Hang Hammock from Climbing Nuts

**HannahsDaddy** · 02-18-2010, 10:18

I would love to know if anyone has used climbing nuts or chocks to hang a hammock from a rock face or boulder? I don't have any immediate plans to try this, but would love to keep some in my pack if it has worked for anyone in the past. You never know when I may get sleepy on the side of a mountain...

**Cannibal** · 02-18-2010, 10:34

Yep!

I played with many different set-ups last Spring because I was on a mission to hang at the top of a 14er, or at least very near the top. Climbing gear was my first thought and it worked OK, but the additional weight kind of bugged me. What I finally settled on was carrying MUCH longer webbing, I won't even admit how much. Generally, I could wrap a rock outcrop with at least one end of my webbing. If I found a crack in a rock face, I found that putting a knot in my webbing and sliding it into the crack would hold very well. I got it wedged in there a couple of times; once I thought I'd have to cut my webbing, but perseverance triumphed.

Really a bit of a PITA, but the results are also kind of cool. Once summer rolls around again out here, I'll try to get some pics. I still owe Brian at OES a picture of one of his tarps on top of the world.

**KerMegan** · 02-18-2010, 10:38

you've been to Everest?!? with a tarp? Cool!

**Cannibal** · 02-18-2010, 10:44

Originally Posted by KerMegan

you've been to Everest?!? with a tarp? Cool!

I wish!
Everything is relative. My "top of the world" is between 14,000' and 15,000'.

**poker88** · 02-18-2010, 11:43

Originally Posted by Cannibal

Climbing gear was my first thought and it worked OK, but the additional weight kind of bugged me. What I finally settled on was carrying MUCH longer webbing, I won't even admit how much.

How much did the climbing nuts weigh in comparision to the extra webbing?

**Cannibal** · 02-18-2010, 11:48

Probably pretty close actually. The Black Diamond cams I was using are about 19 or 20 oz each, if I remember correctly. I never weighed the extra long lengths of webbing, but I bet it was close.

Part of the issue was comfort with the gear. I'm not a climber, unless you count trees. So, I was never uber 'trusting' of the gear. I know and trust my webbing, so I'm more comfortable using it.

**Trooper** · 02-18-2010, 11:56

I think this is what you had in mind:

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...=8315#post8315

I've used the knot method Cannibal describes for pitching a tarp with paracord when I slept on the ground. The monkey's fist has been used for this in the past, but probably with limited success, which is why it isn't a recommended use. If I were to hang, I'd use the extra webbing to facilitate a safer setup. Another thing to consider is using a branch as a toggle with the webbing, which would be useful in some situations.

**ringtail-THFKAfood** · 02-18-2010, 12:21

I carry two 30' pieces of webbing and a #5 cam for hanging in the desert. Hanging from a rock face does not leave much room between the rock and the hammock. Even hanging inside a slot canyon is a problem because the cams walk a bit and get difficult to remove.

Think like you are setting an anchor for a rappel rather than placing pro for a lead climb.

Long webbing allows you to use small trees and an anchor. Crevices and pebbles make pretty good anchors.