As some of you know, I was planning to hike the northern half of the AT this summer. I was planning to switch from a tent to a hammock for the first time on this trip. I was a bit unsure as to whether a hammock would work well for me. Well, I'm not hiking right now. I twisted my ankle in PA and I'm off the trail for at least a couple of weeks until it heals up. No worries.
Anyway, the first week I had a friend with me and carried my 2 person tent. She left the trail a little north of Pen-Mar, and I continued solo having switched to my Hennessey Expedition A-Sym. The first night I spent in the hammock (ever!) was at Rocky Mountain shelter. The set up of the hammock was causing me some problems. All the trees were just a little too close together, and I was being F#$%ing swarmed by thousands of evil little flies. They were like miniature black flies and they were relentless. ( BTW: Rocky Mtn. Shelter was the buggiest shelter I've ever encountered on the AT, and the water source sucked too....hike on to Quarry Gap shelter. I wish I had.) So, it took me about an hour to get the HH set up, forty minutes of which was spent battling the bugs. I get into the hammock to get a little relief, and it decides to stretch way more than it ever did in the backyard. So I get out and tighten everything up while incurring another twenty or so bug bites. I'm mildly upset at this point(it had been a crappy day on the trail too). I get in the hammock for the second time. The rope slips, and again I'm sagging down a foot off the ground. The bugs distracted me and I tied a knot incorrectly. At this point I'm pissed. I gather all my gear up in my arms and make for the shelter. I'm stubbornly determined to hang the friggin' hammock and sleep in it. I scout the area again, and find a couple of trees that are perfect except for their proximity to the privey. I didn't care, I was half mad with bug bites and stubborness. I get the hammock hung properly and get in. It was FANTASTIC. I slept well, I was comfortable, and only got chilled once, just before dawn. I added my pad and that solved the chill. The following night it rained pretty heavy so I stayed in a shelter. The third nite carrying the hammock, I decide to hang. Again, I was swarmed with biting insects which distracted me and I kept screwing up the knots. I got pissed again, and decided to screw the clean & pretty knots. I lashed the hell out of those ropes, then added a couple of knots, then added some sh*t that I made up. It worked quite well. The hammock's appearance attracted a lot of attention from the other hikers, who had never seen one. "Clocktower" checked it out and even got inside(as I nervously eye the ropes and hope my fury-based lash/knot/made-up sh*t hanging combo holds under his weight). He declared the hammock to be pretty cool and asked where I got it. I think he may convert from tents. Anyway, I had a great nite in the hammock. I slept better than I had since the start of the trip. I over slept the next morning. I was so comfortable, I didn't want to get out of the hammock. I didn't start hiking till noon that day. The following two nights were even more comfortable.
I must admit, I thought some of you were embellishing your tales of hammock induced comfort. I was wrong. These things are way more comfortable than a tent. When I wake up, I don't want to get out of the hammock. It has enough room for all my stuff to hang inside and I was plenty warm with just a bag and pad. I am now a full fledged hammock hanger. I haven't hung in the rain yet, but I'm confident the Hammock and I can handle it. I still love my tent, but I won't use it solo anymore. I'm glad I switched to a hammock and I can't wait to get back on the trail, so I can use it some more. happy hanging!
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Originally Posted by Cannibal
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