bbro, I have two words for you and your buddy. Camp cots.

You will thank me.

But your sherpa will likely have a different opinion...

We have those*. Great ...but not really for backpacking.

*exactly those, because I clicked on the link and it asked me if I wanted to buy them again :lol:

You can even get the actual military cot:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Folding-Cot...4AAOSw3h1ZQcsA

subscibed

Bro you had all the sleeping comfort behind your tents. All those trees behind you with their leaves on the ground. Use a stick to take the leaves to your tent platform.

I am a side sleeper too. A hammock works if you can find 2 trees that are the right distance apart. Go to Army surplus and buy a tent hammock. Good buy. Helps a lot to be a back sleeper.

A hatchet is a useless article unless you want to look like Daniel Boone. Green wood makes terrible tender and worse firewood. Go to an area away from the campers and you will likely find plenty of dry wood on the ground.

Throw salt on a grease fire. Grumpiness is not allowed while camping except in the morning. You did good. You saw what you need and what you didn't. Feels good to start a campfire and everyone emerges to enjoy the warmth.

I never could get a decent pic of the moon without zoom on a camera.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ff2273856c.jpg

Captain, most state and all national parks, have rules about gathering wood.

@Pamela/monster - I was thinking about a cot if the pad didn't work out. It is SO comfy though and will be better for the hike in sites.

@captainhook - the hatchet is for fallen wood, not chopping down trees. That is definitely not allowed in the parks. And sorry, not putting leaves and stuff inside my tent. I'm trying not to get bit by bugs. Thanks for the tip about the salt. I may bring a bigger container of salt.

Most parks have rules about fallen wood too, be sure and check.

I'm pretty sure most are OK with you burning anything that's "dead, down and on the ground"

...they don't like you bringing it in though

Actually, there are parks that gathering wood is prohibited. You can bring it in, but you can't take it back out. Some places require that you by it on-site. But, it varies with the park. I check before I go. I'm ok with buying wood at the park to avoid the hassle. It's an easy way to support the park, the way I look at it.

The leaves go under the tent.:rtfm:

That's literally burning money. Which is ok, if you have money to burn.

Unless you have a way to magically make wood appear if we aren't allowed to gather wood. And we aren't allowed to bring in outside wood, then that's the way it goes. I'm not special enough to think the rules don't apply to me. If $20 is going to break me, I shouldn't be buying any of this stuff.

You're miles ahead because to have the right attitude. You Go Girl!! :thumb2: