Hello from Orlando, FL
I thought I would finally make an introductory post by saying hello and reporting on my first hammock experience. I am new to hammocking in general and I decided to investigate it after hearing about hammocks on the podcast ATHiking by Toothless. After extensively browsing this forum and WhiteBlaze, I decided to purchase a Black Bird hammock and Big Mamajamba tarp from Warbonnet. The Adjustable Webbing Suspension was selected along with some of my own rigging using Amsteel Blue rope. I wanted to deploy the tarp with shock cord on the panel pullouts, but I forget to bring them along.
I made extensive use of the forum here to plan and construct my guylines and ridge lines for my tarp. My lines where made from single braid Amsteel Blue rope that I purchased from westmarine.com. Each line is terminated with a Locked Brummel. Two Continuous Loops where also constructed to tighten up the ridge lines of the tarp using Prusik knots. Attaching the loops to the tarp is done by two Soft Shackles. I also used two Soft Shackles to link my webbing loop on the tree for my hammock. My rigging worked perfectly. The only trouble I had with my setup are the triangles on the hammock, they are really hard to use when adjusting the length of webbing. But experience may solve that issue in the future. I photographed the whole setup below.
While I was photographing the hammock and tarp, some equestrian riders strolled up into the campsite. They were puzzled as to what I had erected. I told them it was a hammock and it was made by a company in Colorado called Warbonnet. It appears that they have never seen a camping hammock before. They approached further and one of the horses became startled. The rider soothed the horse by saying, “It's okay, It's okay”. The rider mentioned that the horse appeared to be afraid of the tarp. I am not making this up. The Big Mamajamba tarp scared the horse. It is after all large and black and since I had chosen to use green Amsteel Blue rope, the guylines could have been confused for green legs, with strange tentacles rapped around two trees. Yeah, I think that would scare me if I did not know what a tarp and hammock looked like. We talked for a few minutes then they rode on leaving me to continue to enjoy my new hammock.
An hour or so later I decided to pack up and call it a day. As I was leaving I noticed a strange man in the corner by the entrance puttering with something underneath a tarp. What was this stranger doing? I wondered. I continued to watch for a moment and then it dawned on me. This man was a hammocker like me. After introducing myself to this man I learned that he is the one and only lilricky.
Usually when I go hiking an encounter with a person is rare. But I think the odds are stacked against me meeting another hammock user at the same time as I am trying out a hammock for the first time. This meeting was not even planned. It was great to meet another user.
The trip was a complete success. I successfully deployed my Big Mamajamba tarp with my guylines attached and successfully deployed the Blackbird Hammock.
Resting in the hammock was comfortable. I did notice some minor stress on my knees and neck area. I don't think this will affect my sleeping. My back felt extremely comfortable, better then my bed. I can't wait to try it over night.
This forum is a great resource for anyone wanting to get into hammocks. Thanks hammockforums.net!
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