Bad news for NC state parks....

**MacEntyre** · 03-26-2010, 06:52

Originally Posted by Running Feather

I hope this doesn't spread.

This thread shows that it has spread.

In Charlotte, they staple bands to trees to combat cankerworms. Can you imagine the outcry if we stapled tree huggers to the tree? Maybe we can come up with some way the tree huggers benefit the tree...

- MacEntyre

**aBRG2far** · 03-26-2010, 07:39

Originally Posted by TinaLouise

I didn't think this was part of the "State Parks"???

It passes through 7 state parks
Mount Mitchell State Park (Section 9)
Stone Mountain State Park (Section 18)
Pilot Mountian State Park (Section 21)
Hanging Rock State Park (Sections 21 and 22)
Eno River State Park (Section 25)
Falls Lake State Recreation Area (Sections 26 and 27)
Jockey's Ridge State Park (Section 38)

**slowhike** · 03-26-2010, 11:47

OK, I just got through calling several NCSPs. I got an opportunity to leave a message at a couple(& did not), but I talked to someone at three different parks.
I told them about a friend recently being told about a new policy against the use of hammocks in NCSPs & asked if they were aware of it.
Stone Mt St Park... nope.
Morrow Mt St Park... nope.
South Mt Sta Park... nope.

At least two said that they were usually pretty quick to let them know about any policy change but they had nothing about hammocks.
One asked another person to be sure & one is going to have the Superintendent call me back.

So at this point, I'm thinking that an employee at Stone Mt just didn't want to answer questions about hammocks & lied

**NCPatrick** · 03-26-2010, 11:54

Originally Posted by slowhike

So at this point, I'm thinking that an employee at Stone Mt just didn't want to answer questions about hammocks & lied

Thanks Tim for all the calling work, I think the original park mentioned was South Mountains State Park though. They're probably thinking "Who is this crazy "hammock guy" and why is he calling me"?

**slowhike** · 03-26-2010, 12:29

Originally Posted by NCPatrick

Thanks Tim for all the calling work, I think the original park mentioned was South Mountains State Park though. They're probably thinking "Who is this crazy "hammock guy" and why is he calling me"?

Yep, you're right, it was South Mt SP. But at least I did get to talk to someone there that said they have herd of no such policy.

**eflat7** · 03-26-2010, 12:40

Im just gonna keep doing what I do until told different. I've only seen a ranger a handful of times during my years of hiking anyway.

**Carolinahammockhanger** · 03-26-2010, 19:21

WOW! Thanks for the leg work slowhike. Guess I was "lied" to? I don't get why I was told that. It is very nice to be wrong though! I realize that most of us would never "get caught" anyway, but it still struck me when I was told they are not allowed. Well one more thing I don't have to worry about anymore.

**slowhike** · 03-26-2010, 20:22

Originally Posted by Carolinahammockhanger

WOW! Guess I was "lied" to? I don't get why I was told that.

Strange people out there. Some of them think they can just make new rules as they go

But I'd rather find out that that guy was lying rather than right!

**Nails** · 03-26-2010, 21:52

Originally Posted by Carolinahammockhanger

WOW! Thanks for the leg work slowhike. Guess I was "lied" to?

Not necessarily. They said they got a memo. It's possible they did get something about hammocks and honestly mistook it as a ban. No way to know, really.

But I suggest that those in NC (and other places for that matter) keep your ears and eyes open for any proposals to ban hammocks. Usually, a government agency has to comply with all sorts of procedures before they can enact a rule. They have to show what is their basis for the decision and give the public an opportunity to comment on it and such. (No garuntee that your state is like this, but it's a pretty common mechanism for enacting a rule or regulation.) Ask around and internet search around and figure out where proposed rules are published and what kind of public comment or hearing takes place (if any).

Since there doesn't seem to be any scientific study that definitively says hammocks are bad for trees, there seems to be a good basis to attack any proposed ban. Agencies usually can't make rules just because they wanna or because of some hunch they have-- they usually need some kind of evidence that there's a problem and that the proposed rule will address the problem. You'll notice that this implies two avenues of attack: (1) that hammocks aren't a problem; and (2) that a complete ban isn't necessary to solve the problem.

Good luck. I still think hammock manufacturers oughta be the ones who organize and fund this kind of effort; they have the most to lose from a ban.

Just my opinion. Sorry for the long post.