did it

About 10:30 last night I set up the tent on the deck.

Part of the dilemma was tent or no tent. With the tent, I’d use my 0° bag. Without the tent I’d use the -20° though it probably doesn’t matter. It’s not really the gear in question. It’s your mental fortitude.

So yeah, I picked the setup for the least fortitude.

Used my exped mat for the first time. Would have definitely made more sense to read the instructions first, but I survived.

When I went to bed the thermometer read 13.8°.

I was warm throughout the night, but didn’t sleep well. My balaclava kept riding up on my mouth and my breath would freeze on it. The icy patch would wake me up I think. That and my breath falling back down into my eyes in the form of little snow flakes every time I bumped the wall of the tent.

Finally I’d had enough and got up.

Huh. 2.8°. Didn’t feel that bad.

Inside the house was a toasty 69°. That was nice.

Now I’m sick. Unrelated to sleeping out. I could feel it coming on yesterday afternoon. Better to get it and get it over with before my other winter adventures in a few weeks.

– b