That's a very good point!!

Totally awesome! Love hearing about people getting out and testing their gear and their plan. Well done, Wildman!

That physical conditioning part is a *itch! It had been months since I took my GHB for a good long walk. Despite being in pretty good shape, it's taken a couple of weeks of carrying it almost daily for my back and hips to stop complaining. Being in shape is not the same as being in backpacking shape. A few ounces here and there can really add up. Great idea try to reduce where you can, especially with the miles you're looking at having to haul it.



Just a thought - Is the poncho now going to be rain gear and shelter? It's possible that if you need one, you may need the other, and the poncho can't be both at the same time.

Actually, it can be - the Gatewood Shelter http://www.hikelight.com/six-moon-designs-gatewood-cape.html

I have no personal experience with this rig, but one of these days.... I have used a standard poncho for both rain gear and shelter and it can require rapid contortions.

You're right Jacque, but that is what I'm going to deal with.

BTW: BacPacBaby has become BacPacGirl! She has grown so fast!

She is growing like a weed! I'm having a hard time keeping up. She's almost a better fire prep forager than me! She keeps me young and makes me old at the same time.

NICE!! I don't think I'm that limber.

I'm reminded of an episode of Man Vs Wild (I know! I know!) when BG tried to make a shelter and fire in freezing conditions - (Iceland, maybe?) high cold winds, rain... can't remember the details, but it was totally a staged lab experiment. The point was that he needed to be wearing his rain gear while making his shelter and fire, and he failed on all. It's an episode that's stuck with me since backpackboy and I were caught in a similar situation a few years ago. (Not as bad, but just as urgent as a parent.) Two ponchos or one and a tarp for me now.... One to wear and one to build a shelter out of. Know your environment, I guess.

just a quick note on trying to use a poncho to fill two needs.
on a very early canoe trip where i was sleeping under the canoe and using my Army poncho as a ground cloth i got really dirty when
i used it for a rain poncho!

Another quick note on the tarp or poncho dilemma - take a poncho and a bit of painter's drop cloth of whatever size and thickness you wish. They are surprisingly sturdy when used for survival/emergency situations and weigh just about nothing. There are also very lightweight (also expensive) ponchos...

6'x8' sil/nylon is in my GHB. Ultra-light sil/nylon tarps are worth 9 ounces. IMO, YMMV

I carry a Sea-to-Summit sil/nylon poncho in my EDC bag for the size and weight. In my hiking or camping backpack I will add a military poncho or 2 just because they are more durable and a LOT cheaper.

I have some tarps as well, but generally carry the ponchos as they are more versatile. It depends on where I am going, who is going with me, and what I am doing.

Sometimes you need a vapor barrier between you and the ground, sometimes you need overhead shelter, and sometimes you need both.

But for camping in swamps, nothing beats a hammock with a poncho hooch overhead.