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sddarkman619 Posts: 153
5/20/2017
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I've been thinking about camping in the desert and what about shelters or snake sin the sleeping bag?
If you use a bivy or just a tarp type shelter what's to stop the snakes from cuddling up with you at night and you waking up to a kiss from one?
My thoughts were having an enclosed tent/shelter so they can't get in, but what if you don't want to be in a tent? Close your bivy? but that gets hot too.
Your thoughts/suggestions?
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
5/20/2017
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Been sleeping on the ground for years, never had a problem with snakes. Mosquitoes can be a problem more than anything else but you can use a flip out net or get a bivy with a built in net. I use a military bivy that the top does not seal up closed, only just flips over. I use and like it mostly for wind protection and to keep cactus off my expensive sleeping bag. I have had several occasions though were I will wake up and find a scorpion or tarantula between my bag and sleep pad.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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sddarkman619 Posts: 153
5/20/2017
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hahaha...lesser of 3 evils?
So they crawls into your bivy or when you aren't using a bivy? I have a bivy but I don't always close it.
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rockhopper Posts: 668
5/20/2017
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I always use my North Face tent now. I used to bivy on the ground until I got tick bites once, got rained on once, and heard critters running around my head at nite. I don't mind carrying the extra few pounds even on an over nighter. All in all the lower elevation you go the lessand less you need a tent. ( No ticks, snow, etc.) IMHO
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
5/21/2017
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Another option for fair weather is just an open air bug tent, I have the old version of one of these Bug Hut shelters and used it a few times in the past.
There is also a full length Bug Bivy, I have an older version that I don't use anymmore.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
5/21/2017
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I use the military Gore-Tex bivy usually but recently bought an OR Helium Bivy for longer trips since it is much lighter weight and packs smaller and it has worked well and keeps the bugs off.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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sddarkman619 Posts: 153
5/22/2017
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I have the rei minimalist bivy they don't make anymore, no support rod for the chest area though, works great. but I think I am going to get a lightweight tent.
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RobMay Posts: 18
5/23/2017
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I recently bought an Big Agnes HV UL2 ultralight 2 man tent that weighs under 3 lbs. has doors on both sides and a rain fly. Its light and easy to set up. I haven't been in a heavy rain storm yet because I avoid bad weather when possible. It has good air flow especially when the rainfly is off. Also you can set it up with just the rainfly if you just need shelter from the sun. I just hiked Section A on the PCT with it and it's been great. It cost about $340 on Moosejaw.com.
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cercidium Posts: 11
5/23/2017
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have you considered a cot? i've been using the same cot since 2003 and wouldn't trade it for anything. the only drawback—if i struggled to find one—is you're a little cooler in winter when cold air surrounds you. summer, on the other hand, keeps you a bit cooler for the same reason. comfort-wise they're somewhere between a hammock and a bed. backpacking with a cot? forget about it!
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rockhopper Posts: 668
5/23/2017
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Short Cot story. A buddy and I did a two week trip down Baja in his Toyota pick up with a camper shell. Since it was his truck he slept in the back and I got to sleep out side for two weeks. I brought a cot. No tent. Just a cot and sleeping bag. Star gazing was terrific! But man, hearing all of the wild life running around at night kept me up more than once. Freakyest time was camping near the beach was hearing hundreds of crabs crawling all around and underneath me.
edited by rockhopper on 5/23/2017
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
5/23/2017
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GoLite poncho tarp, versatile, lightweight, adaptable, still gets put in my pack for many trips
Tarp tent, rarely used, nice idea but not really practical
BugHut, a good idea, covers sleeping bag and keeps critters out mostly...has a place I suppose for some people, not used much anymore, will probably put on ebay
Bughut pro, too much orange filter on the camera, Turtle mtns
BugHut Pro WITH Tarp Tent in the freezing rain, yeah I was cold, yeah I didn't use this combo again
Ultimately I still stand (well really lay down) behind my military goretex bivy, it has proven itself over and over again in the rain, the wind and the cactus. It weighs as much as a light weight tent but is so simple to pack, setup & breakdown I can do it drunk, hung over and in the dark....curl up and sleep worry free...it is my sleep system for years so far..
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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sddarkman619 Posts: 153
5/26/2017
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where does one acquire a bivy like that?
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
5/27/2017
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Amazon, Ebay or GI Joes in El Cajon....
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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