Hammock's on the AT???

[dpage]

Can you pitch your hammock anywhere you want on the AT???

[Dutch]

That is a loaded question. There are a few places like the Smokeys that all camping is restricted. There are some balds down south. The Whites are tough because you are either above tree line or the forest is so thick you have a hard time finding a place to hang. With that said, I and many others have thru hiked in just a hammock.

[neo]

Can you pitch your hammock anywhere you want on the AT???

i did. a few time i even camped with my hammock stretched across the trail.i even had 2 north bound thru hiker walk around me that were night hiking in newhampshire 10:30 at night. neo

[Coffee]

i did. a few time i even camped with my hammock stretched across the trail.i even had 2 north bound thru hiker walk around me that were night hiking in newhampshire 10:30 at night. neo

Man I love it when people do that. The people I saw do that were also the ones to complain when people made noise getting around them.

[Coffee]

I would say other than balds or fields you can hang just about anywhere. There is only one place I think you have to walk some distance to do that and it is the moonscape from the Zinc processing plant north of Palmerton, PA. Stay in the town though. My favorite on the AT in terms of cheap services and convience.

Other than that the most you would have to do is keep walking. Don't buy into all the crap about the whites. Most people I talked to stayed in the Huts. If not there is places to stealth most nights.

[neo]

I would say other than balds or fields you can hang just about anywhere. There is only one place I think you have to walk some distance to do that and it is the moonscape from the Zinc processing plant north of Palmerton, PA. Stay in the town though. My favorite on the AT in terms of cheap services and convience.

Other than that the most you would have to do is keep walking. Don't buy into all the crap about the whites. Most people I talked to stayed in the Huts. If not there is places to stealth most nights.

i hung my hammock and slept on the porch at zealand falls and galehead huts.
i spent $16.00 bucks hiking thru the whites in sept 2006. neo

[Bulldog]

As a side note for MD, Since the AT travels technically through a State Park, They only allow camping at desginated sites, Like Shelters and desaginated campsites like Dalhgran Campsite (By South Mtn Inn) Annapolis Rocks Campsite, and others. There are definatly many places to hang around the shelters. That doesn't mean you can't stealth camp. They just don't want you to, for reasons unknown to me. Although one place i wouldn't advise it is on Lambs Knoll. The FAA has a control compound up there and I don't think I'd want to be caught stealth camping around there. JMHO

[Three]

Don't fret the Whites too much. Open woods last until about 2,100 ft., when the first firs appear (the boundary is dramatic, very cool). As the birches disappear, the fir forest tightens and is often full of bare, sharp branches that can shred fabric. I think the thin soils at higher elevation are a bigger risk. You'll see trees growing on, around and over rocks that might not be able to take a hammock load. Treeline starts at about 3,800 ft.

I'm a recovering Appalachian Money Club member. When you're in that area, please, please, please avoid paying them if you can. And while the hut croos can be cool to thru hikers, the hut guests generally won't understand why you're so smelly and dirty. Courtesy on the trail in the Whites in popular areas is long gone (sigh ).

[Coffee]

I enjoyed the huts. Try and talk with all of the people staying and the croo. The cool croo's will hook you up with good food. I also was given some snacks by a lot of people staying there. Yogi skills are a valuable skill on a long hike.

Talk with anyone you see hiking if you are in the mood to answer the usual questions. Most of the time when people learned I was thru hiking they would offer something to eat. Usually healthy crap, but hey.

[Coffee]

i hung my hammock and slept on the porch at zealand falls and galehead huts.
i spent $16.00 bucks hiking thru the whites in sept 2006. neo

I didn't think about hanging on the porch. I cowboyed on the Zealand falls hut. One of my favorite nights in the Whites. Only way to get away from the snoring or large groups inside.


There are some cool spots and a place with a list of stealth sites. PM me if anyone wants them. I would rather not post it since the AMC is really great with piling up wood or whatever else they can to make them unusable.