Setting up my Dutchware Xenon Two Person Tarp for Two Hammocks under One Tarp or Bad Weather Camping Conditions, such as wind snow and rain while hammock camping.
This is a 12 foot long, 11.5 foot wide tarp with an end pole mod to better accommodate a two hammock spreader bar setup and two doors at one end for wind protection, privacy at camp, etc.
I’m also using an optional internal pole mode to create even more space inside. I’m using a single one in the middle, but it’s also possible to use two of them for even more space. If you want to take it even further, you can have it made with optional side pull-outs as well. I don’t really find this necessary with the internal pole mods that I’m using. I suppose you could go that route if you’re looking for a lighter alternative to the internal pole mod.
The double hammock spreader bar system I’m using is a Dutchware Beetle Buckle suspension with 32″ spreader bar pole, but I don’t see why you couldn’t use this tarp with any other DIY spreader bar solution you may already be using.
Join me for 3 days of hiking & hammock camping on a backpacking trip in Tennessee’s Big South Fork Nat’l Rec Area.
For this backpacking adventure, I’ll be breaking the hiking trip into two parts. BSF Part 1 is mostly in the woods and at camp and is more of a hanging in the woods, conversational type video. Part 2 covers days 2 and 3 where I traverse into the higher regions of Big South Fork, hitting the ridges for views of the Cumberland Plateau’s sandstone bluffs and Big South Fork River.
For more details on the first day of this trip, check out my Big South Fork Pt 1 blog post and video.
Big South Fork John Muir John Litton Backpacking Loop Route Overview – Sintax77
Trailhead and Parking Location
Bandy Creek Visitor Center, 151 Stable Rd, Oneida, TN 37841
N36° 29.275′ W84° 41.837′
Topics discussed and things that happen in this episode
Place Holder
Trails Used Day 2
Break camp along the Laurel Fork Creek Trail
Continue north on the Laurel Creek Fork Trail
Make a left (east) onto the John Muir Trail (the next 2 miles will cover the bulk of the elevation gain for the day)
Make a right (west) onto the Fall Branch Trail
Setup camp along the Laurel Fork Creek Trail (less than a 100 meters after crossing the creek / bridge. There is a campsite immediately next to the creek as well)
Day 2 Total Mileage: 15.2 miles Day 2 Gross Elevation Gain: 1,616 feet Day 2 Gross Elevation Loss: 1,266 feet
Big South Fork Day 2 Elevation Profile – Sintax77
Trails Used Day 3
Break camp along Fall Branch Trail
Continue south on the Fall Branch Trail
Make a Right (north) onto the John Litton Farm Hike Loop Trail (heading south will ultimately bring you back to the parking lot as well).
Continue south onto the road (gravel, then paved) until you arrive back at the Bandy Creek Visitor Center Parking Lot.
Day 3 Total Mileage: 6.1 miles Day 3 Gross Elevation Gain: 600 feet Day 3 Gross Elevation Loss: 313 feet
Big South Fork Day 3 Elevation Profile – Sintax77
Trip Grand Totals
Total Mileage for Trip: 28.4 miles Total Elevation Gain for Trip: 3,076 feet
Join me for 3 days of hiking & hammock camping on a backpacking trip in Tennessee’s Big South Fork Nat’l Rec Area.
For this backpacking adventure, I’ll be breaking the hiking trip into two parts. Part 1 is mostly in the woods and at camp and is more of a hanging in the woods, conversational type video. In BSF Part 2 we will traverse into the higher regions of Big South Fork, hitting the ridges for views of the Cumberland Plateau’s sandstone bluffs and Big South Fork River.
Bandy Creek Visitor Center, 151 Stable Rd, Oneida, TN 37841
N36° 29.275′ W84° 41.837′
Topics discussed and things that happen in this episode
Feeling like a lost idiot on the trail.
Camp setup priorities when arriving at camp.
Setup / breaking camp in the rain.
Continuous Ridgeline usage and setup for quick and easy tarp deployment.
Low carb backpacking food options for carb conscious or ketogenic diets.
Starting a campfire in the rain.
Campfire cooking some meat on a stick.
Trails Used Day 1
Parked at the Bandy Creek Visitor Center
Started on the Oscar Blevins Farm Loop Trail (located in the corner of the parking lot on the opposite side of the road from the visitor’s center)
At the Intersection, turn right onto the Collier Ridge Bike Loop. This is where I mistakenly continued straight, which would have taken in a circle. Luckily, I realized earlier enough to turn around and head back to the intersection.
Turn left (north) on the gravel road. From looking at the map, I could have avoided the short road hike by hopping on the access Jack Ridge trail, which appears to be found either right near where I popped out on the road, or a little ways down that road to the right. Continuing on the road seems to have saved me a decent amount of hiking though, which made up for my wrong turn earlier,
Turn right (east) onto the next, smaller gravel road.
Arrived at the sign for Jack Ridge Loop Trail and headed left onto
Black House Branch Trail
Right on Laurel Fork Creek Trail
Setup camp by the waterfall pool along the Laurel Fork Creek Trail.
Big South Fork Day 1 Elevation Profile – Sintax77
Day 1 Total Mileage: 7.25 miles Day 1 Gross Elevation Gain: 860 feet Day 1 Gross Elevation Loss: 1,256 feet
