Camping experiments: a n00b learns not to freeze

[st2sam]

Nice up-date, at the rate your going you won't wanna sleep indoors by summers end...
You did kinda cheat a little (car) but maybe in the future you can get a motorcycle trailer.. (like birdrunners?)  

[vulcanbill]

Those 'Monstrosities" that you point rock! They are jetboil utentils that retract back into the handle for storage. And if you have a non-stick surface (which the jetboil doesn't) then they're safe to use there, too!

Be that as it may, once you've lived with an entire kitchen the size of a large cup, the stuff that weighs a lot (being totally relative when backpacking) seems superfluous.  That Jetboil thing seems neat but when I have to carry all my stuff into and back out of the Grand Canyon on my back, I'm going for light and easy to use.  We use an MSR Pocket Rocket http://www.rei.com/product/660163?cm_mmc=ps_google-_-Category%20-%20Camp%2fHike-_-Camping%2fHiking_Stoves_Brand_MSR-_-MSR%20Pocket%20Rocket&gclid=COa58dLiv5ICFQ5zHgod6whgXg and a Snowpeak titanium cookset http://www.rei.com/product/668926?vcat=REI_SEARCH and the whole kitchen fits inside the big cup.  

Jetboil = made in USA
MSR = imported  

[bluepoof]

You did kinda cheat a little (car)

Hey, all of my stuff came on the bike!  I borrowed a Thermarest because I'd forgotten mine at home and Jean was going back to her place anyway.  

[Jeremiah]

Closing the tent up tight like you did causes the condensation you experienced.
Try playing around with staking part of the fly or leaving a "window" or door
partially open to get a little air movement.  Every tent has a "setting" that
will keep a good deal of heat in and let the moisture out - it just takes some
playing around to find it.

Being a big guy I can't stand condensation cause I will brush up against it.

Most important - Enjoy!!

[stefrrr]

Yay warm camping!  

That Jetboil looks cool!

[TriplePete]

I've camped while riding, I love it. The worst was in Alturas, CA. It was warm when I went to sleep, but I awoke at 3am with my bag covered in ice. Condensation from my breath frosted in the tent and I was freaking cold.  Luckily I was at an RV park so I crawled into the laundry building and slept by a small heater.

The next day I made it to a WalMart in Bend, OR and bought a $7 heater.  That night I set up tent at another RV site with a hook ups. Plugged the heater in and slept very comfortably in a tee shirt.


Alturas, CA.




On the Columbia in WA.

[bluepoof]

Nice!    Honestly, I've never been warm in Alturas.  I think that city just makes cold.  

[bluepoof]

Here are a couple of pics from last weekend's camping.    I was warm and happy.

[goodhawk]

Good info / pics etc.  just to confirm 3 ideas previously posted
the thermarest under bag ( top of cot) was probably a big key to additional warmth.  Note - the therm. type are relativly bulky , rolled for transport ( on a bike.  or backpack) at least the larger /comfy size.   BIG AGNES has 2 types, roll to about 6 x 10" for packing - just simple air tubes , or tubes insulated with fiber. the ' lightly insulated' type rolls to close to same size. Ya have to huff and puff a little  to use , but pack way smaller than full size therm. or similar.  OR - I used for 3 years a 3 /4 size thermarest , about 2 " thick x 54 " long.

As an emergency , I'd have a small Chem. heat pack in pack.  thou if it looks to be noticably colder than I want , I'm headin for hotel.

Third , the idea of a tent ' sweet spot' where the venting and adjusting of the tents rainfly is good. this will vary depending on the nights weather, experience /study key.