Hello from Johnson City, TN

**Hamper** · 03-23-2010, 19:41

Hello all. I'm a newbie. Got a HH Exped Asym for Valentine's Day from my beautiful wife. I've hung a couple times for daytime naps and I'm super excited about doing an overnight soon. I'm in my third and final year of a doctoral physical therapy program at ETSU, equating to me having negative money

. I desperately want to pimp my hammock out with a cool UQ, a new suspension, a bigger tarp and the zipper mod, but that'll have to wait a year or so. For now, I'll have to make due with my Exped Synmat pad (maybe I can talk my wife into a Speer SPE...) and the backpacking gear I already have. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the helpful posts here. Thank you all for making the transition from ground dweller to ewok so easy!

**slowhike** · 03-23-2010, 21:09

Sounds like you're learning to make do w/ what you can get your hands on until things get better. Very good!
And welcome to HF!

**MedicineMan** · 03-23-2010, 21:12

Welcome Hamper....sounds like you've got it figured but I'm close by if there is some gear i might have that you want to inspect before purchase...I go into JC two times a week to check on a little blue haired woman I know.

**gargoyle** · 03-23-2010, 21:59

The Ewoks welcome you, and so do I.

**Mule** · 03-23-2010, 22:18

Welcome to the good times. Do you have a sewing machine?

**RAW** · 03-24-2010, 17:46

Welcome aboard!

A few nights a week, I'm sleeping in my hammock just over the state line from you. I'm just a few minutes from the Wolf Laurel exit on I-26.

In fact, I'll be hangin' up my Blackbird in just a little bit and getting the underquilt hooked up.

**MacEntyre** · 03-24-2010, 17:52

Welcome! I like that Scottish approach of makin' do with whatcha got... maybe you'll read up on DIY gear, too!

**NCPatrick** · 03-24-2010, 18:17

Welcome! I've always wanted to see Johnson City, but just haven't had the opportunity.

**Hamper** · 03-24-2010, 19:41

Thanks for the hardy welcome all! It's hard to find a community of folks online these days that treats each other like human beings. I greatly appreciate it!

@MedicineMan & RAW - Glad to know you are nearby! Perhaps when my schedule slows down a little, I can meet up with you to learn the ropes(or webbings??? - hmmm, bad joke, sorry)

@Mule and MacEntyre - I do not own a sewing machine, but my wife has wanted one for a while and the more I read about hammocking, the more I want one as well. My boy started cub scouts this year and I think making my own gear might be a good hobby for us both to pick up over the next few years. I'll definitely need some worldly advice on that when I get to it!

@NCPatrick - You should come visit! Its a pretty cool place. Big enough that you have access to anything you might want but not so big that you can't see the mountains for the skyscrapers! I'm about 20 minutes from the AT in either direction (Hampton TN, Roan Mountain, Erwin TN Nolichuckey River, etc) If you like beer and racing...there's Bristol Motor Speedway across the way, and if your like me, you like beer and disc golf! Both of which we have plenty of

**glassymountain** · 03-24-2010, 21:17

Welcome to hammock camping. I lived in Johnson City for a few years and loved the area. That's where I really started hiking.

I've used an Exped Synmat 7 Dlx in an ENO hammock and it kept me very warm. It is a little awkward to get it setup and get the right position, but does the job well.