Go Ultralight #4. Hammock Camping on Cliffs
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- Experience the joy of ultralight camping on cliffs. In this episode, I spent 3 days (2 nights) backpacking on the rocky cliffs above Lake Travis, near Austin in the Texas Hill Country, USA.
I fine-tuned my kit for a longer trip by replacing my 20 liter pack with one that was 28 liters. The larger pack gave me space to carry my outer clothing (that I would normally wear) so I could backpack wearing only swimming gear.
My fully loaded pack for this trip without food and water was 8.7 lb (3.9 kg):
- Ozark Trail 28 L Atka Backpack 0.75 lb (0.34 kg)**
- Nylon Ground Cloth, 8 Al stakes, 0.90 lb (0.41 kg)
- Pillow (Bear, Socks, Washcloth, Plastic Bag/poncho) 1.10 lb (0.50 kg)
- BioFuel Stove and GSI Cup, 0.88 lb (0.40 kg)
- Blue Sky Mosquito Hammock, 1.34 lb (0.61 kg)
- Ozark Trail Sun Wall Tarp 6x10 ft and Cordage 1.10 lb (0.50 kg)
- eno Atlas Hammock Straps, 0.70 lb (0.32 kg)
- Medical Kit, Compass, Map, Light, 0.29 lb (0.13 kg)
- AL trowel, Paper, Bug Repellent, Lighter, 0.24 lb (0.11 kg)
- Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter, 0.16 lb (0.07 kg)
- Battery Charger for Phone, Camera 1.21 lb (0.55 kg)
++++++++
- Food for 2-1/2 days: 2 lbs ( 0.45 kg)
- Hydration pack with 2 quarts water: 4 lb (1.81 kg)
- Most water was filtered from the lake
- Pocket items: headlamp, GoPro camera, keys, wallet
** I do not yet have an opinion of the $19 Ozark Trail Atka Backpack; it is not as well made as my $60 Osprey Trip 20 Daypack; but it is an inexpensive option that may work for certain situations.
Disclaimer: Do not attempt to perform anything you see in this video. Serious injury or death may result. Techniques and suggestions are for informational purposes only. Kenneth Kramm and all associated parties are not responsible for injury or damage that may result. The viewer assumes all risks when practicing techniques or attempting to use the equipment shown in this video.
Videography by Ken Kramm, Pace Bend Park, Spicewood, Texas USA , 27 July 2016; Iphone 6+, night sky with GoPro HERO4 Silver, Final Cut Pro X, GoPro Studio. Evening Melodrama, Bad Ideas_Clean, Dance Macabre-Finale, Hammock Fight, Heart of Nowhere, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons...
There are many backpacking channels.. but NONE like yours.
One can even feel the peace of your soroundings.
God bless
Hi Luis. You're kind words mean a lot to me. Thank you. ...ken
I'm so happy that Teddy goes camping with you . My youngest grandson Ryan is 13 yrs old and still depends on his Teddy at night . I hope he keeps his teddy like you . When I live a half hour away from them we used to share custody of Teddy . He would drive home with sunglasses on and and a seat belt with Ryan 's Mom . Thanks for the awesome videos Ken . Been a fan for quite awhile.
Thanks Gail. I appreciate your feedback. We are never too old for fun (and Teddy too). ...ken
That made me so sad that you had to pick up all that trash.. and at the same time, so happy that you did. I love your videos Ken. Thanks!
It makes me sad too.
I like a way you talk.
Some people call it a hammock , I call it a swingbed.
Looks like a great place to have an adventure! Thanks.
Beautiful time lapse, beautiful area. I'm enjoying the series, Kenneth. Thanks for sharing.
Wish I could give a double thumbs up for that night time-lapse and accompanying music. Great job!
Thanks for the feedback on th night-lapse clips. I'm always learn and hopefully these video clips will continue to improve. ATB. ken
outstanding ken another great video. thank you for bringing us along we love you awesome....hi mr bear..outstanding ken..
Ken, I have always been a loner, but not very adventurous...as I approach retirement age, your videos are certainly igniting the fire of exploration and adventure in my soul...Peace, brother!
Enjoy the simple life Kees. I've been retires for more than 11 years. You'll love it. ...ken
What a wonderful adventure and a real movie worth to see! Congrats.
Thanks Rogerio ...ken
Ken, you are a great inspiration. Thank you.
Thanks Alejandro. ...ken
What a great adventure Ken. The views from you camps was awesome. Thanks so much for sharing
You're welcome! This is a beautiful area. ...ken
Informative series always enjoy your uploads
👍🇺🇸
I haven't been there since about 1984. It's still a beautiful lake although a bit more crowded now than it was back then. Thank you for sharing.
great spot to watch the sun rise Ken
Thanks my friend. ...ken
Very Enjoyable and fun video!!!
Don't fall don't fall... I found myself saying. Lovely spot Ken. Beautiful. Hope you're well over there in the good ol U.S of A
morning mi friend . yet again another great video . love the sun an moon on the water . thanks ken . atb Andy
You're welcome Andy. ...ken
Awesome adventure Ken, what a splendid place! Thanks so much for sharing!
You're welcome Jacqueline.
That's a great place to see the Drunken Westlake Wakeboarder in his natural habitat. Usually they're in small groups of 4 to 8, and travel in brightly colored boats owned by the adults. You can often hear them before you see them, as they blast horrible music from the onboard stereos. Lake Austin is another good place to see them.
thanks for taking me along
You're welcome my friend. ...ken
I'll bet Texas loves you for helping bring some of their trails back to their pristine state.
I'll pass on the cliff-walking though, heh heh...I'm a little clumsy and I can just see it. "Oopsie Daisy" and ker-plunk goes Stella in the water lol. Tell lil Teddy hi! Great video, Kenneth.
I'm smiling Stella ...and so is Bear! ....ken
Welldone Ken. You put folk half your age to shame:) The water looked very inviting. Good to see the Wisp. I thought when I saw that that I was there with you in spirit.
Just been busy here. Work work and more work. I need to get away for a few days. Somewhere new. Not sure if it will happen just yet though, but it will happen:)
Loved the night lapse.
As you get older, perhaps when your into your 90's it might be an idea to have someone accompany you on trips like these:)))
Peace man
Sandy
Thank you for your reply. What a curious contrast between wealthy homes on one side of the lake and you happy as a lark with just 10 pds of gear on the other side ! Still a lot of educating to do over and over again about responsibility and respecting the environnement as well as one another. Cheers.
great video as always. and i really enjoy your timelaps part wat a wonderful place .
Excellent and very enjoyable video. Thanks for sharing :)
Thank you. Much appreciated.
Cool video Ken. Beautiful scenery,, and such a unique place to hammock.
Thank you Stanley. ...ken
what a great trip! That is some sketchy walking on those trails wow! What an amazing setup and camp you had though wow! Love it Ken! ~Dawn
I had a blast Dawn. Stay tuned for the next episode.... ken
Beautiful, informative video. Thanks very much
You're welcome. ...ken
Good stuff! I do not have much experience with the light weight route, but it sure looks convenient.
Thanks for sharing - Martin
Thank you Martin for watching and taking time to comment. ..ken
Well, you tricked me Ken. I just knew you were going to jump. Glad you didn't though... My stomach was doing the "elevator" thing when you were walking the cliffs. As usual... thanks for bringing me along on a cool adventure!!!- Chris
Jumping was an option. If I started to slip, I would have put the camera on the rocks and jumped. Many years ago, Bob Outdoors and jumped from these cliffs.
You be safe Ken ! Thumbs up. We are NOT as young as we use to be.....:) ..... ..... .... ENJOY....THE SIMPLE LIFE
Hii Wolf Travels2. I will follow you're advice. Several years ago I participated in cliff jumping. Park personnel permit this activity, but don't encourage it. The young guys told me where the best locations were .... and it was a rush. But now I am now too old for this activity. I have the experience, however, to know how to jump, if I were to take a misstep. Yes, always enjoy the simple life.
You will like my next adventure. It is much safer and more traditional. The video will describe different types of food for ultralight backpacking AND how too make "real" meals on the trail, not just rehydrating "Mountain House" food. Take care, Ken
Hi ken, watching all your videos from Argentina, you look so happy and having fun, I'm passing for a bad time in my life now and when I see your videos I feel better, I wish I could look happy like that someday
rdgcaseros Thank you for watching and commenting. It means a lot to me. I am sorry that you are passing a bad time. When this happens to me, I tell myself, “It too shall pass.” Wishing you the best. Peace, Ken
Ken, that looked like a fun outing Enjoyed watching it!
Hi Karl. It was very relaxing and it reminded me of years ago, when I was young enough to jump the cliffs and when I was a kid who would rather walk along fence tops than sidewalks to visit my neighborhood friends. ...ken
Love the frequent uploads! good series also.
Thanks Scott.
Ken! You forgot the fishing pole.. Looks like a great spot for croppy.. Toss in some brush early in the morning.. and by late that night, the croppy will be jumping on the hook.... LOL.. thanks again for the video...
That was an awesome location. Chillin' lakeside you were.
Thanks!
What a fantastic escape, although I'd have a hard time "believing" in it with all these mansions across the lake. I can't believe all the garbage you picked up, people can be so careless and uncaring about the next visitors and our environnement. Thanks for sharing your little bits of haven on earth, there are indeed some exceptional spots on our planet. keep safe, be well. love yours vids.
This country park is next to the outskirts of Austin, Texas, surrounded by wealthy homes. I'm very glad the park exists, allowing people to camp where they want and how they want. The big downside to this, is that many visitors do not appreciated the beauty of nature and leave trash in the small "heaven on earth." The park rangers are wonderful and were embarrassed that so many folks leave trash. I truly don't understand why people go to a beautiful place and then don't respect it ... leaving their garbage. Take care and be safe, Ken
Now I want to get a hammock...Great filming Ken...
Thanks!
"Cliff jumping permitted by not encouraged" How about "cliff falling"
Haha! Wow I was actually nervous for you! Isn't that weird? Love your show!!!!!!!
Thanks for picking up the garbage!
Excellent video and presentation Ken!
I finally bought a hammock the other day. My first. It came from Cabela's with excellent reviews and durability reports. Looking forward to giving it a try too. It's not an ultralight but I think it's plenty strong and will work really well.
I would have been so tempted to try and catch a fish or two out of that lake. Some of the best camp food I've even had was fresh caught fish cooked in tin foil in some coals. Wonderful food!
I wish people would follow your lead and take their trash out and pick up some more on the way. Never seems to be an end to it no matter the location.
Thanks for taking us along....and ATB! -Steve
Hi Steve. Thanks for watching and commenting. It's not important to necessary be ultralight. Just make as light a you are comfortable with. No reason to give up on comfort. I am exploring ultralight because my doctors don't want me to carry heavy packs.... and I've discovered that many items that I previously carried aren't really necessary. Take care, Ken
Love the video, trying to go ultralight myself. Most of my backpacking is in the mountains. Love the lake location.
Thanks for watching Mama Ren and taking time to comment
...melted your spoon a lil, didn'tcha...? LOL! Gorgeous trip, absolutely gorgeous!
umm the spoon would have melted if it were plastic; but it's titanium.... Thanks for watching and commenting my friend!
Superb,thank you.
You're welcome my friend. ...ken
oh sweet ken, best is series. great vid,loc,commentary! Like it a lot. dude great fun... right.
Thanks for watching and commenting. It means a lot to me. ...ken
Save Kenneth
Fantastic place and you made gorgeous pictures! One of Bushcrfat's best channels!
Hugs from the South of Brazil
Lugar fantástico e você fez belíssimas imagens! Um dos melhores canais de Bushcrfat!
Abraços do Sul do Brasil
New sub here. I love the photography and the minimalist backpacking tips.
Hi Mar. Thanks for subbing and taking time to comment.. Much appreciated ....ken
oh man , i wish i was there ken.. you always have so much fun.
the biofuel even throughs a little color to see the flames, thats handy.
i see you have combined the hammock suspension to make a safe summer hammock, i hope the new strapps helps with cutting wait down in your pack.
don't stop having fun ken, ill see you in the fall for some more adventures.
peace my friend.
..bill
Hi Bill. Thank you for this fantastic gift. The straps work and clips work great when tested in the front yard. The total weight of the straps and clips is only slightly less than the Eno Atlas straps. However, they are much longer, more versatile, easier to use AND they can replace whoopee slings... so they do save significant weight. Stay tuned; I will use them when I go camping next week ...ken
Its so EPIC! I cant watch it! ;D
Thanks!
Hello Ken, nice filming and editing òn a very enjoyable video. Great spot you have there. Thanks for sharing. Atb Darren
You're welcome Darren. ...ken
Hey kenneth, thank you for show us that nice video.
Its a nice place there and you allways have much fun.I like your videos.
My favorite place in germany are the mountains in bavaria.Last week i was there and forgotten to make a video because it was to beautefull there :)
Hope you hat a nice time there
Oh, I would love to camp in Germany! ...ken
great video, my friend! ATB - Michael
Thanks Michael
Really enjoyed this one Ken. It reminds me of the cliffs around some lakes here in Tennessee. Your time lapsed segment was very cool. That Biofuel looks interesting I'll have to give it a try, I've been using Swiss Army Sterno type fuel, works great. Your hammock hangs really give great views all day and your adoring fans in the boat thought so too...LOL. Stay safe brother. atb Opal
Thanks Opal. The Biofuel works well and I am doing more tests, so stay tuned. I was so excited to have folks on the cheer when they noticed my hammock. Not many folks hang hammocks on the cliffs. Take care, Ken
Bonjour, thanks à lot to share your aventures and also to translate températures and others mesures on understandables numbers for me !! ;0) thanks you very much! Take care
Hi Ken! Jasmin here from Windsor Lakes! Recognized you right away! My boyfriend and I are trying to go camping next month and we stumbled upon your videos. Small (online) world! We've been watching your videos a few hours now...very entertaining and we're even more excited to go camping now!! :)
Hi Jasmin. Glad you're watching my videos! Yes it is a small world ... ken
Great video......I just got that same pack last week. I have not taken it out yet......I also ordered another one that I want to try first.
Awesome. The pack works good, for an inexpensive pack. I miss the hip belt however. Also there is no internal frame, so it is important to put items in the pack in a way that is not "lumpy.." But I fixed this problem in my newest video (which will be released tomorrow).
awesome video keep up the graet work
Thanks my friend.....ken
love it.
Thanks Andreas ....ken
I use the same intro music mate its great .. and great footage
Cool!
i always love your video. glad to see if you can visit kalimantan, indonesia
I dig your pillow.
Thanks Mark
Awesome comfort.
Brilliant
Thank Kat!~
Yes!
Looks like ya had great camp Ken.The bio-fuel is a bit better than sterno in the heat dept. and less cost per burn,been using it about 3 months.Thanks for the share.ZZ.
Glad to hear that you also have been using it, So far I'm impressed with bio-fuel. ...ken
Hi Ken, I am catching up on your videos and watching them in their own order. I am somewhat new to discovering your channel and have especially enjoyed the miniseries on ultralight as I am in the process of creating an ultralight setup as well, but I do have so much to learn. Thanks again and was wondering if you can pass along some hints on your snap technique to pack up. It's much in need here!
You're welcome my friend ... ken
Now I loved this spot you have. A nice lake, a place to hang, a beautiful view. Wonderful. I am a rock kind of girl. This is great. Where do you get that biofuel stuff? Thanks for sharing Ken. It was wonderful.
Hi Monica. I love rocks and enjoy looking at them in detail, imagining how they were formed. BIO FUEL may be purchased at Walmart in the camping section. Take care, Ken
great video. just a note, you don't want to hold a wet bottle of unfiltered water upside down like you did, the unfiltered water can run down the bottle/filter and get into your mouth. kudos for packing more out then you packed in, unfortunate everyone does not follow leave no trace rules.
Good point. Although I wiped the bottle and nothing dripped, it is not a good practice to hold the bottle the way I did. Thanks for commenting. ...ken
Wow Ken how do you keep yourself cool when hiking
The heat really blasts on ya after a while
See my video in this series on how to stay cool in the summer heat. As a kid, I grew up in the Mojave Desert without air-conditioning...
Oh and the, "signature" siloehet shot has been best! thanks ken ttdim..out.
Oh Yes! Got to love sunrises and sunsets. ...ken
what excellent video's friend where would I find this place please looks really peaceful. peace
Just after 12:11 in the time lapse, do you think that was the ISS going over?
I've seen it a few times and gotten long exposure photos of it passing overhead, you get a bright streak across the night sky in the photo.
It's hard to believe that there are people "Space backpacking" so to speak, also using a lightweight packing technique.
:)
Ken, I don't know if you get these messages to your old videos, but I wanted to ask a question...Why do you wear socks with the hiking sandals? I just started hiking and want to use hiking sandals. My first time out I wore my Chacos and left my feet covered in blisters. Would socks help with that?
Ken, what do you do for breakfast and lunch? I sometimes see you eat a granola bar but mostly just see your dehydrated food dinners.
You've read my mind. My next video in this series will deal will deal food. And, depending on your backpacking goals, it doesn't always have to be dehydrated food. Stay tuned...
try to catch one of those blue centipedes. I hear they make cute pets
Awesome night time lapse!! I would like to know what settings you used on the gopro?
Thanks. I've listed the settings in the narrative to the attached video (Night Sky in Australia). th-cam.com/video/wA0p0gTvfcw/w-d-xo.html If the moon is light I reduce the ISO number and shorten the exposure to 20 seconds. You'll need to play around with the settings depending on local sky conditions and air pollution/ clouds. Enjoy...
Another excellent video. Ken, how do you know when the water filter has come to the end of its usefulness? I've never used one of those water filters.
The water filter I used is designed to safely filter thousands of gallons. It is important to backlash the filter after several uses, so that the debris buildup is flushed out of the filter. Each brand is different; read the specifications and follow the directions carefully.
+KennethKramm Thanks!
Loved this whole series especially since after double hip replacement, the lighter the better! I am just curious why you changed from an Osprey 20 in the first one, to the Ozark Trail Atka 28 in the fourth one, just for the extra room, or is it lighter as well? I thought it looked like you had about the same amount of gear? Thanks.
Extra room for three days. The extra room allowed me to carry all my regular clothing in the pack, when hiking in my swimming gear. Both packs weight about the same. Also the 28Liter pack is only $19 at Walmart. I wanted to see if it will hold up. The Osprey 20 is a better pack, and feels better on my back, but Osprey has discontinued this model as of last week.. In the next episode you will see how I modified the Ozark pack with give it an internal frame... that doubles as a cutting board for cooking. On Sunday I leve for a 3 day camping adventure which will focus on making meals on the trail.... You can go ultralight and and eat good food.... If you want to not walk as far, since making /baking meals take time.
Thanks Ken. I am looking for a ultralight back. Maybe I can find something similar to that Osprey. Looking forward to the cooking videos..:)
Thanks for the great videos! I had a question about your stove setup. I found the Bio Fuel canister online, but it doesn't not seem to come with the wind screen or wire grate. Can you tell us a little more about your set up? Thanks!
I made the wind screen from a piece of aluminum flashing I bought at Lowes Hardware. I cut it to size with tin snips and drilled ventilation holes. I cut the wire grate from a small piece of 1/2 inch "hardware cloth" That I also bought at Lowes. Very easy. If folks are interested, I'd would be glad to make a video on how to make these items.
Thanks so much for your reply! I would love a video, especially if it starts at Lowes so I can see what to get!
Wow. I never would have tried setting up the hammock in that radical area. I've done some steep hillsides before but nothing like that. Major props. What sort of areas are you going to lately? I mean Is a lot of this "stealth" camping or is it allowed? Any tips for types of locations would be appreciated. Great work Ken.
Good question Nate. Camping anywhere in the park is permitted, so this wasn't strictly 'stealth." ...ken
Sorry Ken but please clarify the jurisdictions of "the park" here. State, National, County? Moving south soon could use some tips. NFS websites are horribly inconsistent in the presentation of useful information for the campers of the wild. Any tips would be welcome for wild camping on public lands.
OMG! @2:42 I got the creeps, you're all by yourself and you're walking on cliffs, geez, nobody there to help u in case of an accident. Not the kind of hiking, or camping that I like:).Anyway your video a is entertaining, quite interesting, beautiful to watch, Ken. Please, be careful
Thanks for your concerns. That's why a disclaimer was put at the beginning of the video and in the narrative.
I've been climbing rocks like this as long as I can remember. When I was 4 yo I climbed on the top of sign boards and ran along fence tops to go from my house to visit neighbor kids. A few years ago I did cliff jumping on these cliffs (which is permitted). The lake is more than 45 feet deep. I'm now too old for cliff jumping, but if something went wrong, I always have a backup plan and know how I would jump into the lake.
On a funny note, when I was packing up after the second night, my rolled-up hammock slide out of my pack and rolled into the lake. You've never seen anyone scramble down the cliff as fast as I did. I didn't want the hammock to end up at the bottom of the lake. Too bad the camera wasn't rolling. Take care my friend and be safe. ...ken
I solo hike all the time. if i waited for someone to go with me i would never get out. Thats the chance you take..
Ken, thanks for your kind response. I was hiking Acadia last year, and I found that I get hysterical climbing a cliff, I panicked trying to do that and had to be helped. I am so scared. I also had a terrible fall on flat terrain and I felt as if I was dying when I was helped to get up. When I saw you doing that on a cliff I remember my being on a rock and beneath was a cliff and the ocean, oh boy, I never ever will do that again. I see you doing that and I cannot believe it/ I was not born to climbing any cliff, I am terrified of heights. Uh, but I'm good at hiking where I cannot see cliffs, lol :) You rock, Ken, I am jealous of you
Is this a particular State Park or Campground?
The location and name are described in the last paragraph of the narrative below the video. The GPS coordinated were submitted to TH-cam and can be located with their mapping function. (Or you can do a google search and locate the park). Pace Bend Park is a Travis County Park that permits camping anywhere on the peninsula where the park is located. There are regular campgrounds, primitive camping areas and plenty of space for dispersed camping, as demonstrated in the video. Camp spots are not reserved, but are available first come, first serve. To my knowledge the have never been "full."
Why did you change off your Osprey pack Ken??
The ultralight pack that I'm now using is larger. It is large enough to do multi-day camping; the Osprey was not. This is the only ultralight pack that I've found that I really, really like. And besides that, it is very inexpensive ($18 at Walmart), I've used the pack for the past 6 months, nearly every week ... and it is still hold up. I can load this pack with bulky items, but the total weight should still be no great than 10 - 12 pounds. If I were to carry more weight, I would need a different style pack.
Mm. Karst goodness.
Does your pack use a hip belt, Ken?
Hi Clint. Unfortunately the pack doesn't have a hip belt. It's a cheap pack from Walmart. I'm not sure how much I like it ..and don't know how well it will hold up and am always fine tuning what I carry. I've made small modification to the pack in the next episode of this series . It makes the kit more useful and the pack more comfortable .... Video will be released tomorrow. ...ken
Now That's What I Call extreme Hammock Camping Ken. I don't know how you're going to top this.mmmm actually I do know. You , Billy Joe and I should go to Marble Canyon in Mark Twain National Forest and hammock Camp Off The Cliffs.. cool I see a bear made the trip to... hope you didn't put them in a ziplock bag :-) if you did I hope they were air holes in it. now for the question. What do you think of the bio Sterno fuel. Is it as good as a regular Sterno fuel?
and thank you very much for the shout out ..I really appreciate it. before I forget that time lapse you did was freaking awesome. And your choice of music was spot-on. Awesome video is always ken ..I'll talk to you later
Thank you Bob for sharing your knowledge, experience and ideas. I can't wait for our next camping trip, where we can climb the cliffs and hang out, learning from from wildness. Because I used an 8 liter larger Ozark Trail backpack from Walmart (which weighed the same and cost $40 less than the Osprey pack) there was enough space that bear did not need to hold his breath. He was not put in a ziplock bag. Sometimes, less expensive gear is better. The BIO full is better than Sterno in many respects: it burns longer and hotter (8 hours for a can), it is refillable, and it can be operated a hi and low burning......so temperature can be controlled. Stay tuned for the next adventure. "Ultralight Cooking with Ken." Hey, I got the idea from "Cooking with Bob." Take care my friend....
I've been taking notes on this ultralight series, been trying to get my pack weight down (not that I go hiking much). I guess since you don't really need sleeping bag and pad this time of year it's easier to get lighter. I still don't see how you get your pack below 10 pounds.
The warm weather makes it easier to get pack weight down. In the cooler temperatures of our "winter" I usually sleep in my Sol Escape Bivy.... breathable. If it gets colder I add a sleeping bag liner. AND in the very rare situation where the temps are really cold I use a small sleeping bags.
Ken,why would you place your bear bag so close to your hammock?
Excellent question. For convenience and photography. The moon was a full and I wanted to see any animals that came by. There are no bears here; only raccoons, fox, squirrels, etc. So it is not dangerous to have the food nearby. The food was high enough so they would not be able to get it. The biggest problem was with Fire Ants. I received many ant bites. They were everywhere. It is very important that the food bag be in a location where they ants would not find it.
In most situations (especially when I don't know they area), it is best to put a bear bag at a much greater distance from the sleeping location and much higher.
Thanks Ken.
Ken, i know you filtered the water , but what about boiling it for parasites or germs?If those are the right things that cant be filtered.
General rule of thumb --> Boiling (pasteurizing)will kill living organisms that cause illness. Boiling does not remove harmful chemical contaminants.
Depending on the type mechanical filter used, both organisms and some chemicals are removed. In the US and many other developed countries filtration that removes bacteria and parasites is sufficient. Water borne viral illness is much more likely in third world (undeveloped) counties where human waste disposal is an issue.
As to chemicals, the need to filter to remove chemicals is dependent on the water source, itself. A river in a highly developed metro area is likely to be laden will all sorts of chemicals - pesticides, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, petroleum products, paint solvents, and more. Water sources in very dry regions may have natural chemical accumulation.
To combat chemicals, carbon (charcoal) filters and distillation techniques are the most common, from what I understand. Carbon filters can be purchased and/or DIY adaptations of many commercial filters that do not have a carbon element.
I encourage you to spend some time in study of this topic. For example, google SODIS for yet another effective method to make water safe to drink. Study your area for the best natural sources of water in the event of a disaster. Which ones are most/least likely to cause health issues.
For most reasonable water sources in USA, the filter is fine. You can also carry chemical treatment for really questionable water. I hardly ever use chemical treatment, last time was very still water in a cow pasture. Boiling is also good, but takes a lot of time and a lot of fuel (unless you have a camp fire already going).
hi what is better camping with tent or hammock?
Not much. I love it. Sometimes, if the weather is right, I like to camp directly on the ground with a sheet.... Thanks for watching and commenting.
Ken, I hope you tell us more about BioFuel. I am intrigued. I visited the Greenscapes website but they really don't have that much to say. Were you able to buy it in a store or did you order it from them online?
Walmart carries it. You can order it via their web store if necessary for $3.52 per can.
I purchased my can at Walmart. Refill liquid is inexpensive. The fuel burns hot and I've used one can to cook food in a small backpacking oven; cake, bread and even small game hens. Stay tuned, I'll demonstrate...
Just picked up a can and a refill at Walmart. The 7 oz. can was $4.88 and the 15 oz. refill was $7.87. So you can save a bit it seems by ordering it on-line with free shipping to your nearest Wally World.
Thanks!
what shoes do you use ?
The shoes I wear depend on the situation These were New Balance. Check out my video from a couple of years ago on the topic of shoe and boot selection... ATB, Ken
Obviously you don't sleep walk.
why go in the water... with a water bottle.. to fill up a water pouch? lol wtf man.. just fill the pouch.
I looked at your video. Video I liked. Great! Impressive! I invite you to visit my channel. Thank you!
2:30+ love the visual. about amazing video Ken. I hope that we have the chance to camp sometime and enjoy the outdoors.
Yes my friend, enjoy the wonderful relaxation and beauty of camping....ken