104: Trip and Fall

Podcast: Download (Duration: 27:33 — 28.1MB)

Show Notes: Episode 104

Today on the First 40 Miles, usually your pack is lighter on the way home… but not on our most recent trip, and we’ll tell you why. Then on today’s SUMMIT Gear Review, what do you get when you mix the coverage of an underquilt with the structure of a pad? Next on the Backpack Hack of the Week, three tent stakes might be your ultralight solution for leaving your stove at home. And we’ll wrap up the show with a little trail wisdom from a mononymous French philosopher.

Opening

Invited on a backpacking trip by our friend, Joe
Our first backpacking trip of the fall
5.5 miles (11 total)
Out and back trail
Mount Jefferson
8 kids and 4 adults, plus one Chihuahua-Corgi mix

Top 5 Memorable Moments of our Backpacking Trip to Jefferson Park

The breathtaking moment when the mountain appeared

We didn’t see Mount Jefferson on the drive, we didn’t see it from the trail head.
Literally breathtaking…we all just stood there in awe

Seeing the snow fall, silent and beautiful…

About a quarter mile from camp, it started to snow
Very fortunate because it fell while we were all setting up our tents and getting the common area tarp set up.
Because of the snow—we all stayed dry. By the time it was dark, the snow had turned to heavy, unrelenting rain.

Watching our 14 year old son help his sister cross the creek

Leadership opportunities that the trail provides

Painting in the tent

On this trip, Heather was looking forward to having some time to sketch and paint—and maybe even head back a couple miles to get a view of Mount Jefferson. However, because of the non-stop rain, she decided to do sketching and painting in the tent…and her subject was a crumpled bag of peanut M&Ms.

Watching the boys building the bridge

Overnight we got about 2-3 inches of rain
That meant that the creek we crossed to get to our campsite has risen
The boulders and log that we used to cross it were underwater. As the rest of us stuffed sopping tents into our packs, the four boys went to gather some logs and fallen branches to make a safe, dry passing for us.

SUMMIT Gear Review: Klymit Hammock V

Structure

Sleeping pad that fits inside your hammock
20D Polyester
Coated non-slip zones on the top and bottom of the pad
Side rail wings which provides way more coverage than a traditional sleeping pad.
Because of the shape of this pad, your sleeping bag does a better job of lofting—even underneath you

Utility

Inflates in 15-20 Breaths
R Value 1.6
Fits all standard hammocks, single or double wide
Flat valve for easy inflation and deflation
It’s specifically designed to work in a hammock, but it can also be taken to ground if you want to use it on one of your tent backpacking trips.

Mass

Weighs 27 oz (765 g)
4” x 8” / 10 cm x 20 cm
Dimensions 47” x 78” x 2.5” / 119 cm x 198 cm x 6.3 cm
Hammock not included.
Packs small—but not quite as small as a standard air filled sleeping pad—because it’s bigger than a traditional pad

Maintenance

Includes patch repair kit
Spot clean

Investment

$140
Klymit Lifetime Warranty

Trial

Solves the problem of slipping pads in a hammock
Heather likes using a sleeping pad in the hammock–it provides just that little extra edge of stability and comfort
The Static Hammock V gives you a no-slip pad that is very comfortable, protects from the wind and completely wraps the inside of the hammock so you won’t get cold spots from your knees or backside hanging off the edge of a traditional sleeping pad.
Even though it has the coverage of an underquilt, it doesn’t have the warmth of an underquilt—this insulation option is probably best for fair weather hammockers, or if you’re using it with an underquilt

Backpack Hack of the Week™: Tent-peg stove

Pound three tent stakes into the ground
Build a small fire
Put your mug or pot on top
Warning: This “stove” will make your pot or mug very sooty
“Indian makes small fire, sits close. White man makes big fire, sits far away.” -Stalking Wolf

Trail Wisdom

“Men argue. Nature acts.”

-Voltaire