Camping Trip Part 2

So we found a place to camp for the night.  We got the tarp put up to keep a residual rain from falling on us and got the fire started.  Collecting the fire wood was difficult in such a wet area...especially after it rained so hard earlier in the afternoon.  On top of that all the wood was old dead cedar.  Not the kind that burns well...but the spongy kind of almost rotten kind. :P  We gathered some brush and branches to put on the ground to keep our gear dry while we slept.  I threw my mat down and got all my gear ready for the night.  Now, as I mentioned in my last post, it was supposed to be a "light" trip so I did not bring much to sleep with other than my mat and the fleece sleeping bag I bought the night before.  So my initial setup of my space was fairly quick and easy.  We stood by the fire for a bit longer and I decided it was time for me to hit the sack.  I got all settled in and was out like a light.

I woke up in what seemed to be just a few minutes after I had fallen asleep.  The other guys were sleeping and the fire was about out.  I was a bit startled because I was not entirely sure what was happening...but I could not control my shaking.  After a moment I realized I was shivering...and that I was EXTREMELY cold.  It was only 12:15 AM.  I quickly got up and started moving around.  I stoked up the fire...but with all the wet wood it was tough to get it going again.  I successfully got the fire to smolder and decided that if I was going to get warm I needed to walk.  So I started walking into the woods.  I looked back and could still see the fire so I called (yes I had my phone) my wife to tell her what was going on.  1:00 AM.  I kept walking around and decided since I was already headed through the woods I would find the trail and head out of the woods.  About 30 seconds later I was on the trail...and one minute later I was in someone back yard.  We were camping three minutes away from someones house.  *laugh*  I could not believe that.  We looked EVERYWHERE for lights before we made the camp...and we were that close to town. 

I got onto the road and walked around trying to find my way out of the area.  I had never been there before, that I can recall, so I really had no idea.  I listened for the highway and kept walking in that direction.  There must have been some echoing because I got lost.  I walked and walked while talking to my wife trying to figure out where I was.  I had her get onto Google Maps to find a map of the area.  Unfortunately the roads are not listed on Google Maps and before I knew it...I had walked the same block THREE TIMES!  I took a new turn and finally made it onto the highway.  Camo pants, camo hat, black boots, and a black jacket.  I prayed that the cops would not stop and take me to jail. :P  After about a 15-20 minute walk along the road I finally made it to my truck and headed home.  As I rolled out of town, around 1:45 AM, I sent my buddies a text message to let them know I was out for the night.  I noticed shortly after I sent the message that the temperature outside was around 38 degrees and the sky was completely clear and full of stars.  It was cold.  I got home, curled up in a nice warm bed, and was out until 7:00 AM when the alarm went off.  I had to go back and get all my gear.

As I got ready to go it was still completely clear out and the temperature was down to 34 degrees.  Would I have made it a complete night in a fleece sleeping bag?  I doubt it.  I could have if we had taken turns keeping the fire going...but I did not want to wake anyone up.  So much for a light gear camping trip.  I will not be that stupid this time of year ever again. ;)  

The next day and night went much better...but I will save that for Part 3.

Good morning from Northern Michigan!

-Derek