My first backpacking trip using the hammock was mid-october of this year. We hiked into our destination at night in a wind driven downpour. We set up the tarps, then the hammocks, then changed into dry gear. The tarps and hammocks worked great. Especially given that the only ground that didn't have water running down it was the raised rocks.
Having a telephone pole drop on me!!!
what!!!! you got to tell us about that oneOriginally Posted by Nightwalker
never mind... i saw your story just now on this thread...
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=2563
Last edited by slowhike; 12-10-2007 at 07:15.
I too will something make and joy in it's making
You win the.....err......prize.......
"Every day above ground is a good day"
Details! how the hell does something like that happen?
Jay
The story is here.
I've spent some nasty nights out, but never had a bad experience. No war stories, no gear failures. My tarp is a little over-sized: a hexagon 8.5X5. That helps in blowing rain. It has cat cuts on the 4 end hems and all pull-outs are bungee buffered against sagging and wind loading. So the tarp stays up and stays taut. I use a foam pad - nothing to fail there. It also keeps me off the hammock if the hammock gets wet/frozen. It's all a matter of planning for the worst.
My worst conditions have been blowing rain, followed by mist and a hard freeze. Freezing fog can be pretty rough as well; hoar frost on the bug net and hammock body. I use down quilts, and have been OK.
My hammock is the only reliable piece of gear that I look forward too, actually. Clothes,weather, weight, and other things make a trip difficult. Never the hammock. Hammock is the relief.
I don't blame the hammock, only my error this one time of judging the length of supports and made my feet elevated. Thus, ruined any sleep that night. That was my first time hammock camping... so, yeah.
I haven't been doing this long, but I have a story that applies. My last trip out to Savage Gulf, I brought along my first DIY hammock. It was made of cotton based rip stop, which I know isn't ideal, but it's what I could find locally in time to go that I felt good about given my weight (280 at the time).
Now, originally, I was planning on sleeping in the tent for what was to hopefully be my last time as I was working towards converting to the hammock as my shelter. It wasn't too cold (41° low), and I was unusually uncomfortable on the ground, so I decided that I was just going to get back up, and try sleeping in the hammock tonight.
So I took the sleeping bag (20° synthetic) my pad, and fleece liner with me into the hammock. Now, I hadn't made my tarp yet. Everything was going great, until I felt some raindrops on my face. I proceed get rained on for about 1 minute. I sat up right before I was about to throw in the towel and retreat to the tent, the rain stopped.
It was just enough to make me uncomfortable, and I was waking up constantly checking the sky and wondering if I was going to get rained on again. Once I saw a clear sky and stars, I was able to get comfortable again and sleep like a rock.
i can understand your concern dog8mycode... especially after it had already rained some.
i'm not as brave as a lot of hammockers about sleeping w/o my tarp, although i have done it several times.
i'm afraid as sound as i sleep, i would wake up after i was completely soaked
I too will something make and joy in it's making
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