I am up for anything as long as I have a break. ~Ella, my grand daughter
July 27
Lake Beneath Raid Lake to Tarn above Messy Forest – 12.7 miles
Route: Raid Pass * Sentry Pass * Photo Pass * Indian Reservation * tarn above messy forest
Photo journal:
A Subtract Gear Review:
Subtract a tent footprint/ground cloth from your kit
This is an un-gear review.
This summer I made the bold move and left my ground cloth (polycryo sheet) behind. Gasp.
I actually lived through it. Never before in all my years of backpacking have I set-up a tent without some kind of cloth under the tent floor.
Why did I leave it behind? Well weight saving, space, and simplicity. This summer I carried extra weight with snow gear and bear protection and just had to make some sacrifices.
What I learned:
-I liked not having the noise of the ground cloth under my tent when the wind blew.
-Contrary to my previous belief, I did not get holes or tears in the bottom of my tent floor.
-Sometimes the tent floor was dirty from night condensation. I simply shook the tent out before rolling it up and most of the dirt came off.
-The biggest disadvantage of not carrying a ground cloth is the lack of a ground cloth needed to cowboy camp. In a pinch, laying out out the tent on the ground would work. This wasn’t a problem for me because I always set-up my tent.
So there ya go, a subtract a gear review.
I’m just now catching up on your Wind River trek. As you know, I was planning to be there during August but the nearby fire and smoke sent me seeking a Plan B. Seeing your Day 1-4 photos left me feeling regret that I didn’t go. Seeing Day 5 makes me feel much better about my decision. I’m hoping all the stars align for a 2017 long adventure in the Winds.
I haven’t joined the ranks of the No Ground Cloth Club yet but it’s been on my consideration list. Maybe I should say I choose to carry the weight of the polycro vs the tupperware bowl. LOL
Beekeeper,
Ya it was a bit smokey for a day or so. The Winds are unique and have some nice routes. Sounds like you are planning for next summer. Yes, it seems the grams keep trading off. I do like not having yet one more thing to put away in the morning and I don’t miss the crackling of the plastic when it is windy. Just sayin’. 🙂
Ha ha, I think I’m in your camp on the great cloth vs cup “debate”!
Favorite pic “benchmark lake”… another great posting about your adventures! Awesome! As for the no ground cloth.. as a beginner, I didn’t know any better and have gone sans groundcloth since the beginning and never missed it! Who knew I was actually cutting edge? LOL
Funny how REI just puts the pressure to buy those footprints. Then you think you always have to have one.
Great to hear you did not go down that road.
For me, it’s just a piece of plastic from Gossamer Gear, not an actual ground cloth that weighs, what, 12 oz? No thanks to that.
Great pictures – love going with you through those pictures.
Thank you Lucy!
“On less thing that isn’t essential. Yaaaaaay.”
Me too. My tent floors are a bit dirtier after years but nonetheless still going strong. No tears or other imperfections caused by just setting it up on site. And this year I took my Fly Creek because two of us would needed a tent and my buddy brought a Helinox lightweight cot because he just can’t seem to get comfortable on his Neoair. Tent was no worse for the wear even with having four crossmembers with eight feet. Less can sometimes be more. I’m not a cowboy camper so it always is for me.
“Top of Photo Pass” Great photo. I see lots of Fizan poles there. I use them because of you and Wired and like them a lot.
I had to replace my set and boy did I miss them. The Lekis are just not the same.
You can get a good deal on them through Massdrop.
That’s where I got mine (Massdrop).
And yours is a pretty high recommendation knowing that you’ve used a number of different poles including the LT4s or that ilk. I’d like them too but seems most move away from a pole that light. I guess they just aren’t robust enough. My Fizan poles feel easily as durable as a set of REI poles and I shaved over five ounces off with the move to Fizan.
as someone who uses a bivy and floorless tent, it seems perfectly logical to have the tent floor/bivy be the only layer. i appreciate your gear lists and recommendations- i have learned a lot reading your blog and have gotten out for more backpacking this year than in years past
Great to hear Kristen! I love when gear makes getting out even better and I certainly like talking about it. Thanks for your comment and support.
I’ve enjoyed following your summer adventure and I wanted to formally
welcome you to the No-Ground-Cloth club. I’ve used the same Fly Creek tent for years without a ground cloth with no issues (as with all my tents).
I love it! The No-Ground-Cloth club.
It truly amazes me how we can sucked into an idea that just isn’t correct.
On less thing that isn’t essential. Yaaaaaay.