Not sure how it happened, but I do remember jarring the tripod at one point. I think that made me lose count. After this came up with a kind of ritual dance around the tripod after setup, 8 counts one for each direction. Sometimes a second 8 count row and once a third row.
Yes, it was cold. After a half hour or so, fingers begin to get too numb to work with and have to stop and go get warm. Rest of body is fine, but exposed fingers...
The forest opens up here, well above the lower parts. East of this spot the forest edge underbrush is thick while North, South, and West of here is mature forest. Not fully mature, but well canopied.