Karja wants to know more about sleeping in a backpacking hammock. She’ll be attending my upcoming Intro to Backpacking event with Hudson Valley Hikers at Harriman State Park. She asks:
Is it a sane and good idea (when trekking through the woods with an abundance of trees) to sleep in a hammock?
Tent Footprints and Ground Cloths are common add-ons to commercial tents. Their intentions include protecting the bottom of your tent, keeping you dry, and providing insulation. Depending on how they are used, they meet these goals with varying success. This post will try to correct some common misinformation about tent footprints and ground cloths. Continue reading Tent Footprints and Ground Cloths
In the first installment of this series, I discussed the events that led me to ditch my tent in favor of sleeping under a backpacking tarp. In Part 2 I talked about buying that first tarp, what it was like to sleep under it, and some of the advantages it had over a tent. In the most recent chapter, I explained my rationale for making my own tarp, and some of the considerations that went into its design. Continue reading I Made My Own Backpacking Tarp, Part 4
In the first installment of this series, I discussed the events that led me to ditch my tent in favor of sleeping under a backpacking tarp. In Part 2 I talked about buying that first tarp, what it was like to sleep under it, and some of the advantages it had over a tent. Now its time to talk about how and why I made my custom backpacking tarp. Continue reading I Made My Own Backpacking Tarp, Part 3
This is Part 2 of the story about how I came to make my own backpacking tarp. (For the first part, click here.) It all started when I first got into backpacking. All of the experts told me that the best way to sleep while backpacking was under a tarp. Of course, I didn’t believe them, and bought a two-man backpacking tent.
This webpage is dedicated to telling you about my mistakes so you don’t have to make the same ones. Here’s a little story about how I came to make my own backpacking tarp… Continue reading I Made My Own Backpacking Tarp, Part 1
This is Part 3 in a series on my recent adventure in the Pharaoh Lakes Wilderness. In this section, I will discuss planning for the backpacking trip.
Planning for base camp is very easy compared to planning for backpacking. When you are backpacking, you rely much more on your planning and your wits than you do on your gear. It is very important to have a route mapped out and to understand the terrain, climate, and local restrictions. It is also very important to have a good understanding of the capabilities of your group, as I found out the hard way. Continue reading Adirondack Adventure 2014, Part 3: Planning for Backpacking
I’ve been doing my best to spread the light, and I’ve motivated my friend Paul to give tarp camping a try. He was excited to try this liberating experience after joining me on a trip in Harriman State Park last year. Tarp camping offers many benefits, including weight savings, great views, simplicity, and a sense of community with nature that you don’t get sealed up in a tent. That said, sleeping under a tarp can require advanced skills in site selection, weather prediction, and knot tying, just to name a few. Check out the full report for my 2014 adventure in the Pharaoh Lakes Wilderness.