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

[Daniel Coombes]

I tried using a hammock last year on the PCT and between the desert scrub,
several freak storms, and *insane winds* I ditched it when I got to Idyllwild,
CA.  I picked up my GoLite Hut 1 and used that all the way to Canada.  Its
not to say that it cannot be done but expect to camp alone most of the time
in the beginning 700 miles.  After that it would be a lot more doable.  Plus
its a LOT colder when swinging from the trees.  I was cold with a 20 degree
WM bag.

*Fully Loaded*

On Wed, Mar 2, 2011 at 6:26 PM, Crystal Mcdowall <crystal_mcdowall at yahoo.com
> wrote:

> 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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