A little jaunt in the woods, Mannings Pit, Barnstaple

[GadgetUK437]

For a short period today a yellow orb, that I did not recognise, hung in the sky and suddenly I felt the need to go boil some water in the woods.

The council's solution to an imperilled ancient bridge, put up a sign

and build a cheap wooden one instead


Hammock, HG Phoenix 20 and sleeping bag emerge from loofah snakeskins and a Granite Gear Virga 2 doing a bit of tree hugging, guest appearance by Thermos Ultimate S/S Travel Beaker (thanks to sis-in-law, Merry Christmas)


Doors ajar on TW Sargasso, eagle eyes will spot a tree strap trying a timber hitch for size

[GadgetUK437]

Hammock deployed and Carlsberg caldera cone on the boil.


Boiling water in the woods is all very well, but eating a Mug Shot (really spoiling yourself there Paul) usually requires a spoon (or approximation thereof)... and no bushcrafty spoon-whittling types in sight!
Fear not, ripping the corner off, pouring the hot stuff straight into the packet, folding over the opening, shaky-shaky and into the cosy 'til it's cool enough to squirt into the awaiting gob.
(improv space food!)

[Stevie]

Great photos Gadget, looks a lovely spot mate.

[Diamond Dave]

Great pictures, Gadget, wish I'd been with you......

[Paulm]

Good to see people getting out and about at this time of year

[bopdude]

Yep, great pics, nice to get out indeed, 7 of us going out at the weekend, and it's white here at the minute

[Bowlin]

Very, very nice. That looks like a lovely spot you have found there.

Steve

[Sunndog]

Nice one paul.
How do you find that granite gear rucksack?......i looked long and hard at one of them a while ago, very nearly went for it till i decided to save some cash and stick with the trusty old camelbak peak bagger for a while yet
Any idea if something like an msr titan kettle or two 1ltr mineral water bottles will fit in one of side pockets?

[Meadows]

Looked like a good trip out. I like the loofah skins.

[GadgetUK437]

NHow do you find that granite gear rucksack?......Any idea if something like an msr titan kettle or two 1ltr mineral water bottles will fit in one of side pockets?

I reckon, I fit my cooksystem in one side, a Trangie 1lt pot inside its' Reflectix cosy (a la Shug), plus my Sawyer filter and bag. The other side has various water bottles and stuff. My tarp and hammock suspension fits the long thin front pocket nicely. Using a short length of sleeping mat to shape the back (used as a foot pad in my top quilt) at the mo, but I'm planning to make a simple internal frame (in the same vein as the Ohm 2). Not sure if it might be a bit short for me, it's the medium (18-21"), but that might be just the fact that it is frameless and slumping a bit.
I would have gone for the Ohm 2, but this one came up second hand for a good price. And at 524g it's dammed light, I reckon my internal frame will add less than 100g to that; the carbon fibre tubes and glassfibre rod is less than 40g, I don't think the velcro and grosgrain will add too much more.

[GadgetUK437]

Looked like a good trip out. I like the loofah skins.

Quite delicate, but so cheap as to be disposable (and light enough to carry spares).
Only had a few hours, but it was enough to lay back whilst my water boiled and finesse my underquilt suspension (and test my eyelids for holes).

[Sunndog]

Cheers mate, they seem like proper sized side pockets then......might just get meself one when i'm feeling flush

I'v used tent poles to make pack frames a couple of times in the past. It worked pretty well, so should deffo be a go'er on your pack
Another thing i do is use one of those flexible plastic chopping boards (bout 2mm thick and cheap as chips) as a back panel on frameless packs.....if you can slide it behind any poles you put in it adds a good bit of rigidity and protects your back nicely, plus they are really handy around camp

[GadgetUK437]

CI'v used tent poles to make pack frames a couple of times in the past. It worked pretty well, so should deffo be a go'er on your pack.

Done it.
5mm carbon tubes, 3mm fibreglass rod and a bit of webbing, only adds 25g to the pack.

Another thing i do is use one of those flexible plastic chopping boards (bout 2mm thick and cheap as chips) as a back panel on frameless packs.

I use a small section of CCF mat, I use it on the footbox of my TQ to make the distance of my 3/4 length UQ
(call out for more acronyms, I've just used up my supply!)

[Sunndog]

Sweet, how does it carry?

Certainly a lot lighter and more compact than my tent pole efforts, cracking job

I'v never seen inside an OHM but yours looks very much like a lighter version of the ULA circuit's hoop

[GadgetUK437]

Seems good so far, no serious miles yet tho'. Sorted the slumping.
Tempted to try one of these next (from the Trek-Lite forum)

Simple mod to add a lumbar pad to my ULA Ohm. Oblong of closed cell foam (cut off from a Gossamer Gear pad). Add two shock cord loops. Cover with some fabric. Shock cord loops go behind hip belt pockets for secure attachment. Weighs 40g.

I reckon if I did one like that but with a double folded bit of pad, i could use it as my footbox pad.