Using the MummyPod on my upcoming winter White Mountains trip to try and sleep one night on the ground using a bivy sack in sleeping bag config, and one night in a hammock in a pea-pod setup.
Chameleon Sidecar Accessory for the Dutchware Gear Chameleon Hammock System
Carol Update
Sleeping Pads for Winter Camping? (I double up two summer ones)
Big Agnes Q-Core SL Sleeping Pad (inflatable) I used it on the ground at -25F by itself. …not a great idea. I had a pretty cold butt, but I lived 🙂
How to get started with your first overnight backpacking / camping trip.
“Mickey Mouse Boots” – military surplus boots for extreme cold weather and snow.
Bushcraft is cool, but like many niche hobbies, it can cultivate some arrogant attitudes. Emphasis on some, but it’s out there. And no, I’m not even necessarily talking about Joshua’s comment. His was relatively mild but a good segue for discussion.
Fires starting / campfires on camping trips.
Survival skills (great to have) vs just having fun in the woods (great to have as well).
Hammock Gear Burrow 0° Top Quilt Wide, 26.4 oz (I went with the wide version for better coverage on tent trips where I may sleep on the ground. If you only plan to use yours in a hammock, you can probably do a standard width model)
Climbing Grade Carabiners Rated 1,000lb+, 1.5 oz for the pair (In the video I’m using Dutchware biners that came with my Chameleon Hammock, but I also use Black Diamond Neutrino carabiners
Total Hammock System Weight: 1.75 lbs (793 grams) Total Insulation System Weight: 3.25 lbs (1.47 kilos) Shelter System Weight (tarp plus all lines & adjustment hardware): 8.75 oz
Deep Winter Hammock Camping System Grand Total Weight: 5.55 lbs (2.52 kilos)
Join Sara and I for 3 days of Hiking & Hammock Camping on a Backpacking Trip in the Adirondack’s Dix Mountain Wilderness.
For this backpacking adventure, I’ll be breaking the hiking trip into two parts. Hiking the Dix Range Part 2 is comprised of mostly hiking and summits, as we ascend from camp up onto the Dix Range to hit the Beck-Horn (a subsidiary peak of Dix Mountain) and the summit of Dix Mountain itself.
The previous Dix Range Part 1 covered our hike in to camp, setting up our base camp with our two person hammock camping system, and some campfire chat while we made a campfire, camp chores, and cook some backpacking food.
Set out from camp and continue north along the nearby Elk Lake to Dix Mountain Trail.
Get some views of Dix Pond along the way.
At the junction, head right (east) to ascend the Dix via Beckhorn Trail.
Tag Beckhorn (a subsidiary peak of Dix Mountain) for some amazing 360 views of New Yorks Adirondack Mountains.
Continue a short bit and tag the official summit of Dix Mountain for another round of views.
Begin a steep and rocky descent via the Hunters Pass Trail.
Rejoin the Elk Lake to Dix Mountain Trail at the junction from earlier
Return to base camp along the Elk Lake to Dix Mountain Trail.
Dix Range Adirondacks Day 2 Elevation Profile – Sintax77
Day 2 Total Mileage: 7 miles Day 2 Gross Elevation Gain: 2,913 feet Day 2 Gross Elevation Loss: 2,913 feet
Trails Used Day 3 (hike out)
Break camp along the Elk Lake Trail, after the Lillian Brook LT and just before the large bridge crossing Lillian Brook. As of 9/14/17, this site had a yellow “Camp Here” disc, designating it a fully legal spot, despite it’s proximity to a small stream nearby. The stream is probably a convenient water source when flowing good, but we opted to get our water a 100 meters or so down the trail by the Lilian Brook bridge.
Head south on the Elk Lake to Dix Mountain Trail
Pass the Slide Brook Lean-to . The Slide Brook LT and camping area makes for a popular base camp for hikers hitting the Dix Range. We chose to push on a bit (under 2 miles) to the lesser used Lillian Brook lean-to area, which as some nice, legal campsites that are a bit more secluded.
Return to the Elk Lake Trailhead Parking Lot. This is a decent sized lot along a gravel road on the way to the Elk Lake Lodge. If the lot is full, you may park for free at the Elk Lake Lodge, a bit further up the road.
Day 3 Total Mileage: 3.6 miles Day 3 Gross Elevation Gain: 354 feet Day 3 Gross Elevation Loss: 559 feet
Full Trip 3 Day Grand Total Mileage: 14.6 miles Full Trip 3 Day Grand Total Elevation Gain: 3,900 feet
Notable Camping / Backpacking Gear Seen on this Video
In this episode of Sintax77’s Mail Call, I check out the new Sawyer Select foam water filter, and a hammock camping sleep system by Outdoor Vitals called the StormLoft Mummy Pod, along with their netless hammock system with whoopie slings.
I also open some viewer mail and discuss Permethrin vs Picaridin vs Deet for tick and mosquito treatment of backpacking and camping gear.
Links and Info for the Sawyer Select Water Filtration System
The three Select systems reduce chemicals down to 0.5 parts per billion (up to 40 times lower than the EPA’s maximum recommended level) and reduce pesticides down to 0.01 parts per billion (400 times lower than the EPA’s maximum).
The Select S2 and Select S3 models go even further, purifying contaminated water from suspect sources.
Select S2 filters out 99.99% of viruses.
Select S3 filters out 99.99% of viruses and reduces heavy metals such as copper, arsenic, and mercury down to 0.5 parts per billion (up to 260 times lower than the EPA’s maximum).
Weight: 9.25 oz total for bottle with foam filter and hollow fiber membrane filter attachment.
Links and Manufacturer’s specs for the Outdoor Vitals 15° StormLOFT Down Mummy Pod
Easily switches from use as a mummy sleeping bag to a pod system to fully insulate a hammock!
Patented footbox allows hammock to run straight out of the bottom of the bag and seal, or zip it up for use on the ground and insulating baffles keep your feet warm!
Redesigned shoulder baffles seal cold air out and add additional comfort!
StormLOFT™ 800 fill power hydrophobic down provides premium performance in both loft, warmth and dealing with adverse weather conditions!
NEW YKK Anti Snag Zipper makes it virtually impossible to damage your sleeping bag while zipping it up. It also provides easier zipper flow making it a breeze to get in and out!
Vertical baffles keep the down locked into place both on the hammock and on the ground.
Included suspension system keeps the bag from sagging or moving when using it on the hammock
Extra shoulder room (grid) keep the bag extremely comfortable and roomy.
Outdoor Vitals Lifetime Warranty: Here at Outdoor Vitals we believe in standing behind the craftsmanship and quality of our products. Anything that was our fault, we fix so you can feel confident that you’re getting exactly what you paid for!
Links and Manufacturer’s specs for the Outdoor Vitals Ultralight Solo Hammock
Join Sara and I for 3 days of Hiking & Hammock Camping on a Backpacking Trip in the Adirondack’s Dix Mountain Wilderness.
For this backpacking adventure, I’ll be breaking the hiking trip into two parts. Part 1 covers our hike in to camp, setting up our base camp with our two person hammock camping system, and some campfire chat while we make a campfire, do camp chores, and cook some backpacking food.
Hiking the Dix Range Part 2 will be comprised of mostly hiking and summits, as we ascend from camp up onto the Dix Range to hit the Beckhorn (a subsidiary peak of Dix Mountain) and the summit of Dix Mountain itself.
Elk Lake Trailhead Parking Lot, 675 Elk Lake Rd, North Hudson, NY 12855
44°01’15.0″N 73°49’40.9″W
Topics discussed and things that happen in this episode
Base camping with a ton of camping gear vs ultralight backpacking.
Finding & legal camping spots in the Adirondacks.
Pros and cons of using a bear canister. These are not legally required in the Dix Mountain Wilderness, but we had one anyway, for reasons discussed in the video.
Hammock camping with our dog, Denali.
Outfitting our Dutchware Chameleon Hammocks with the Double Dutch Bugnet system.
Hammock under quilt attachment using of Chameleon hammock’s underquilt hooks.
A look at the MalloMe Camping Cookware Set for backpacking food preparation.
Building a campfire and cooking some of of favorite backpacking appetizers and dinners.
Sara reviews a flashlight…
Trails Used Day 1
Parked at Elk Lake Trailhead Parking Lot. This is a decent sized lot along a gravel road on the way to the Elk Lake Lodge. If the lot is full, you may park for free at the Elk Lake Lodge, a bit further up the road.
Elk Lake to Dix Mountain Trail
Pass the Slide Brook Lean-to . The Slide Brook LT and camping area makes for a popular base camp for hikers hitting the Dix Range. We chose to push on a bit (under 2 miles) to the lesser used Lillian Brook lean-to area, which as some nice, legal campsites that are a bit more secluded.
Pass the sign for Lillian Brook LT and continue a bit further.
Setup camp along the Elk Lake Trail, after the Lillian Brook LT and just before the large bridge crossing Lillian Brook. As of 9/14/17, this site had a yellow “Camp Here” disc, designating it a fully legal spot, despite it’s proximity to a small stream nearby. The stream is probably a convenient water source when flowing good, but we opted to get our water a 100 meters or so down the trail by the Lilian Brook bridge.
Dix Range Adirondacks Day 1 Elevation Profile – Sintax77
Day 1 Total Mileage: 4 miles Day 1 Gross Elevation Gain: 633 feet Day 1 Gross Elevation Loss: 339 feet
Notable Camping / Backpacking Gear Seen on this Video
In this episode of Sintax77’s Mail Call, I open a package containing an item that I can’t quite figure out at first…
At first glance, I could at least devise that it was some sort of hammock camping gear accessory. Specifically what it was though, was confusing the heck out of me to be honest.
All that written on the envelope was a face book page, which cleared things up pretty quickly. https://www.facebook.com/myhangtimehook/
Apparently it’s an early production run prototype for an accessory that allows you to easily hang your cellphone from your hammock ridgeline. It also appears to be useful for mounting other items such as a light or USB charger as well, by using the various attachment points or the main clamp.
carabiners
Sleeping Pad
Sleeping Pad
Bear Canister
in 
