[pct-l] Chaos On The PCT (now "Hammock Chaos On The PCT"?)

[Crystal Mcdowall]

Hey, I'll be using a hammock also this year.  In places you can't hang them, you 
can set them up like a tent using your hiking poles.  Okay, the hammock's pretty 
new,and I've only used it a few times, but so far I love it!  I was kinda 
wondering why there hasn't been more hammock discussions on here.  Are there 
areas other that Lake Morena where we can't hang them?

~Crystal

from: "enyapjr at comcast.net" <enyapjr at comcast.net>

To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Wed, March 2, 2011 12:35:50 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Chaos On The PCT (now "Hammock Chaos On The PCT"?)

> There are places you cannot hang a hammock....

But more places than many would think - & it doesn't have to be 'in trees' 
necessarily, either...
If there are two support points an appropriate distance apart with sufficient 
ground clearance in
the middle, one can hang a hammock...
Actually, more times than not, it's much easier to find a 'camp' (hang) spot for 
a hammock than it 

is a flat space large enough for a tent (but also why I was mostly a tarp camper 
prior to 'hanging'
- easier to find a suitable sleeping bag sized spot than a tent sized one!).
A tarp is also part of a total hammock set-up, so one would still have bad 
weather 'shelter' if 

needed when 'going to ground' if desired or forced to do so...

> Last year hiking with John he had a hammock and slept on the ground every night 
>of the 6 in a 
>
> row we camped together

Perhaps at the time he was more satisfied with enjoying your company instead of 
the comfort of 

hanging in his hammock solo camping...

> ...they call them "tree saver straps."
> You all who hammock, what do you think about this?

Same as Kevin - all the hangers I know use "tree huggers"...  All of mine are 1" 
polyester straps -
soft enough they don't cut into the bark, and definitely don't harm the cambium 
layer whatsoever...
It would be nice if the Lake Morena rangers would let one or two hangers 
'demonstrate' that hammocking 

using tree huggers does not damage trees (especially oaks!) - perhaps allowing 
hammocks during ADZ in
the future provided tree huggers are used...

Besides Kevin ("Hayduke"), I believe "shybird" wants to hammock the PCT this 
year, too...
I hope to see/meet both in far NorCal when I'm 'hanging' around the PCT for 3 
weeks!!

Happy trails!!!  (and Happy Hanging!!!)
Jim (PITA)
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