How to hang from a Cactus!

**glamar** · 09-01-2010, 18:01

Well I have been lurking around a few weeks and decided you guys and gals seem like good people so I had better introduce myself. I have been a hanger for a year and half, just finished my 22nd night hanging in the wilderness (not counting test nights in the backyard.) Most of my camping is backpacking cause anyone can car camp! I had been working with a BSA varsity scout team here in Arizona and I am getting too old to sleep on the ground.

Last year we spent a week backpacking along the Mogollon Rim (pronounced ˌmə-gə-ˈyōn). After 8-10 miles days the hammock went up first and I would lay there till I got hungry. Summer time puts us up in the pines but I do love to hike our deserts in the winter. I won’t dare tie up to our beautiful saguaro cactus and mesquites are nasty to sleep under. Has anyone tried tying to rocks? Are there any other Arizonans on HF?

I am currently in a DIY gathered-end, Wally-World 1.9 rip-stop rig and I love it. I am using climbers utility cord with a couple aluminum carabineers hooked to some tie down straps I picked up at Home Depot. Seems to be working but I think I might try to make me some whoopee slings and use a toggle soon. Some of those fancy hammocks I have seen here on HF look nice but I am afraid if I try one I’ll have to buy it. I like the DYI, a UQ and a Ultra-lightweight back are my next projects.

When I am not hangin’ and manage to develop software or hang with the family. It is nice to see there are more hangers out there.

Glamar
Gilbert, Arizona

**SGT Rock** · 09-01-2010, 18:04

Hanging from a cactus. I'm not sure I wanna try that one.

Welcome to the tree house.

**pgibson** · 09-01-2010, 18:06

Welcome, glad to have you with us. There are lots of folks from AZ on the forum, I am sure some of them will pop in to say hey. And yah a number of folks have hung from rocks, takes some different approaches to make it work but there are several threads on the subject, from using climbing gear to just lassoing the rock with a long line or strap.

**PuckerFactor** · 09-01-2010, 18:07

There are a number of Hfers in AZ, they even had a hang a while back, IIRC. Hopefully they'll chime in. Welcome to the addiction!

Acer

**Poppabear** · 09-01-2010, 18:20

Welcome to HF glad to have you with us.

**Dutch** · 09-01-2010, 19:50

Welcome to HF

**JayS** · 09-01-2010, 20:10

And "welcome" from yet another non-Arizona hanger. There are some on here, I promise!

**KefWalker** · 09-02-2010, 12:07

Welcome from a next door neighbor in NM. I'm a newbie to hammock hanging and I'd sure like to know how to hang from a cactus--we have a lot of them here! I suspect the answer might be something like: VERY carefully!

**UncleMJM** · 09-02-2010, 12:10

Welcome to the trees from Texas! I too advise against the cactus hang. Nice photo opp though.

In fact this Texan will be driving through your country this weekend on a road trip and hope to find a place to hang for a nap on the way.

**te-wa** · 09-02-2010, 12:28

iirc, there are about 12 active AZ hangers on HF.

we do have AZ "hangs" and should be doing that one in West Fork real soon.
however many odd places ive hung it has never been from a saguaro, but i recon tree huggers would not cause any damage. they are a protected species as you know, so i advise myself not to try it...