Dumb mistake for new HH'ers

**DARKSHADOW** · 08-20-2010, 19:56

Learn from me could have been a lot worse.

After a long journy at the end of my recent 10 day kayak trip we parked the trucks to make camp. In northeren Ontario the trees you get are a real mix, and because of soil (or lack there of) conditions trees can be unstable. I had 4" trees that were more soild then 12"+ trees.

I strung my hamock up between two large trees at the very max distance apart and while the hammock was in the snake skins laid my weight to see if the small knots made in the few inches of the rope left would hold.

This of course put all my Generous weight on the ridge line snaping it!

It broke off at the loop inside the hammock so I was able to tie it back on after a bit of fiddling.

Lack of sleep after a long day if paddling can do strange things to your mind, so take a sec to think before you ruin your trip.

Happy hanging!

**strung2tite** · 08-20-2010, 20:11

Hey, that kind of stuff happens. At least, it wasnt someting that resulted in an injury. Thanks for the post. It may have saved me a future broken ridgeline. I see so many people pull theirself up using solely the ridgeline. Whats up with that? Im surprised there arent many more stories about ridgeline mishaps on HF.
John

**SuperTramp** · 08-20-2010, 20:23

Originally Posted by strung2tite

Hey, that kind of stuff happens. At least, it wasnt someting that resulted in an injury. Thanks for the post. It may have saved me a future broken ridgeline. I see so many people pull theirself up using solely the ridgeline. Whats up with that? Im surprised there arent many more stories about ridgeline mishaps on HF.
John

guilty

- i broke my ridgeline horsing myself up -oh well thats how we learn

**trouthunter** · 08-20-2010, 20:24

You are to be commended for posting your experience, we all do things that turn out to be less than "thoughtful".
Anyone who denies that just isn't doing much. Haha!

This is off the subject of hammocks, but when I was much younger I had seen some one bust up firewood by propping one end of a limb on a large rock, then picking up another large rock overhead and slamming it downward on the limb. Ideally the limb breaks from the impact. This does work. Unfortunately after trying this a few times I got hit in the head by one end of the limb as it snapped.
To this day my friends that were there with me tell the story.

I will probably never live it down, it is funny though.....in hindsight.

I will remember about the ridgeline!

**Pitch** · 08-20-2010, 20:25

Originally Posted by DARKSHADOW

This of course put all my Generous weight on the ridge line snaping it!!

Yikes... Sorry to hear that. I guess it isn't a structural ridge but just there to hold up the bug net?

I think the WBBB I use has a amsteel structural ridgeline so I'm not worried about breaking it... but good to know if I should ever buy a HH (or try someone elses - I don't want to break other peoples hard earned toys!!)

**DARKSHADOW** · 08-20-2010, 20:33

The stuff is strong took quite a lot to snap it and was streched tight. Mine may end up seeing an amsteel adjustable RL some time if I order some soon.

Mine also broke right at there loop making a re-tie easy, if someone were to snap it or tear it out of the whipping end they would be having a less then happy camp.

**SuperTramp** · 08-20-2010, 21:15

Originally Posted by DARKSHADOW

The stuff is strong took quite a lot to snap it and was streched tight. Mine may end up seeing an amsteel adjustable RL some time if I order some soon.

Mine also broke right at there loop making a re-tie easy, if someone were to snap it or tear it out of the whipping end they would be having a less then happy camp.

i forgot to mention that when i retied the ridgeline i lost a few inches but found it more comfortable

**mtncmpr** · 08-20-2010, 23:03

Originally Posted by XexorZ

I guess it isn't a structural ridge but just there to hold up the bug net?

.

The structural ridge line on the HH sets a certain amount of sag for the hammock, plus supports the bug net. Lots of folks will tinker with the length and set the sag to their individual liking (see supertramps previous post).

.

**Jsaults** · 08-21-2010, 07:15

Been there, done that. Didn't get a T-shirt.

Look at it this way: Now you have an excuse to crack open the end covers and see how the HHs are assembled. And you can install an adjustable ridgeline to allow testing of various sets vs comfort levels.

A classic case of lemons & lemonade.

Jim

**avalonmorn** · 08-21-2010, 07:47

When I joined this forum, I bought a used Hennessy from another member. Being a newb, I didn't know about suspension and set-up. I wondered one day what those two very long timy black ropes were, and I tied them together. Voila! a ridgeline! Lucky I didn't cut them off. I decided to keep it as is, to remind me to learn more about hammocking, amd, if I forget, there's that big #&$%& bow tied almost in my face....I am a full-blooded Okie.