Camping in a Hammock
I've served as a Scoutmaster for a few years, and I really enjoy camping with
the Scouts. However, my body joints are stiff, and I had a hard time sleeping
in my tent on hard ground. Finally, I discovered a better way: hammocking, the
use of a hammock instead of a tent. You must be kidding, you say! How do you
keep dry in storms? Easy! Pull up a chair and let me tell you about it....
Hammocks Can Be Used In Any Weather
I've slept in my hammock during high winds and heavy rain. I've been in my
hammock waiting for the rain to stop. On two occasions, because of a shortage
of tents at camp, I slept in my hammock for the entire week of Scout Camp.
Not Many Problems
In three years of hammocking, I only had two nights that were problems. One
was the time I tied my hammock to a dead pine tree. When I sat in the hammock
to try it out, the tree snapped, and the hammock pulled the tree down. We had
arrived at the campsite after dark, and I didn't notice that the tree I
selected was dead. The other problem was the night I got a slight case of
frost bite on my big toe. I solved that problem in future campouts by placing
hand warmers (the kind that contain iron filings and get warm due to oxidation
of the iron after you shake the envelope) in the foot of my sleeping bag.
Advantages
Hammocking has big advantages! First, they cost much less than tents. I got
mine for $11. Second, they are smaller and lighter to carry than tents. Third,
they take less time to set up. When my troop takes trips to the Red River
Gorge, we usually camp off-trail, usually on rocky, bush-filled, sloping
ground. It's nearly impossible to set up tents in those areas. Another
advantage pertains to cooking during a storm. Boy Scouts of America policy
forbids the use of fire in tents, and scouts who backpack with tents end up
cooking in the rain. In my case, I sat under my hammock, out of the rain, and
cooked with my backpacking stove.
To be honest, though, I wouldn't recommend hammocking in desert areas. First,
there probably aren't many trees. Second, one needs a tent to keep scorpions
out.
Overview of Hammocking
Convinced that hammocking has merits? Ok, let's see how it works. Your hammock
will be tied between two trees. A long rope will be tied between the two trees
and will be above the hammock. A plastic tarp will be draped over that rope
and will serve as a "roof". Closed-cell foam pads can be used to cushion your
body so you won't feel the nylon webbing that makes up the hammock and so
you'll be warm in the winter. A "bug mask" will protect you from mosquitoes.
Finally, your sleeping bag will keep you warm. Got the picture? Ok, lets look
at the details.
Items needed
A double-sized hammock, one that will be large enough to contain you, your
sleeping bag, and one or two closed-cell pads. Don't use a single-sized
hammock, because it will flip and dump you out. The double hammocks are stable
and won't dump you.
Longer ropes. Remove the short ropes that are tied to each end of the hammock
and replace them with about 15' of rope at each end. You will need that much
rope to reach the trees and go around the trunks. Drip lines. Tie short
lengths of string at strategic points on the hammock. The strings act as drip
lines and keep water from running down the rope and into your sleeping bag.
The strategic points are (a) where the rope ties to the rings supporting the
hammock, and (b) the point where each cord that comprises the webbing of the
hammock leaves the rings. The idea is to divert the water that runs down the
tree trunk and then down the rope to the rings. In addition, tie drip strings
at other places that might help divert the water. The drip strings are
permanently tied to the hammock. These strings are one of the key elements
that keep you dry during storms.
A "roof". Get a plastic sheet about 9 feet by 12 feet. The plastic should
thick enough so it won't tear during use. This tarp will be placed above your
hammock. This "roof" is the other key element that keeps you dry. Rope to
support the "roof". Get a separate rope (1/4" clothes line) about 30 feet
long. This rope will be tied between the two trees to support your "roof".
Short ropes. Get four 3-foot ropes to be used in tying the corners of the
plastic sheet to trees and bushes during windy nights. This gives you a stable
"roof" that won't blow off your hammock. There is an easy way to tie the ropes
to the corners of the tarp. Place a small rock or twig in each corner and
twist the plastic around the rock. Tie the ropes around the twists; the rocks
will prevent the ropes from slipping off. Wooden clothes pins (6 or 7 of
them). Three pins will be used to fasten the "roof" to the rope. The others
can be used to fasten the "roof" to itself if you want to be sealed in a
"cocoon" during storms. That is, you can wrap the "roof" around the hammock
and also around the trees that support the hammock to give you more protection
from wind and bugs.
A bug net for your head, if you live in areas infested by mosquitoes, black
flies, etc. This sounds like a lot of stuff, but it doesn't take much room in
your backpack.
Setting Up Your Hammock
It takes about 5 minutes to set up a hammock, and it can be done in the dark
(hold a mag light in your mouth or wear a head lamp). Here is what you do.
1. Select two trees about 15 feet apart. Trees further apart than that can be
used, but your hammock will sag more and might scrape the ground after you are
in it. If you use hardwood trees, you can use trees as small as 4 or 5 inches
in diameter. If you use softwood trees, use larger ones.
2. Tie one end of the hammock to a tree. Position the hammock so the ring is
about 5 feet from the ground. Wrap the rope around the tree a couple of times,
and then run it back through the ring and back around the tree again; after
going through the ring, the rope should be going the opposite direction around
the tree. Then use half-hitches to secure the rope. Going back through the
ring will make your hammock more stable, because you will have, in effect, two
ropes holding the ring to the tree.
3. Tie the other end of the hammock to the other tree. In
doing this, leave a little sag in the hammock to increase its stability.
4. Sit in the hammock to test that the trees will support your weight and
that the hammock won't scrape the ground. Tighten the hammock if necessary.
5. Tie the long rope about 12-15 inches above the hammock to support the roof.
Pull the rope tight when tying it.
6. Place the plastic tarp over the rope and fasten it with three clothes pins.
7. If you don't expect wind, you can let the corners of the tarp hang loosely
over the hammock. Or, you can tie the corners away from the hammock to give
you a larger "bedroom". If you do expect wind, tie the corners of the tarp so
they won't flap in the wind and disturb your sleep.
8. Place closed-cell foam pads in the hammock (one if by summer and two or
more if by winter). Place your sleeping bag on top of the pads.
Guess what? You're finished! Fast and easy!
Getting in the Hammock
Getting in the hammock is easy (I do have to admit, though, that it took me a
couple of years to figure out this scheme...)
1. Zip open your sleeping bag and drape the top of it over the far edge of the
hammock such that it hangs down. Be sure there are no folds in the bag,
because once you are inside the bag you will be lying on top of the folds and
won't be able to remove them. This is a key step in insuring a comfortable
night.
2. As needed, place a couple of hand warmers in the foot of your sleeping bag.
3. If you don't sleep in your clothes, remove your clothes and dress in
pajamas or what ever you use when camping. If you use a down filled sleeping
bag, you should not sleep in the clothes you wore during the day, because the
clothes are damp from body moisture. If you use a bag with synthetic fiber,
this moisture is not a problem.
4. Sit in the hammock such that your feet are dangling over the edge of the
hammock and the portion of the sleeping bag that drapes over the edge of the
hammock is behind you.
5. Remove your boots and stow them at the foot of the hammock. During the
winter, I place my boots inside my sleeping bag so they won't be frozen when I
use them the next morning. During the summer, I place them inside a plastic
bag and leave them on the ground.
6.As needed, place dry, wool stockings on your feet.
7.Swing your legs into the hammock and lie down.
8.Pull the top of your sleeping bag over you and zip it up.
Miscellaneous Comments
A jacket rolled up makes a nice pillow. The rope supporting the plastic tarp
makes a nice hand-hold if you need to shift body weight during the night. It's
a nice feeling to be swaying gently in a hammock while looking into a
star-filled sky.
Hammocking isn't for everybody. Some people can't handle the curvature of
their body while sleeping. Others miss the lack of privacy that tents provide.
However, many campers love hammocks.
Try it, you might like it!
(
geocities.com/southbeach/castle/3706) (
geocities.com/southbeach/castle) (
geocities.com/southbeach)