Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Wet & Wild

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    New Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    1

    Wet & Wild

    Sept. 3rd I'm heading to Damacus for my 1st section hike up to Harpers Ferry. So with the nice steady rain we are having here in the Northeast I decided to slap on my brand new rainsuit and spend the night in the backyard. After setting up my Hennessey without too much fuss I sat underneath and made sure I could boil a couple cups on my little alcohol stove. Check - all good so far. My honey staring out the window the whole time shaking her head lovingly.

    So I slip off my rain suit and climb in for the night. Hammock sags and the tarp is now way too high and a little offset. Crud - climb back out and tighten the tarp slides and rearrange the stakeouts. Climb back in and things look OK. Up to this point I've only used my hammock in dry weather. So I had my trekking poles holding up the tarp a little. A few minutes later I see lakes accumulating over my head. Hmmm... OK no poles. Climb out and rearrange the stakeouts again.

    Climb back in and finally get a little snooze. BLAMMO a 2 inch deadfall lands right beside me and knocks out one of my stakes. Phew that would have left a nasty bump. Climb out, restake tarp, toss large limb, climb back in. Lesson learned - always look up before tying up.

    I get a few more Zzzzzs and notice I'm 6 inches lower than before and my tarp is flapping around shooting water all over. Crap, crap double-crap! Climb out, undo tree hugger, pull tight after taking down my hanging pack, boots and rain gear, rearrange tarp stakes and climb back in. Lie back and notice I have a 3 inch gap of open air over my head. Climb out, slide tarp towards my head, move stakes, get back in.

    By this time I'm pretty wet, hammock is wet, down bag is starting to feel pretty damp. Screw it, zip in and fall back to sleep.

    Around 7am I get up, grab my stuff and head inside. I immediately ordered the Guide Gear 9x9 (only thing left in my budget) and a Monster Hitchcraft. I'll use an Black Diamond light carabiner that I already have on one end and the hitchcraft on the other. The tarp states it doesn't stretch so no need to build tensioners. I'll just tie off the tarp to the tree instead of the hammock line and use the old tarp rings as drip lines.

    A lot heavier setup but I'll lug it for the convenience. Sound like a plan?
    Last edited by btutor; 08-21-2007 at 18:57.

  2. #2
    Senior Member hangnout's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Monterey, TN
    Hammock
    DIY Bridge
    Tarp
    DIY Tarps
    Insulation
    Leigh's UQ's
    Posts
    1,917
    Images
    123
    SG tarp best tarp for the $$ but you will need the tarp tensioners

  3. #3
    Senior Member angrysparrow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    near Memphis, TN
    Hammock
    WB Traveler
    Tarp
    ZPacks CF
    Insulation
    Te-Wa / HG / WB
    Suspension
    Whoopie Hooks
    Posts
    9,646
    Images
    92
    Welcome to the forum, btutor.

    Your experience sounds very much like the initial learning experience that many of us on this forum had when first getting started. Give yourself some time and the details of a good hang will become second nature for you. An enlarged tarp, like the GearGuide that you've ordered, is a really good idea for any hammock, especially a HH.

    Again, welcome.
    “I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy

  4. #4
    Senior Member FanaticFringer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Lawrenceville, Ga
    Hammock
    JRB Bear Mtn. Bridge
    Tarp
    BlackCat/JRB 11x10
    Insulation
    Pad(s)/JRB Quilts
    Posts
    2,417
    Images
    34
    You'll be past the learning curve before you know it. Kinda like a bird learning to fly.
    "Every day above ground is a good day"

  5. #5
    slowhike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Winston-Salem, NC
    Hammock
    DIY, gathered end , w/ spreader
    Tarp
    JRB Universal
    Insulation
    DAM/ HG Incubator
    Suspension
    Webbing and rings
    Posts
    11,677
    Images
    319
    yep, welcome to the group.
    you'll soon have figured out what's stretching & how to get every thing centered. ...tim
    I too will something make and joy in it's making

  6. #6
    Senior Member Cannibal's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Hammock
    Warbonnet ON!
    Tarp
    SuperFly or MacCat
    Insulation
    Yetis & Mambas
    Suspension
    Webbing and rings
    Posts
    13,605
    Images
    136
    Welcome btutor!

    I couldn't tell by the description, but when it's raining always tie-off your tarp BELOW your hammock suspension. It will keep it closer to the hammock so you don't get as much seperation when you get in and it will go a long ways towards keeping you dry. The stock tarp will work, but the SG tarp will make it easy.

    The good news is you learned in a night what can (did in my case) take a couple of overnights. Now that you're learning to stay dry the next thing we need to work on are those tree huggers.

  7. #7
    Peter_pan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    virginia
    Hammock
    JRB BMBH
    Tarp
    JRB 11x10 Cat Tarp
    Insulation
    JRB UQ of season
    Posts
    2,850
    Images
    7
    btutor,

    Welcome to the hanging gang... watch out for potential deadfall before picking your trees.

    Pan
    Ounces to Grams.

    www.jacksrbetter.com ... Largest supplier of camping quilts and under quilts...Home of the Original Nest Under Quilt, and Bear Mountain Bridge Hammock. 800 595 0413

  • + New Posts
  • Similar Threads

    1. Alone in the wild
      By Weta in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 7
      Last Post: 07-08-2013, 08:13
    2. Out of the Wild Hammock?
      By CampWalker in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 30
      Last Post: 03-08-2011, 11:49

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •