On a recent Saturday I got together the things I needed for a single night of stealth winter hammock camping down by the river. This time I did it right: I over-prepared (or so I thought) with warm layers. I made sure I had extra nylon string, rope and cord for my rain fly, hammock and guy line. I filled up my water bottle and kept it in my jacket, in the inside breast pocket, where I slept with it all night. This stuff fit into my backpack fine. I didn’t have to carry any food or a cook system since I hiked in and set up in the dark around 2130 and I took down and climbed out at dawn at around 0730. When setting up I relied only on my stealthy red light, not the full white one.
The night was just fine. The low was around 30 degF and it was humid, even more so that close to the river (my hammock was about 20 feet from the water on a little peninsula that turns to rotting muck in the spring and summer). I tied up the hammock as taut as possible to be horizontal for with less compression. I did not get the restful sleep I wanted because I woke up several times with cold feet and had to curl up or rearrange my layers so I was wrapped more mummy-like. I had two pairs of thick socks, thermal underwear tops and bottoms, athletic pants, thin polyester pants, a sweater, a cotton hoodie, a fleece jacket, a larger jacket, and two fleece balaclavas. I had my thick gloves as well.
One thing I could have used was glove liners in the morning for warmth and dexterity while taking down my stuff (those metal components were cold). I also should have more completely mummified myself once I got in my hammock. I did not wrap myself up completely and cover my face when I first got in. I also had to pee in the middle of the night but I refused to get out of my hammock and mentally commanded my bladder to shut up. This interfered with sleep so a pee bottle would have been nice. I also should have had only one balaclava over my face and the other one bunched up around my neck to impede loss of warm air from my torso and neck. One other consideration is better use of my sleeping pad. I had two squares that were roughly 1.5 ft on a side. I had one of each under my pelvis and back area. I could have deployed one under my feet in a U shape and the other under my pelvis instead. Basically anywhere my weight compresses the insulation of the sleeping bag would be ideal for a section of pad. I might look into inflatable sleeping pads as well ($53 for the bestseller on Amazon). A DIY underquilt may be in my future too.
In the morning I enjoyed looking at the river and seeing everything around me illuminated in dusky light. My surroundings had undergone a transformation from the night before when I had hiked in under moonlight and city glow. The whole experience was satisfying for me, both during and after. I did not have any tight moments and I enjoyed it before, during and after. Now I know I have the skills for one-nighters above 30 degF. And I can do it stealthily and with minimal effort and expense. Therefore nights with lows above 30 degF are the trigger for me to pack up and set out for wherever I want to go.
pseudoisaac 