Video

Someone on AllTrails attempted to go to Hamilton Lakes. Had to turn around before Bearpaw Meadow. (May 14) He thinks it’ll be a while 4-6 weeks

@@ulricontherocks Alright, thank you for the info, man. Beautiful video. I will definitely hike it by July. It looks absolutely beautiful!

I’m sure with preparation and practice you can do it. Remember, this was 2013 and cellphone camera quality was not usable. We brought a full frame DSLR camera with different lenses, tripod and even a glidecam that had weights. If you have items that you wanna bring just in case, leave them at home.

Thank you!

If you are able, you could still visit the parks and use their shuttles to get around. We had a great time with family in Sequoia

It’s Olive Drab

I like it. It’s great on flat surfaces. I don’t like it as much as the duplex.

@@ulricontherocks Ait. Well as long as its good then Im happy. I live near the coast, so, lots of rock to camp on by the sea.

@@birgerkung yes, I bring it when I camp on sand and gravel

Thank you for watching! Have a great time! I'll be in the Sierra myself on the Sierra High Route later this month. Keep your pack light!

We wanted to create this video and brought a DSLR, GoPro, tripod, lenses, glide cam etc. - also too much of ‘just in case things’ the way call phone cameras have evolved, they are plenty good now. As long as you put it in airplane mode and bring some backup power with you, you should be fine. Freeze dried food I’d take out of its foil pack and bring ‘em in Sandwich ziplocks.

Thank you! I haven’t had time to go out and hike lately. I miss the Sierra

Thank you!

Thank you!

The first time, it took us a week. Alone, I hike faster and do more miles per day.

Thank you Scott

I am hiking the HST for the first time this August. I’m even more excited now after watching your video. As an experienced HST hiker, do you have a favorite map and guidebook for the trail that you’d recommend?

Mt. Whitney High CountryTrail Map (Tom Harrison Maps)

Bear proof canisters to store food in. I think you’re talking about bear spray?

They are not only allowed, they are required in SEKI.

Thank you!

Thanks!

Thank you! I love the Sierra. Most footage has been shot with iPhone. On my first trip, we also brought the Canon 5D Mark II. I don’t recommend bringing that kind of a camera system on to the High Sierra Trail. It weight almost 20lbs with lenses, tripod and glide cam. The modern day phones shoot almost as good of footage. Thank you for commenting!

Thank you very much! If it inspires someone to do the trip, all the work that went into this video paid off!

Thank you for pointing this out!

@@ulricontherocks And thank you! Beautiful videos like yours keep me going when long hikes aren't an option.=)

Personally, I like to sleep in the dark at night :)

Thank you !

I brought the canon EF 70-200 f2.8 and EF 24-105 f4.0 on my first trip. I would say the 24-105 was most useful. Bringing this gear did contribute to the immense weight of my pack on that trip. (Starting weigh 65lbs, ending weight 55lbs) most footage was shot with the iPhone

Thank you, I’m a novice at this and you’re right. I’m looking to tone the music down in the future. Maybe buy a microphone to have good background sound. A lot of it is not usable due to wind noise

Just saw this! I haven’t had much of a chance using the tent. I did it the past two weekends. Yesterday it was extremely windy and 3 out of 4 stakes got ripped out of the ground. I think the shepherds hook type stakes would have helped. I’m packing some for my next trip - probably next weekend.

I have brought an ice ax and micro spikes on one trip up to the Kaweah gap. Only because I knew there was a lot of snow though. Never when I went on the entire hike.

When are you going?

@@ulricontherocks We start the hike on Sept. 15.

Chuck Grothaus nice!

@@chuckgrothaus3828 Wow, that's a tad late to start! Hope you're prepared for possible snow storms!!!

I understand, it is on the expensive side. I have to say though, my duplex is 4.5 years old and with extreme care it still performs like new. Considering how many nights I have spent in it, and then thinking of others people having hobbies that require them to stay at hotels while traveling, it’s not as bad as one would think. To your question, yes, you roll it down and there are stays to attach it so it’s stays in place.

@@ulricontherocks Same experience here. My duplex is over 3yrs old and seems to have a lot more life in it.

thank's for the comment. As of April 13 2020 the tent is currently not available on Zpacks' website. I do have the Duplex too and promise I'll do pitch them side by side as soon as I can. There is definitely more head space in the Free Duo than the Duplex. It feels a bit narrower though. Stay tuned...

Thanks! That’ll be great.

It's doable in one day, I've done it twice. A thing to remember is, you'll be picking up the permit and wait for busses and change busses until you reach the trailhead. If you end up starting your hike at noon, you''ll be golden. One time I started at 3pm and started getting altitude sickness and I ended up getting to Hamilton Lakes at 11pm. (I live in Los Angeles at around 400ft and Hamilton Lake is at 8000ft I left LA that morning and slept up there. It was too much of gain at that one trip.) I'd say you'll find room. Maybe not next to each other... some of the area is closed to camping. They want nature to grow back.

UlricOnTheRocks appreciate it..yea probably safer bet to take day one lil slow also as well fly into Fresno from sea level the day before. Have you ever had any problem getting a walk up permit for HST? We already booked airfare when it dropped during the CV. We applied lil late, few weeks after opening on March 1. Hoping to start September 6.....

Richard Moran I never had a problem getting a permit. How it is for a group of 4 - I’m not sure. Maybe go to Mehrten Creek the day you pick up your permit. It’s beautiful, an easy beginning and you’ll acclimate properly to elevation.

UlricOnTheRocks so you’ve never had issue getting a walk up permit starting the following day? Thx again

The next day is easy, you get in line first thing. I 3 times got a permit starting immediately. Don’t forget, it was just one person. For groups I recommend making reservations

You are right, I probably will collect snow. If it is going to collapse I'm not sure. I'll do a bit of a weight test in my actual review video. The Duplex did collect now too but never caused a problem. The snow first melts on the Dynema and that creates a thin ice layer that allows snow to build up on... (when I wake up, I knock on the walls and snow falls off, no problem so far) thank you for your observation. The weight test is gonna be interesting.

Hey you sparked a great idea - so make the very top section all mesh and then add a small solid section riding on top of the poles over the mesh area like the Hilleberg Soulo and you have a near perfect tent!

@boyblue do you still have a Duplex you can do a side by side comparison on to show how much if any the head and feet clearance is improved? I always feel crowded in my Duplex if I don’t prop out the sidewalls on the Duplex if your up on an air pad and pillow. Thank you.

Sorry I meant @blue boy!

@@adamholbrook2281 I don't have a duplex anymore. Yes, a weakness of the Duplex is the limited height at foot and head end. I am hoping the more vertically sloped walls on the head and foot end of the new Free Duo gives more perceived space for head and foot.

Blue Boy Backpacking I’m also considering the improved hexamid. I’m a little nervous about the stress points on this one, but time will tell I suppose.

@@adamholbrook2281 Avoid the Hexamid - the roof stress points are failing on my hexamid - even after the Titanium roof struts are installed. Its a good attempt at a fundamentally flawed idea. Go for a 2020 Altaplex - for the same weight its a superior tent.

Interesting, my arc haul zip is my least favorite piece of gear from Zpacks. I’ll try to load some weight on it to see how it handles it. When I set it up, there was a slight wind. I felt like it performed well. But you’re right, the poles are probably a weak point.

I would think if your were purchasing a tent for heavy snow loads you would be thinking of a more four season heavier tent. When I think Zpack I think light but certainly not winter camping.

AllTheOthersWereTakn - unfortunately I’m not - thank you for watching. I’m sure it will be back on sale as soon as they lift restrictions.

Actually it may not be , they aren’t under any restrictions , this particular tent is just unavailable .

They would have removed it. But who knows.

it's available now. I just ordered one.

Thank you, you stay safe too! I can’t wait to venture out and try it in the field - as soon as the trails open.

I heard the flex pole system performs subpar in windy conditions.

Yes, that is totally true of the Duplex if one doesn't add trekking poles to support the peaks of the Duplex or tie the peaks up to a nearby tree. But that doesn't mean that one needs to ALWAYS have a trekking pole in that spot. When I pitch a Duplex with FlexPoles, I will leave out [at least one of] the trekking poles on nice days until just before I go to sleep, then I put them in place to make the tent bomb-proof while I sleep. In the morning, I remove a trekking pole from the rainbow door and I have a nice large opening for access same as the Free Duo. The Free Duo might be for bike packers or canoeists who probably wouldn't be carrying trekking poles.

The free-standing kit for duplex is such a joke

I think it’s a good thing. I’ll try to figure out if it is a positive thing or not. Stay tuned.

This is where Z-plex fails the design game. Too much structural flex and too much fabric stress on top center. Such simplicity is more acceptable with less expensive gear. I think the people that make this tent are making a lot of money.