Tested a bunch of DIY gear this weekend

[gear-report]

Thought I'd share a quick trip report from a group hammock hang this past weekend.
I used mostly DIY gear that I had not used in the field before.
My daughter used a Hennessy Hammock... had to be conservative with a 7 year old on her first backpacking trip.

http://gear-report.com/birkhead-wildern ... -pictures/

Birkhead Mountain Wilderness is a bit East of the AT in the Uwharrie national forest in central NC.

[Ridgerunner]

Nice first trip for your daughter, Jeff. Did she sleep well in the hammock? I hope she enjoyed herself. It looks like she did. That rock formation does look like a dog swimming in the leaves.

[cadyak]

that looks like a lot of fun and a very nice area to camp. GReat job on the hammock and everything else too.
Chapeau for getting your girl out.

[gear-report]

Nice first trip for your daughter, Jeff. Did she sleep well in the hammock? I hope she enjoyed herself. It looks like she did.

Hehehe. Yeah. She was worn out from the hike and asleep by 8pm. I had to wake her up a bit past 8am... so she slept 12 hours!!
For me, the IX UQ + fleece TQ + sleeping bag would have been WAY too much. But that is just how she likes it.

I was a bit concerned that if she wasn't having a good time it would turn out to feel like a LONG weekend instead of an overnight.
She was great and told me on the way home that she will go with me any time I want.
I'll call that a success.

That rock formation does look like a dog swimming in the leaves.

[/quote]
No joke, it kind of freaked me out when I saw it.

[gear-report]

that looks like a lot of fun and a very nice area to camp. GReat job on the hammock and everything else too.
Chapeau for getting your girl out.

Yep. Nice park. Felt rather remote, so none of the "camping on top of your neighbor" issues that you might find in a commercial campground... but enough traffic on the trails that you didn't feel completely alone either.
She is going to be a handful at Girl Scout camp when they try to limit HOW she camps, cooks, etc.
I don't think they allow hammocks OR alcohol stoves.