Sounds great! I'm looking forward to doing something like that one of these days! I need more time under my belt (appropriate figure of speech), though.

Question: I remember reading the earlier suggestion of using a rock climbing harness. Having never used one, what is the advantage--smaller/thinner? And what advice would you give for getting one? Would a cheap/minimal one be okay?

Thanks!

As for what else to carry, how about a whistle--something I think we should always have when in the woods, particularly when alone.

Jim, the whistle is a good one. I have one that stays on my saddle.

About the rock climbing harness- I used it because it is smaller, softer, and more flexible than a tree saddle.

When I started climbing trees, all I had was my rock climbing harness. It worked okay. It was not good. The rock climbing harnesses are designed for rock climbing! You climb the rock (not the rope) if you fall, you sit there for a second then get back on the wall.

You can sit on them for a while .I've used my rock harness to set climbing routes on an artificial climbing wall...a job that requires much hang time in the harness. It just gets uncomfortable. I would put my flip-flops under the leg straps and that helped a lot.

If you don't have a harness yet and are planning on sticking with tree climbing- get the harnesses that were designed for the job.

love
nick

I bought the simplest rock climbing harness I could so that I didn't have to worry about ripping my hammock or laying on gear loops or straps. Worked great! Cost me about $30. It's a Blue Water, I think. My plan was to wear it under my New Tribe saddle, then just slip the NT one off once I was ready to go to bed. Of course, I forgot to put the rock harness on while on the ground, so I had to do it up in the tree.

How the heck did you put on the rock harness while wearing the tree saddle?

Please don't say you were up in the tree not clipped in!

love
nick

Thanks for the info, Nick and Patrick.

Yes, I already have a harness: New Tribe w/ side D-rings and extended leg pads--pretty doggoned comfortable! No doubt, though, that it would *not* be comfortable to sleep in.

I see that REI has some cheap rock climbing saddles--a basic Black Diamond for $30, and an REI "Trilogy" on sale for $24.83 (about half price).

I mention the exact price because sometines at the local store, the $xx.83 stuff is half of that! If that's the case, I'll certainly pay $13 for a saddle!

Now if New Tribe will just put the Tree Boat behind Door Number One . . . .

Thanks again, guys.

You missed your chance, the treeboat was in door 1 back in Dec/Jan.

love
nick