096: The Last Trip of the Summer

Show Notes: Episode 096

Today on the First 40 Miles, our last family trip of the summer—and this trip did not disappoint!  We’ll share the top 5 things we loved about our trip to the Oregon coast.  Then on the SUMMIT Gear Review,  we’ll share a hammock that’s light enough to throw in your day pack—and may even fit in your back pocket!  Next, on the Backpack Hack of the Week, a simple hammock hack that will keep you cocooned and snug on your next hammock hang.

Opening



* Parameters of our last backpacking trip of the summer:



* Simple to plan

* Healthier food

* Coast trip





* Threemile Lake near the Oregon coast



Top 5 Things We Loved About This Trip

Hammocking with the whole family



* Our first trip Hammock camping trip was back in June with Jonathan from the Hang Your Own Hang Podcast

* This was our first family backpacking trip where everyone left the tents behind and everyone brought their own hammock



Success with solar



* Solar mystery charger…with no label

* Our mystery charger has twice the output of previous solar panels we’ve used



Fishing



* We’ve been learning a lot about tenkara fly fishing (which uses a telescoping rod, a line and a fly), researching it for an upcoming trip

* Even though we don’t have any tenkara rods, our 11 year old wanted to have a fishing experience, so we bought $4 worth of fishing stuff and tried “Hillbilly Tenkara” with a stick, some line, and a hook with a glitter worm.



A 180 degree turn on Poptarts, Snickers and cheesy mac



* We went stoveless, and tried to pick foods that were calorie dense and healthier

* Breakfast: Overnight oats, dried peaches,

* Lunch: WW tortillas + Justin’s Almond Butter packets and trail mix + tuna packet w/ mayo

* Dinner: Bulgar + canned smoked sardines w/ oil + crumbled cheddar cheese

* Snacks: Corn nuts + trail mix, dried bananas, sunflower seeds, energy bars, granola bars

* Much of our snacks were eaten on the 3 hour drive to Threemile Lake—so by the end of the trip, we were ready to head out and fuel up.



Beach access at ocean and a lake



* Lots of sand, so we were barefoot most of the time.

* At night fell asleep to the sound of the ocean

* Cooler trip (because Oregon coast doesn’t get very warm), but the warm sand felt great!



SUMMIT Gear Review: Hummingbird Hammock Single + Hammock

Structure



* Reserve parachute material

* The Single+ hammock is built with longer camping trips and taller people in mind–more comfortable

* 1500 lb Spectra Cord for the soft carabiners

* Military Spec Bonded Nylon Thread

* Does not come with tree straps–order those separately



Utility



* Holds 350 pounds

* The soft carabiners (included) are far stronger per ounce than a traditional carabiner and are impossible to cross load.

* Fabric is densely woven, but not completely waterproof



Mass



* Hummingbird Single + Weighs 7.6 oz (210 g)

* Add 2.1 ounces for the ultralight tree straps

* Dimension when packed (6 x 4 x 2 in) or (15 x 10 x 5 cm)

* Unpacked the hammock is 120 inches by 64 inches

* Weight rating: 350 lbs (158 kg)



Maintenance



* The fabric is not UV resistant—remember to pack up your hammock when not in use

* Wash in cool water, or spot clean as needed

* Dry completely before packing



Investment



* $80 for Hummingbird Single +

* $30 for Ultralight Tree Straps



Trial