Shug and Wanderin’Fool on North Country Trail
Finally got out for a two night quick and fast backpack trip on the North Country Trail. Joining me was an old friend and noobie backpacker Wander’nFool. He did wonderfully …. he studied and bought tons of new and terrific gear and practiced with it! That is the way to do it. He had a Warbonnet BlackBird hammock, a Warbonnet Yeti UnderQuilt, ULA Circuit pack, MacCat Tarp from OES, a JetBoil stove, Leki Hiking Poles and some SmartWool. Packed the Kelly Kettle wood-burning stove in the outside pocket of my ULA OHM backpack. Stripped it down to backpacker mode by removing the cork, putting on a lighter handle, leaving the base home and testing out a light-weight home brewed base I made from a pie tin and hardware cloth. Saved about 6 ounces overall. Used the Dutch Clips for the first time in the woods on my hammock suspension. Flawless and ever-so light. I brought my DIY hammock and since we passed one car on the hike at a shuttle point I traded out for the BlackBird the second night. Just testing comforts. Both get 5 stars but BB has a bugnet and on my DIY I left it off. Did get a skeeter or two buzzing me in the morning of camp one. Drats! One tiny issue with the BB hammock is the ridge line when you use it as a lounger at camp. It tends to droop in your face depending on your tree spread on the hang. As we sat lazing around I saw a solution to that …… easy fix to a wonderful piece of gear. Check at 4:05 on the video. We ate well … the Kelly Kettle was a terrific …
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