Cooking under tarp/near hammock

**ryan112ryan** · 01-02-2010, 15:29

I have seen lots of folks on here talk about cooking from their hammock or making coffee/tea/coco etc. Outside of the obvious danger of catching you hammock or tarp on fire. This seems to me to be a really bad idea.

I don't live in bear country (some black bears here), but I still always cook away from where I camp for fear of bears or other animals. I have spent allot of time in the woods and from everyone I have ever talked to this practice is a very big deal, namely you just don't do it.

Just curious why it seems like I have seen so many who, what I feel are, outdoor savvy folks doing this?

**vitamaltz** · 01-02-2010, 15:37

I'm with you. I've seen some people have some really cozy meals or a fine cup of tea in their hammock, but I have to resist. Bear sense says bad idea even though my belly thinks its the best idea in the world. Sadly I don't even do it when I'm not in bear country. I want my gear to smell like nothing more than nylon and my BO.

No bears in your corner of NC?

**MacEntyre** · 01-02-2010, 15:47

Breakfast is best from the hammock, a la Shugster. I'm about to get up and break camp, and it's just boiled water, so there's really no problem with bears.

I've only done one supper under the tarp, when it was raining cats and dogs in Sipsey... we were all hunkered down except IHangInBankhead, who was stomping around with a pack full of water, scaring campers in another site.

- MacEntyre

**Mustardman** · 01-02-2010, 15:49

I am not too worried about my hammock picking up some trace odors long-term, so I cook under the tarp when I'm in a thunderstorm or in an area where bears aren't a concern, which is honestly most of my camping.

I wouldn't worry at all about a cup of tea or hot chocolate, or really even the cook-in-the-bag type meals, which produce minimal odors - as long as you STORE them far from your site after you're done eating, I don't see much of a big deal.

Now, if I were backpacking in Yosemite or the Smokeys, I might change my tune a bit.

**Hawk-eye** · 01-02-2010, 16:00

Not a problem in most of NC. Had one circle me in Linville Gorge one night but not a problem. Now in the Smokies where the bears associate people and food it's more of problem. But I wouldn't sweat it unless your fring trout!

**vitamaltz** · 01-02-2010, 16:00

I just know that I can't smell worth a darn and I don't want to presume what they can or can't smell. I admit I felt a lot of jealousy watching shug warm his insides from his hammock. I just see way too many bears even with a food-free camp.

**Trooper** · 01-02-2010, 16:02

I've never been in Grizzly Country, but with Black Bears I limit myself to hot coffee, tea, whiskey, and whisky in the hammock. I'm interested to see if I'm going to be eaten soon...

I theorize that Shug hasn't encountered bears because he ventures into weather that is too cold for most Ursa, but too warm for Polar Bears...The Shugilocks Zone...

**vitamaltz** · 01-02-2010, 16:08

The Shugilocks Zone is also too cold for most of us humans

I plead guilty to breaking my own rule when it comes to whiskey. I know that stuff smells sweet, too. I had an unnerving but hilarious episode in Big Bend in college involving strawberry wine and a javelina.