Bushwalk Australia

Winter base camp Falls Creek 2013

Rays Tipi [Extra large steel pegs, polyester guy rope, shock cord rubbers, base plate for center pole] large snow pegs plus extra large snow stakes
LED chain lights * 2

I need to add cords on base for large pegs and add shock absorbers and possibly make new 600mm snow stakes/

Paddymade 4P wall tent
Large tent poles and ridgepole
Polyester flysheet
Reflective foil for inside tent
Storm guys and extra guy ropes
Large shovel
Axe
Bow Saw and spare blades
Fuel [kerosene/Shellite 50:50 in 1 liter PET bottles] 6 –8 off.
Toilet paper, soap, hand sanitiser
Candles and Uco candles
Firewood/kindling
Fire starters in friction-top tins ( I use old toilet roll centers soaked in diesel) and the cheap ones from Target
BIC lighters/matches in friction-top tin
Extra large hobo boiler
Large stockpot [for melting snow]
Stew pot
Cast Dutch oven
Large frypan, Tongs Egg slice Nothing like real ham and cheese toasties in the cold weather
Paint scraper for the BBQ
Wooden spoons
Chux, scourers
Dishwashing detergent, eco-friendly version
Tea-Towel / paper towel
There is the possibility of also taking the bottled gas stove to make things really luxurious
FOOD

Dark brown sugar
Raw sugar
Rolled oats
Instant coffee
Leaf tea [Russian Caravan/
Powdered milk
Instant mashed potato
Surprise peas
Curry powder
Gravy powder
Lite salt
Pepper mill
Rice/macaroni
Split peas. Green Lentils
White beans/Red beans
Ramen
Sardines/Tuna in oil
Spam
Grated Parmesan cheese
Peanut butter/Vegemite
Tinned apricots/pie apple/peaches two fruits
Plain flour
Yeast
Pancake mix
Ovaltine / Milo
Tawny port
Beer
Cask red wine and good glasses

I just got off the phone with Andrew and decided to post the "Happy List"
Of course I will have a full set of winter gear in a rucksack but why not take the opportunity to live well when on holiday?

Seeking some advise:

Do you need a 4 season tent to camp in winter in the Alpine National Park?
I would like to dip my toes in some snow camping action this winter.
That is I can be pried from Snowboarding or skiing.

Well a million years ago when I wore young mens clothes that old Paddymade was considered a winter & snow tent.
Yes you really do need a 4 season tent for camping above the snowline but as much because the wind can be fierce as with the ability to shed large amounts of snow.
Join us in August and give it a try.

And of course there are other things like having real thermoses so the water is hot in the morning when you wake up.

Thermos? I am afraid you are really showing your age.

Would love to try a weekend of snow camping this year. The snow was too good for skiing and snow boarding last year.

Moondog55 wrote:And of course there are other things like having real thermoses so the water is hot in the morning when you wake up.

It takes all of 2 minutes to boil enough for a cuppa...

I don't see any eggs there...
I hate grated parmesan cheese. How about just a piece of it and shave it when you needed ?

Can you post a photo of that Paddy made tent ?

Eggs will be on the sled ( and butter. sausages. bacon fresh bread etc ) when we ski or snowshoe in.
Franco I will add a grater and use a wedge of Reggiano just for you

I'll go out the backyard and pitch the Paddymade now
Pictures follow in an hour or so

Moondog55 wrote:I'll go out the backyard and pitch the Paddymade now
Pictures follow in an hour or so

An hour or so?! Franco could probably pitch the entire Tarptent range in 7.5 mins.

Grana Padano will do...

I know the Paddy Made that looks like the Whelen tent (sort of like the Walrus/ MSR Missing Link /Fast Stash and the A frame tents but can't think of a 4 person tent...

Andrew,
we have 14 tents now so I need about 40 minutes ....

I got this without the paddy label cheap but it is an ERA with Hypalon floor
I have owned this since new, I even have the original "Bulldog collapsible poles still, I have repaired it a few times as Paddys refused to honour their "Lifetime warranty on workmanship and today I realised I haven't replaced the grommets yet

I need to do a little more work on the $5- flysheet. Shorten the extra poles as there is too much clearance, add some side tie downs; maybe just one where the seam is sew in the polyester ridgeline tape and add grommets.
The fly sheet will get the old fashioned X type storm guys as I have plenty of cord

andrewbish wrote:

Moondog55 wrote:I'll go out the backyard and pitch the Paddymade now
Pictures follow in an hour or so

An hour or so?! Franco could probably pitch the entire Tarptent range in 7.5 mins.

Probably but I suffer from " Where are the tent pegs" syndrome Also it took me a long time to remember where my camera was.
That Paddymade is 8 feet by 6 foot 6inches for those who remember Imperial measurements, 12 inch side walls and 5 foot ridge, you young blokes and blokettes can do your own conversions

There is a difference between a tent and a house

Thanks Moondog
Nice to see that you have resisted the temptation to rip the floor up and put a stove inside.

photonaturally wrote:There is a difference between a tent and a house

I used to think this too, until I saw the photo's above

Hypalon floor must weigh a tonne!

Same weight as polyurethane proofing but ( I was informed at the time of purchase) a better vapour barrier. Floor is 2ounce stuff and as this was my car camping tent has always had a poly tarp under it so still in really good nick

Interesting. I've never heard of Hypalon being used for anything other than small high wear areas of smaller pieces of gear.

Are you not fussed at all with the weight? You could probably shed a kilogram by going to lighter guylines alone...

Many years ago I had a pair of Hypalon over pants (Troll) about the same weight.
Weight for a base camp isn't so much of a problem, 40kg on the back is heavy; on a sled not so bad

It looks like a 'real' tent

Define "Real"
Sized for 4 at a summer squeeze, 3 is comfortable, 2 is roomy and a palace for Uno.
You may have noticed a run of grey tape along the ridge line; it serves 2 purposes partly it adds a little strength but mainly it allows me to use a foil blanket inside for light reflection and somewhere to hang the UCO candle lamp ( which the LED chain replaces ) I'm still working on an A-frame but that may not happen soon and those old sectional poles are very strong

@strider
It really isn't all that heavy, what it is tho is bulky; guy lines are 2.5mm nylon ( the other stuff is just to erect for photos -in a hurry) and even so split 4 ways it is only 1.2kilos per person.
Technical query? Franko?? What is the ideal spacing between a cotton tent and an impervious fly sheet for winter, the gap shown in the picture is perfect for summer cooling but I remember a discussion or book I read years ago and I seem to remember 2 inches being stated.

Been playing and packing.
I might make the polyester fly double layer, the cheap [ $5-] tent it came with has the same size body. I'll just stitch up along the existing lapfeld seams.
The tipi is ready, All I have done is add shock cord to the guy lines to minimise the instantaneous loading and loops of poly cord to all the peg points to take the abrasion

"What is the ideal spacing between a cotton tent and an impervious fly sheet for winter"
I have seen manufacturers trying for a 5-7cm gap so yes about 2 inches sounds right.
In my head a three layer system might work better again but I have never tried that...

I've tried the 3-layer roof system.
Works very very well at the expense of more weight.
I have the older style [ the good one] of the Fairydown plateau with the external frame, I often used to carry a cheap K-Mart nylon tarp that fitted perfectly over the top, so a double layer of proofed nylon . saved UV damage and I thought it was a lot warmer and less condensation. I gave Fairydown some feed back on my use but they ignored me.

Well I did the small job on the tipi
Added loops on the peg points ( i even used different colours for the seam p and midpoint loops and added shockcord loops to the guys
I need to find a scrap of plywood and make a small spreader base for the centre pole just in case the snow is really deep.
The flysheet for the Paddymade is re-done and probably strong enough; photos will be posted in a day or two. One day I may actually get a proper flysheet for this tent.
What we really need for a comfortable base camp is a heavy duty fly big enough to cover a National Parks picnic table LOL

"I need to find a scrap of plywood and make a small spreader base for the centre pole just in case the snow is really deep."
If you use camp shoes you could put the pole inside your boot.

Yes, but what usually happens then is I need to put boots on and go outside in a hurry. Scrap of plywood costs nothing and weighs little and I have found this invaluable with any single pole tent when on snow; I have a dedicated one for the Megamid 100 * 100 and if it still sinks then the insulated base for the stove can be used. So much pressure on the foot of the pole here that I will make the base plate 300*300 or bigger depending on what scrap I find

Franco wrote:"I need to find a scrap of plywood and make a small spreader base for the centre pole just in case the snow is really deep."
If you use camp shoes you could put the pole inside your boot.

Wouldn't that create a divot in the insole?

I only used that with a Contrail but yes with a much heavier shelter and possibly some snow load you could end up with a more or less permanent mark.
you could also remouve the insole but considering moondog is not really tight for room on his pulk it isn't all that practical for him...
Anyway I must get hold of some plywood for my stove base (fixed...)

funny thing I was chopping down a tree today. no play there.