VIDEO and PICS --> Minnesota canopy camping trip.

TREEfool

TREEfool

Participating member
Location
Sioux Falls, SD
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I went backpacking and canopy camping last week and it was amazing. I realized that my crappy old camera could record video so I tried my best to capture the whole adventure. I did about 5 miles of bushwacking in the wilderness along a river to find this tree midway up a valley. I actually past up the biggest and probably oldest tree I have seen in person. It was a monster at the bottom of the valley and even if I could have reached the lowest branch my throwline would have surely gotten stuck from all of the huge chunks of bark so I didn't attempt to climb it.

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Click the box below for the video. (I spend all of my money on climbing trips so this isn't "GoPro" quality.)



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Peeing while wearing three layers plus a harness and balancing on a tight rope in windy 5° weather at 3:50am is not easily accomplished. I have a smirk on my face in the following photo because after trying to hold it for two hours I made the executive decision to go for it. I was successful.

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Hope you guys enjoyed the video and pictures!

-Logan
 
THAT is brave. What kind of sleeping bag is that? Do you make breakfast or make for you vehicle in the morning and make for Denny's. Great stuff man. Thanks for sharing.
 
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Peeing while wearing three layers plus a harness and balancing on a tight rope in windy 5° weather at 3:50am is not easily accomplished. I have a smirk on my face in the following photo because after trying to hold it for two hours I made the executive decision to go for it. I was successful.

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When I canopy camp with other climbers I demand!!! that everyone bring their own plastic screw top container for night time bathroom needs. It's much easier than trying to stand up and piss into the wind. I don't care how good anyone's aim is, I don't want overspray going my way! And I don't want to climb down through it the next day ;-)

The best reason though is you can figure out a way to stay in your hammock and sleeping bag on a cold night and take care of business. It's either that or adult diapers (not!!) in cold conditions. Good options for women too, the big wall climbers have this all figured out, a little Google research provides the answers you're looking for.

Great adventure! Not easy to stay warm at height in winter conditions, I've settled on bringing along the biggest air triggered handwarmers I can find and put them down by my feet or wherever needed. Always awesome to wake up in the morning high in a tree.
-AJ
 
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What kind of sleeping bag is that? Do you make breakfast or make for you vehicle in the morning and make for Denny's?

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Oh yes, I do all of my cooking and eating in the tree. This is just like a normal backpacking trip except I do everything while playing in a tree.

As for the sleeping bag? Actually on this trip I used two. I used to own only down sleeping bags (which were super expensive of course) but I sold them all and only use cheap synthetic bags now. That way I don't have to worry about destroying a $600 bag when it gets caught in my grigri. I have fallen in love with the Mountain Hardwear Ultra Lamina 35 for a summer bag. It is only slightly heavier than my down summer bag but it drys soooo much faster when it gets wet. Then I used my old and trusty Marmot Trestle's 15 bag over top. I have yet to become cold with this setup, usually I sleep with the top bag half open.

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When I canopy camp with other climbers I demand!!! that everyone bring their own plastic screw top container for night time bathroom needs. It's much easier than trying to stand up and piss into the wind. I don't care how good anyone's aim is, I don't want overspray going my way! And I don't want to climb down through it the next day ;-)

-AJ

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Haha, yes I hear you. I have yet to try peeing in a bottle. I just don't like the idea of sleeping with my urine and having the possibility of a leaky bottle! If I don't sleep with it I will then have a frozen pee bottle in the morning, haha. But if I ever find people in my area to join me I will definitely have to use your recommendation.
 
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Haha, yes I hear you. I have yet to try peeing in a bottle. I just don't like the idea of sleeping with my urine and having the possibility of a leaky bottle! If I don't sleep with it I will then have a frozen pee bottle in the morning, haha. But if I ever find people in my area to join me I will definitely have to use your recommendation.

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I hang a couple of slings within easy reach with anything I need during the night clipped in, also to store gear I don't need while sleeping, like shoes, helmet etc. You probably do something similar. Pee bootle hangs there too, no need to store it in the bag. Who would've thunk we'd be discussing canopy piss theory? ;-)

Never had a problem with the bottle freezing, not the worse thing to happen though.
-AJ
 
The key to winter camping is keeping out he cold from underneath with a good mat or whatever. That type of camping seems to bring a whole new problem. Maybe cause your not on the cold ground? Is it difficult to keep your back warm? Or maybe you sleep better frozen like a popsicle. lol
 
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I hang a couple of slings within easy reach with anything I need during the night clipped in, also to store gear I don't need while sleeping, like shoes, helmet etc. You probably do  something similar. Pee bootle hangs there too, no need to store it in the bag. Who would've thunk we'd be discussing canopy piss theory?  ;-)

Never had a problem with the bottle freezing, not the worse thing to happen though.
-AJ

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Haha, I suppose you are right. And ya I usually hang a few slings for gear but my newest idea is to sew some gear loops to the edges of my hammock which should make it way easier to stay organized in camp.

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The key to winter camping is keeping out he cold from underneath with a good mat or whatever. That type of camping seems to bring a whole new problem. Maybe cause your not on the cold ground? Is it difficult to keep your back warm?  Or maybe you sleep better frozen like a popsicle. lol

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I use an xl ridgerest that wraps around me like a taco and a extra small 24" x 20" pad under my torso in the winter. I havent had a problem with this yet. In the summer I just use the torso pad.

I remember my first ever hammock trip when the temps dropped to 45 and I forgot my pad. I ended up wearing a garbagebag and sleeping ontop of my backpack, haha.
 
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Seems like the season is shifting. Got any canopy camping plans ? Maybe this weekend for a MN rec climb? Anyone?

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I'm dreadfully ill, otherwise I'd love to climb :(
 
I am itching for some climbing. I saw this BIG old white oak along the river that needs some lovin and I realized I haven't been in the trees for a month. If anyone is interested in climbing this Sunday let me know!
 
See Roxy above.

Mark your calendar for this:

"Greetings all tree climbers and tree lovers,

You are cordially invited to attend the Spring Oak cleaning day this year on Mar. 23rd at Harmony Park - Geneva MN. Bad weather make up day Mar. 30th.

We will be cleaning hazardous deadwood from the majestic Bur Oaks in order to minimize the risk to the park patrons from falling branches. This is a volunteer event.

If you come to climb and prune you will be greatly rewarded with a hot meal, camaraderie around a blazing bonfire, and the chance to share your climbing skills and techniques with others. Also enjoy climbing some very old Bur Oaks in a natural Southern MN Oak savanna ecosystem.

Yes, you could consider this a recreational tree climbing event with an added bonus of doing good work for a good cause. You can use this as a chance to share some of your knowledge with a newbie or to learn from some of the best climbers around.

Please RSVP here so we know how much chili and cornbread to make. (also advise with special dietary needs)

Oh, and keep in mind, this is a WORK day - gawkers and partiers need not apply.

Thanks and climb safe,

Eric"
 
This picture was the first picture in the thread but I accidentally deleted it off of my photobucket account so I am reposting it:

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And I figured I would throw up these photos from my last tree climb too! I was cycling along the Mississippi last week when I ran into this beast. It looked really old and big. Here is another crappy video from the summit:



The summit was pretty freaking beautiful. The sun was out and the birds were chirping:

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The tree was about 90' from the highest twig down to the base. The thing that initially attracted me to the tree was this GIANT branch that randomly grew out about 60' totally horizontal and had nearly the same girth as the trunk. It looked so unnatural but neat (it is the branch that points to the upper left corner of the photo). As you can see, the tree needs some major dead wood removal:

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Eric this sounds like a great rendezvous. I hope it pours down rain though because I'll be at the FIDS and Fibers workshop! If its 30th count me in!

No go for me today for climbing. Am in WI for nephew s birthday party. Logan sometime soon though...Rebecca
 
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