Canopy camping suggestions

[niceviews]

I just bought a tree boat and am looking forward to spending the night up in a tree. I've hung out in hammocks in canopies before, but never stayed the night. Just wondering what everyone does to ensure a good nights sleep. Is a 2 liter jug the best way to handle middle of the night potty breaks? What's the best way to stay warm without the blanket underneath? Any other tips or things that I'm sure I've not thought about would be helpful information.
Thanks

 

[Tom Dunlap]

`Headlamp
`Wide mouth Nalgene water bottle. I don't trust any other maker with such a critical containment issue. Unless you have the 'top bunk' in the tree

`When I ascend I have my mountaineering harness on under my tree harness. Once it's time to settle in I girth hitch a long 5/8" nylon webbing runner to the front of my mountaineering harness. The other end is attached to a descent device, like an Eddy or Rig, on my access rope. Once I'm attached, I shed my tree harness and set it aside. Make sure the runner is long enough to go out of your sleeping bag and not hold open the top...or strangle you!
~The best ground pad that I've ever used is a RidgeRest-purple and green foam pad. I've used them for many nights in sub-zero weather sleeping on snow and ice. Skip the inflatable pads...they don't insulate as well.
`Eat a good meal before ascending
`Cashews are a great source of easily digestable fats if you're concerned about having calories available to turn into heat
`Light fleece hat...sox...NO COTTON!

 

[moss]

Tom's right on. You don't need a 2 liter bottle, if you pee that much in one night you've got other problems.

I like tying into an SRT system for sleeping, I put my Grigri on a sling tether so I'm not trying to pull the main rope into my sleeping bag. Grigri sits outside of my bag on the edge of the hammock. There's enough play so I can roll over during the night, not enough play so I'd subject myself to severe shock load if I decided to take a walk. By the way that doesn't happen, the treeboat kind of cocoons you, you'll stay put in the tree. It's a tremendous experience, nothing like waking up at height in a tree.
-AJ

 

[JeffL]

Man have I got to try this. Just the thought of it has me kind of awe struck.

 

[TREEfool]

[ QUOTE ]
nothing like waking up at height in a tree.
-AJ

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed!

Here is a list of things I have learned to make a night in the canopy more enjoyable.

1 - Go pee right before you get into bed.
2 - After you stopped peeing do it again.
3 - I have never used an underquilt because they are expensive and can tear if caught on a twig. Instead I use an XL Ridgerest (the sides fold up on you like a taco) and a Small Ridgrest under my core if temperatures will be below zero degrees. You can abuse the hell out of them for years and they still keep you warm.
4 - I climb trees in a rockharness. I wore a real tree harness a few months ago which is great for climbing but I would not want to sleep in one with all of the material and buckles.
5 - If you don't expect rain put up a rain tarp anyways. Getting out of bed at 3am to hang a tarp in the canopy is not only dangerous but also frustrating.
6 - I climb SRT and when sleeping prefer to use just my grigri with a backup knot. Then there is less metal that you have to cuddle with in your sleeping bag.
7 - Redirect your rope to the front of the hammock otherwise you won't be able to close your sleeping bag all the way.
8 - Take pictures!