state park. Instead, I couldn't even get near the state park due to flooding, and didn't want to deal with trying out/drying out in the rain.

So, hopefully this weekend, I'll at least get to do some daytime tests.

Yes...everything within 100 miles of State & Madison is a wee bit damp. It is going to take few days to drain away.

For some reason there are a few folks in Minnesota that do not yet think it's spring. Maybe they'll change their minds after they dig out of the snow.

Snow? Like that stuff falling outside my office window today?

quote sueb2b: "Snow? Like that stuff falling outside my office window today?"

Yah. And WhiteWolf is predicting zero degrees for northern Minnesota tomorrow morning.

Blizzard conditions here along the lake just south of Green Bay right now, but I have a backpacking trip this coming weekend and nothing stops me from going. Trails will probably be muddy......just don't care!

quote The Lorax: "Blizzard conditions here along the lake just south of Green Bay right now, but I have a backpacking trip this coming weekend and nothing stops me from going. Trails will probably be muddy......just don't care!"

Go for it! Please post pictures of your hang.

quote The Lorax: "Blizzard conditions here along the lake just south of Green Bay right now, but I have a backpacking trip this coming weekend and nothing stops me from going. Trails will probably be muddy......just don't care!"

Yeah, sometimes we just have to say "F^%k it!" Maybe just bring something to scrape the mud off your boots.

I'm out year 'round. Summer, dead of winter, it really doesn't matter. It's a hassle when trails are really muddy or worse yet, icy. Those are the only conditions I try to work around.

I'll get a few pics of my set up. If they come out good, I'll post them.

I'm realizing that having a dog is what gets me outside on a regular basis. I would probably stay in more if not for her. But, a border collie is not one to hang around the house too long so we've been going to various forest preserves and dog parks. She's awesome.

I miss my old Lab...she was a good dog.

quote jcavenagh: "I miss my old Lab...she was a good dog."

LOL I miss my old dog, but not the ex-wife. The former used to drag me out of the house, the latter chased me out.

I was able to get out and test this weekend. Didn't stay too long, as I didn't really think napping was the best thing to do in a public park...but it was comfy.

I had one woman ask if I had a tent or hammock, to which I replied "yes". That confused her, but I explained it was a hammock to use instead of a tent.

Haven't set up the fly yet...but I'm sure I'll get a chance soon.

Coffee ftom the Blackbird.

Three or four of us hanging last night at Spring Wing.

Nice, Kevin. That's the way to do it.

BTW, Spring has sprung this weekend in northern Illinois!!

quote KevinL: "Coffee ftom the Blackbird.


Three or four of us hanging last night at Spring Wing."

From this perspective it looks like coffee after too much to drink.

I did my first test hang last night.

As an apartment dweller in the city, the chances to hang at home are non-existent. So, I went to a state park.

For jcavanagh or anyone who might be at the Rockford spring wing, I could probably use some assistance on the setup. I did get it up, and it stayed up all night. I did stay dry through the several hours of drippy rain. Just think I probably could have done better.

I can now say my superfly has the doors built in...because I was able to set that up, also. (Again, good enough, but maybe not the best.

It was comfy. I did enjoy the sleep, although when I woke up, I could tell any bits of me that weren't on the pad. Where it was, though, the pad did work as insulation. I definitely see the underquilt benefit.

The steep learning curve when you first start is part of the adventure of hanging. Relax and enjoy. You'll be a pro after just a night or two.

BTW, in my experience full length U/Q's are the only way to go.

Good luck and welcome to hanging!

It took me a few times to get the right pitch of the bed and angle of the straps. I like my foot end to be a couple inches higher than the head end.

I got my first hang of the season last night. The big ALP pad will contain my 5'10" 230# frame and under the kelty 20 degree bag I was very comfy. I went to sleep checking out the stars through the branches not yet filled with leaves and awoke to dew forming. Now I remember why I brought the tarp, tossed the army poncho liner over all and back to sleep. Gotta love those poncho liners.
Lake Red Rock, southeast of Des Moines, is big and has a lot to offer. Good exhibit of flora and fauna. Camping in several sites around the lake, some primitive. Interesting bluffs. Oak and hickory with understory dogwood and woodland flowers carpeting the hillsides.
I was gazing into the coals with eyes getting heavy when flapping of big wings and a gasping like sound very loud startled me. It went on for a couple minutes then started up again. As the moon rose I could tell it was a flock of large white birds swimming along the shoreline and fishing.
Plans are to get at least a weekend or more each month, the season has begun.

I was in DC 10 days ago. The dog woods were already in full bloom.
As of now, I am a GO for Rockford. Barring any emergency in DC, I'll see you all there.
I'll bring an extra UQ and Sue can try it out.
I expect to bring dutch ovens and do the BBQ pork and peach cobbler that I wanted to bring last time...
Fingers crossed that the DC issue keeps quiet...

Thanks, all!

I'm hoping to get out there later this evening...not coordinated enough to have my stuff prepared to drive into work with me.

After benefiting from the loan of an underquilt by jcavenagh for this past weekend's wing night, I'm a true believer.

I have now placed an order for fabric, etc, sufficient to create my own underquilt.

Congratulations on your conversion. It seems like many people experience conversions while sleeping in hammocks.

Well, I was already hooked on hanging.

It's the underquilt that's got me working on a DIY project.

I'm glad you had a chance to try an UQ for yourself before deciding to go in on one. That's the great thing about get-togethers and trying different gear out.

Bump. Who's hanging?

Four more bed sleeps and ill be hanging. Very much looking forward to it. BB XLC under a superfly, wrapped in hammock gear down. The wife and I tried out our lean 2 a few weeks ago as our kids are getting to the camping age and having four hammocks and gear seems messy, we though we better go to the ground for their formative years. After one cold, uncomfortable night she told me she would never spend another night on the ground.

I better start saving.....

I had rotator cuff surgery at the end of February. I am recovering well but was still waking up in the middle of the night from the ache in the shoulder. I just got back from six days in the Little Caribou area. I was not awakened once from the ache while in the hammock. If I did not enjoy the company of my bride so much I would be putting eye bolts in my bedroom walls.