Back to ground experiment

[kllrbee]

Hey all,
I only started hammock camping this year, but was hooked immediately. Only took 3 nights outdoors to become a full time hanger indoors. Took my bed out back and burned it about a week after my first hang.
I still have 2 tents though. A 3-4 person cheapy walmart one and a 1-2 REI that I had in my bugout bag. Last couple years, Ive setup the walmart one out back and just left it. Mostly for the kids to sleep in, but Id use it every so often too.
Obviously haven't used it since I got a hammock. Decided to try it last night just for ships and giggles. Went out with the dog about 1030....was back in the house grabbing my hammock by 1130....haha. That includes about 5 minutes walking to and from the tent. So took all of about 45 minutes on the ground to be absolutely miserable. Mind you, this is out back in a field where I have let the thick grass grow to almost a foot....so there is plenty of natural padding. Still....just awful. Started raining and my back and arms got wet when I accidently rolled off my narrow thermarest pad. Dog didn't even like it anymore.
Honestly, I don't know how I did it for the first 40 years of my life.

So, I guess the point of this thread is not to complain about tent camping, but to share that it might be a good idea every so often to go to ground (even for a short period of time) as a reminder of how bad it was.....and how good it is now.

[miyanc]

I have had to go to ground for a few occasions. camping in the Knights baseball stadium for the scout night and a feeble attempts to get my lady folk to go camping. At the Uwharrie Hang I should have enough gear to get us all in hammocks. Anytime spent on the floor is terrible. It starts with crawling down and into my bed. With hammocks, you get that first sit and you just pause and relax. especially after a full day of dealing with cubscouts. Another benefit BTW is at no point in time do kids end up playing in your sleeping space with muddy feet and leaving your doors open to let all things crawly in.

[gunner76]

I am happy that people still sleep in tents. Means more trees for me to choose from.

[TallPaul]

I backpacked recently and took my pyramid tent due to the weight savings and the fact the trail climbed up serious elevation.
Needless to say I was up every hour and it reaffirmed my hammocking.

[Old Dog]

Apparently you've already switched to hanging indoors. If you think going back to the ground is tough, try sleeping in a bed again. I'm a full time hanger and will never go back to a bed by choice.

[SirMarkos]

The ground? What's that?

[Floridahanger]

The ground? What's that?

That's where the woodland creatures pee That's another reason why we hang

[ktitan]

It seems about twice a year the boys in our scout troop choose a scout camp that doesn't allow hammocks on trees, to spite my objections. I got back from one of those trips two weekends ago with a sore back that hurt for several days.

Yesterday I made 2 turtledog style portable trees. They should keep me off the ground for all car camping trips. I've tested the ground enough to no where I'd rather sleep.