More backyard gear testing: The Marmot Limelight tent

More backyard gear testing: The Marmot Limelight tent

Our palatial new Marmot Limelight tent set up in our backyard in the Allandale neighborhood of Austin. Pam LeBlanc photo

Last year, during a January trip to Big Bend Ranch State Park, my husband and I set up our tent at a group camp site, about 20 yards from our truck, just as a massive cold front blew in.

I hunkered under a blanket as Chris grilled steaks, and we retreated to the truck to eat dinner. Then, as temperatures dropped into the 30s and a stiff wind buffeted our 10-year-old tent, we made a run for it. We flopped onto the huge inflatable mattress we’d tucked inside our tent, and attempted to sleep.

The aging Mountain Hardwear Lightpath 3 didn’t hold up, though. The seals along the zipper delaminated, and the wind howled through the now-gaping side flaps of the tent. Then, our inflatable mattress slowly caved in as the hours ticked on. Sometime around 1 a.m., I awoke, flat on the ground, shivering, the mattress deflated.

I expect to suffer a tad when I’m backpacking. I sacrifice luxury for weight, and besides, I’m so tired when I crawl in my tent that I don’t notice I’m sleeping on sharp rocks.

Look how much room in here! And since this is “car camping,” we pulled out the heavy and non-technical sleeping stuff. Chris LeBlanc photo

But when I car camp, I want a modicum of wilderness luxury. I like a bigger tent and a thicker sleeping pad. And I don’t want to wind up flat on the ground.

That old tent had taken us on some wonderful trips, but it was time for a replacement. Last night we tested our new car-camping setup in the backyard, in Round 2 of my shelter-in-place gear-testing adventure.

This time we popped up a new three-person Marmot Limelight tent (https://www.marmot.com/limelight-3-person-tent-27940.html) and puffed up a thick queen-sized air mattress (the pump that came with it sucked; we had to call in reinforcements) that we ordered separately from Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CWZE642/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1).

The tent? Amazing. Cavernous. Completely screened in on top, so if you remove the fly you can sleep while stargazing. Zippered entryways on two sides, roll-back flaps, pockets for stowing stuff like glasses and books, and a lovely russet color.

The tent was pretty basic to set up, but not as easy as our tiny backpacking tent (a Big Agnes Copper Spur). It’s big, and that made it a little tougher to wrangle.

One thing I noticed? More road noise last night. When I camped two weeks ago, I hardly heard a passing car on Loop 1 Mopac. More people are venturing out late at night, during the shelter-in-place order, apparently.

The best part of last night’s experience? Waking up this morning, rolling over to grab a few more minutes of snooze time, then staggering into the house, where Chris had already prepared a plate of bacon, fried eggs and grits, the perfect camper’s breakfast, for me.

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People are creating their own home gyms while sheltering in place

People are creating their own home gyms while sheltering in place

I can’t swim with my team right now, but I can do pull-ups on the tree in my front yard. Chris LeBlanc photo

My normal fitness routine screeched to a halt early last month, when Western Hills Athletic Club suspended swim practices and temporarily shut the pool.

Since then I’ve been mainly riding my bike and running. I feel like I’m losing upper body strength that I worked hard for, though, so I’m trying to incorporate other exercises into my routine.

This morning I channeled my inner monkey, and after pedaling 15 miles on my bike, I did some pull-ups from the tree in my front yard.

With gyms closed, parks shuttered and trails off limits, we’re all entering new territory when it comes to staying fit. I put out a call this morning, asking people to submit photos of home gyms they’ve put together since shelter-in-place orders came down.

Here are a few of photos shared by readers…

Kiana and Iram Leon drag giant tires, do jumping jacks and hop off and on a wooden box to stay fit.

Iram Leon and his daughter, Kiana, have made their own outdoor gym complete with a gigantic tire for lugging and a wooden box to jump on and off. They supplement that with plenty of running (Leon is president of Austin Runners Club) and jumping jacks.

Sheila Reiter made a home gym by rolling out a mat and gathering up some hand weights and an exercise ball. She’s also got an indoor bike trainer.

Sheila Reiter, my Texas Water Safari paddling teammate, rolled out a mat and gathered some weights and an exercise ball to create her version of a home gym. She’s rides her bike before the sun comes up some days, but also uses an indoor bike trainer, because she’s finding it harder and harder to cycle while maintaining a proper social distance on the hills where she likes to train.

Al White borrowed equipment from his gym and still works out with a coach – virtually.

Al White says his gym, Infinite Fitness, let him take home whatever equipment he needed, and he’s now doing Zoom sessions with his coach to stay on track.

Emily Werbow turned a mini-tramp into a mini-gym.

Emily Werbow has arranged a mini-tramp, a bunch of hula hoops and an exercise ball on her back patio.

Dan Driscoll tunes in to virtual workouts, but his cat doesn’t care.

Dan Driscoll is working out with his friends virtually, too, but it looks like his cat just doesn’t get it.

Cate Brookes Sweeney transformed her back balcony into a mini-gym.

New mom Cate Brooks Sweeney rolled out a mat on her balcony, and put her laptop on a chair so she can participate in workouts virtually. When she’s done exercising, she uses the area as a toddler outdoor sensory area.

Courtney Lyons-Garcia is doing high intensity interval training sessions in her home garage, too.

Courtney Lyons-Garcia is working out in her garage.

Massage therapist Kiplimo Chemirmir set up what he calls his “Lil Warriors den,” with an assortment of rollers, kettlebells, balls and hand weights.

Jennifer Leduc does her Camp Gladiator workouts from home.

Jennifer Leduc is following her Camp Gladiator workouts from the comfort of her porch.

Christopher Maynard’s boys have created a ninja warrior course in the back yard.

And Christopher Maynard’s boys have created a ninja warrior course in the backyard that they change up daily.

To see all the submissions, go to the Pamela LeBlanc page on FaceBook.

 

 

 

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I sheltered in place last night (and tested some gear) with a backyard campout

I sheltered in place last night (and tested some gear) with a backyard campout

This new Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL sleeps two and weighs just 2 pounds and 12 ounces. Chris LeBlanc photo

I can’t get to the backcountry right now, so I pitched a tent in my Allandale backyard in Central Austin last night instead.

I didn’t do it just because I’d rather sleep in a tent than on high thread-count sheets in a fancy hotel, although that’s true. It gave me a chance to shake out some new gear before my next backpacking adventure, optimistically planned for May.

The two-person Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL tent I put up replaces an older version of the same tent that I slept in during my 15-day backpacking trip on the John Muir Trail two years ago. The new version is taller inside, and has a slightly different door zipper system. But it retains the features I like most about it – ultra light (less than 3 pounds); two doors, one on each side (so no one has to crawl over the other to get out); and lots of mesh paneling, so if the rain fly’s not on I can stargaze while tucked in my sleeping bag.

Oh, and it’s orange and cream-colored, just like the fat cat named Bob who lives down the street. Groovy.

This new Sea to Summit sleeping pad is 4-inches thick. Pam LeBlanc photo

My husband, after making hoot-hooty noises from the house when I left to curl up in my sleeping bag with a stack of books, eventually broke down and came out to the tent too (who could resist?), bringing with him his new Sea to Summit sleeping pad, which is thicker and cushier than the 3-inch NEMO pad I use. Now I want one, too.

Reading material fit for a backyard campout during a shelter-in-place order. Pam LeBlanc photo

A backyard campout during shelter-in-place orders seemed like an appropriate time to daydream about where I’d like to travel next, so I perused three new ones – “Atlas of National Parks” by Jon Waterman, “100 Hikes of a Lifetime,” by Kate Siber, and “Complete National Parks of Europe,” by Justin Kavanagh.

I didn’t fire up the campstove this time (I’m still working my way through a vat of lentil soup I brewed up on Sunday), but I did check my supply of dehydrated camping meals. I’m down to a dangerously low stock of one pouch of Cajun Ranch Chicken Salad, which you just mix with cold water and load into tortillas or bread. It’s from Austin-based Packit Gourmet (www.packitgourmet.com), which makes my favorite camping meals. Dottie’s Chicken and Dumplings, Texas State Fair Chili, West Memphis Grits and Santa Fe Corn Pudding top my list of options.

Austin-based Packet Gourmet makes the BEST dehydrated meals. Pam LeBlanc photo

And since I was rooting around in the gear box, I pulled out a stack of retro, chicken-shaped paper plate holders, because, well, they were there and they made me smile, and you’ve got to take a smile where you can get it these days.

These plate and cup holders date back to the 1960s or 70s. Pam LeBlanc photo

I slung up a hammock, too – a purple one made by Austin-based company Kammok. I spent a few nights sleeping in a Kammok in West Texas for a story I wrote for the Austin American-Statesman a few years ago. (Read it at https://www.statesman.com/news/20170404/the-latest-outdoor-trend-hammock-camping.) 

Are you dreaming about camping too? Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Texas Outdoor Family program is planning a “camp-in” from 1-8 p.m. Saturday, May 2. They’ll live-stream a park ranger who will answer all your camping questions in real time.

Texas Outdoor Family offers a whole calendar of live virtual programs this month, on topics from fire building to fishing to Dutch oven cooking and stargazing. For more information, go to the Texas Outdoor Family Texas Parks and Wildlife page on Facebook.

 

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Austin BCycle offers free passes during shelter in place order

Austin BCycle offers free passes during shelter in place order

 

Austin BCycle is offering free three-day passes during the shelter in place order. Photo courtesy Austin BCycle

Austin BCycle, that fleet of sturdy, bright red and white bikes with big metal baskets, will continue to roll through the city during the current shelter in place order.

The city of Austin has deemed the bike-share system essential, and is providing anyone who needs to take an essential trip with free three-day passes. Just sign up online and use the code ATX512.

Riding one takes some getting used to — they’re heavy, weighing in at 40 pounds, and feel a little wobbly at first. But most folks settle in after pedaling a block or two. (Read about my experience at https://www.statesman.com/article/20140106/NEWS/301069749. Both regular and electric-assist bicycles are available.

The bikes are available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Austin BCycle has regular and electric assist bikes. Photo courtesy Austin BCycle

Staff are disinfecting bikes and stations before and after every interaction.

The system launched in Austin in December 2013. Currently, 75 BCycle stations operate around downtown Austin, everywhere from Barton Springs Pool to Auditorium Shores, South Congress, the Texas State Capitol and more.

Annual memberships cost $86.60, or you can swipe a credit card to pay-as-you-ride ($1 to unlock, then 23 cents per minute. Weekender, monthly or unlimited 60-minute trip passes are also available online.

Go to Austin.bcycle.com for details.

Austin BCycle has 75 stations in downtown Austin. Photo courtesy Austin BCycle

 

 

 

About Pam

I’m Pam LeBlanc. Follow my blog to keep up with the best in outdoor travel and adventure. Thanks for visiting my site.

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