07.15.2010
I did an overnight trip last weekend with some friends to a beautiful camp site right next to a swimming hole. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed camping in the summer until I hit the trail. Warm weather requires so much less gear, it felt like the pack was hardly there. No need for extra thermals, coats - even pants and long sleeve shirts are optional at this point. I left the sleeping bag at home, and went for a CoolMax TravelSheet instead. Some people don't use a sleeping bag or sheet in the summer but I like to have something just in case. Weighing it at 11 ounces and packing to 3.5 x 7 inches, this thing rocks. It breaths well so I slept comfortably. I also use mine in the winter as a liner for my sleeping bag. If you haven't used one before, I highly recommend it. I also recommend finding a nice swimming hole and hiding from the heat. In Asheville at least, this summer is shaping up to be a brutal one.
