[Hulksmash]

I attended the annual winter hang at Umtantum creek over the weekend. As always a fun event. I arrived Friday afternoon with enough time to scout out some nice trees, and prep for the camp fire for the night. The sky was clear, the moon was out and so were the stars. Oh yes it was COLD!

Next morning was clear and cold. Snug an warm floating in a cloud of goose down there was not much incentive to get up. Finally the beckoning call of my stomach drove me out the warmth of my nest. Had to warm the can of fuel by the camp fire to get the stove to light. Did i mention it was cold Went, for a stroll up the canyon after breakfast at the crack of 11.

Saturday night spent saying warm by the fire. A flask of whiskey got passed around...errr it was claimed to be whiskey...i think it was E85 Awoke Sunday morning with my ski mask frozen to my beard. Did i mention it was COLD?

[Mugs]

Ah come on man it wasn't that cold. We had a killer fire going the whole time. At night we were in tons of down...or at least I was. And Saturday night I don't think you would have cared what the temps were It was a fun time had by all.

[kite]

That looked like a nice place for trip, how far up the canyon did you go?

[Pikawhisperer]

Great pictures HS! Just curious if you needed any extra padding or liners in your hammock with the cold weather? Was the sleeping bag enough?

[Mugs]

"We" use what is called a UQ (under quilt) and they go on the outside under the hammock underneath us. they differ in temp range and loft. I think we both had 20f UQ's For the top cover we use TQ (top quilts) which is like a sleeping bag without the bottom. I had a 0F TQ...so I think in total I had about 9 or so inches of loft around me.

[Gwen]

[Hulksmash]

So i decided to try something a bit different. I dug my Hennessy out of the closet. Used the stock open cell foam pad and under cover from the super shelter, plus my 20* underquilt. The undercover was just loose enough to not compress the down of the under quilt. The cover also helped reduce and drafts induced my squirming around. My Hennessy has a zipper mod in the bug net so i don't have to worry about getting out the bottom. That was the bottom insulation. On top, i used my 20* Feathered Friends puffin, plus a 20* Katabatic Gear down quilt. Needless to say i had no problem staying warm in the hammock.

[IanB]

That is such a beautiful place to visit. Your winter photos are striking!

[Toni]

Looks like you had a fun time. Love that area and can't wait to stomp around there in the spring, when it's not so COLD.... Great pics, the 2nd one reminds me a bit of a Bev Doolittle painting. No tic sightings, right? some seasons they're out early....

[BigBear]

I thought fires were not allowed, but what do I know I only hike there once a week.

[D. Inscho]

Fine exposure and super detail! No tripod shake either. Splendid! It makes me feel like I'm in Apollo on approach

[Hulksmash]

[BigBear]

Sorry I guess your right. It is no fires from April 15-October 15. I was a little confused because the sign just says "no fires" and a couple months ago i was out there somebody in uniform(don't know if it was FS or what) was taking apart campfire rings.

[Hikingqueen]

Love this area, great pics as always!

[Gray]