Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

I've yet to read your travel thread

I'd like to do a fall or winter trip and focus on wildlife photography. Fall for the rut or winter for less people and I like shooting in the snow

 

Not sure. We're talking about going back to Grand Canyon and going rim to rim. But that's still another year or 2 away. Bad thing about that trip is the 18 hour drive. Next might be a trip to Big Bend in west Texas or the Talimena Trail in southeastern Oklahoma/southwestern Arkansas. The first step was surviving our trip to the canyon. We're just now looking at other options.

 

I love your pictures and would enjoy hearing more of your story. I did a Rim to Rim hike about 5 years ago and am still amazed by the experience. I have a write up if you would interested in taking a look.

 

Thanks. I'd love to read your write up.

 

If you have any Big Bend questions I can help you out! It's my "home" park.

 

The Colorado River was really muddy when we were there. Here's one of my favorite shots looking back as we began our hike up the Bright Angel Trail.

 

Thanks. One of the great things about the trails we hiked was the fact that there was good potable water in both campgrounds and along the trail on the way out. Heck, they have flush toilets at Bright Angel campground. Do any of the trails and campsites at Big Bend have water?

 

Nope. There are some vault toilets along some of the roads, and 3 pit toilets up in the Chisos. There are flush toilets in the 3 developed CGs.

You can fill water at visitor centers, but there isn't much reliable water out there. There are some very small springs, but it's a very good idea to ask the rangers before planning a backpacking trip. If you do the OML you can cache water at the Homer Wilson Ranch.

BIBE is also kinda unique in that it has backcountry car sites. You drive on undeveloped roads to many different "roadside backcountry" sites, kinda like you're overlanding. It's pretty cool. You get permits for them just like anything else.

The picture of Mariscal Mine above was taken from the Fresno site, I have marked it here on the map.

https://goo.gl/maps/fGiKZ4wFi182

 

Thanks, guy, I'll check it out.

 

@skier Have you tried the Hyperlite UltaMid Shelter? I just sold my Hilleberg and am picking up the UltaMid 2. Read nothing but good things about it.

 

I haven't used it, but friends have and like it. I'm using a North Face 02 now at elevation and a Dutch Gear hammock in warmer places

 

Ok thanks! The only downside I see is that you need to tie two hiking poles together to get enough height for the center. Not really a big issue because ill be carrying those anyways.

 

Yeah, that's true on most midst, or you can tie to a high branch if available

 

RTIC coolers are cheap as hell right now. 65 quart tan is $160! Tan rotomolded and all soft sided are on sale.

https://www.rticcoolers.com/shop/coolers/roto-molded/RTIC-65-Tan

 

600 fill backcountry beds are on Massdrop. Good for people like me in Texas or for a summer/late spring/early fall bag. Not super light (40/43oz), but at $150/$170 it's a great price for a side sleeper.

http://dro.ps/b/3BkZOdU

 

This thing is slick and is now my new backpacking pillow and clothes stuff sack:

http://zpacks.com/large_image.shtml?accessories/drybags/pillow_side_l.jpg

Turn it inside-out to put the fleece side on the outside. Fill with clothes and sleep. Turn it back rightside-out and you have a dry bag.

I'm obsessed with their stuff. Ended up getting 6 different dry bags and stuff sacks.

• Full pack liner dry bag
• Pillow dry bag
• Medium dry bag
• Small dry bag for the top compartment
• Cell phone bag
• Neck bag with 2 compartments

 

Granite Gear started the fleece stuff sack thing years ago. I had one, but couldn't stand the crinkle noise in my ear...

 

Speaking of pillows, I ended up ordering that down pillow/case thing from Goosefeet Gear. With 2oz of 850+ fill it's only 2.7oz and its sized for my Exped air pillow. Even has a sewn on pocket so you can add any clothes or whatever for more support.

Similar to this

 

Does anyone here have a bottom entry Hennessy hammock??

I have a UQ that I'll be parting with soon that was made by JRB, specifically for the Hennessy.

I'd like to sell it to someone who can use it with their HH. It can be used with others, the entry slice has Velcro closure. (And I used it on all my hammocks). If no interest by an HH owner, I'll sell it to anyone who's interested.

I'm looking for a link with the info...
EDIT

Here's a video of how it sets up. Mines is an older model, different colors.

https://youtu.be/RCK-Wfzg7WE