So far I have not had any problems at any park camp site (state, national ect) in NC. If it is at a paid site and the Rangers ask if I am camping in a tent I tell them a hammock and they always mark tent.
So far I have not had any problems at any park camp site (state, national ect) in NC. If it is at a paid site and the Rangers ask if I am camping in a tent I tell them a hammock and they always mark tent.
I am still 18 but with 52 years of experience !
Southmark:
Sorry to hear about the grief you are getting from the establishment!!!!!!! If you would like, I will go with you and do a group hang on the grounds of the State Capitol building in Montgomery. It might be interesting to see how many of the state leaders we could get out on the lawn taking a tour of our gear. Let me know if you want to try this idea out.........
Par Si Vis Pace Para Bellum
Thanks BBG. I hate to describe it as grief. There are a lot of other places around here to hang and each Park Manager makes their on decision based on the rule. I just had my curiosity up after Cary from Tuscaloosa who was at the Walls hang last weekend told of his friend and sons being asked to leave because they had hammocks. I have hung and slept in my hammock there before without incident. It seems to be all in how they interpret the meaning of "camping unit". I recall several years ago the story of a hiker that was beginning his thru hike here in Tuscaloosa (where some consider the southern terminus of the Appalachians) and when he reached Tannehill State Park they would not let him camp because he had a tarp. At that time I remember him saying they required a commercial made tent or rv to camp. I just posted this to make the community aware that we still have an uphill battle in the mainstream camping community. It appears that primitive camping sites in parks and campgrounds are a thing of the past.
You should go setup and demo your rig for them Show them the pros of hanging and low impact of using tree straps. Explain nothing goes into the trees and these aren't your grandma's rope hammock. You'd definitely be a hammock boss if you got the Alabama state parks to reverse their decision on hammocking. Represent for us and give those rangers some learning!
http://www.alapark.com/parks/pdfs/Ru...egulations.pdf
I see nothing about camping units. The only thing I can think they are getting this from is
Section 1
(4) It shall be unlawful to erect or occupy any site with unsightly or inappropriate
camping equipment.
I guess they are thinking rope hammocks which are "inappropriate
camping equipment." Our hammock setups are 100% appropriate. You should print out the regulations and bring them with you. If anyone gives you grief ask them to point out the rule in the regulations and hand them the print out.
If you don't try due to fear of failure you've already failed due to fear.
This is written with so much subjective wiggle room that all the Ranger needs to say is it is "unsightly inappropriate camping gear" and you are done. We all agree that LNT hammocking is 100% appropriate (MUCH more appropriate than an RV), the Rangers may not though and with no clear definition of "unsightly or appropriate" you are sunk...copy of those weak rules or not.
Not raining on your idea but as a former LEO I know full well how we can win with weak stuff like this for ammo. Getting the rules clarified is the best option in the long run...love the State capitol idea if y'all are ready to really lay on the hospitality and maybe even involve some media (politicos love that media). Mean time act like you own the camp spot and set up. If the Ranger arrives, invite them in for fresh brewed coffee and a granola bar while cheerfully educating them on LNT hammock camping. A and a kind word will carry us much farther than a .
Last edited by Law Dawg (ret); 06-10-2011 at 12:04.
I smell a Group Hang in the futureOriginally Posted by bigbamaguy View Post
Southmark:
Sorry to hear about the grief you are getting from the establishment!!!!!!! If you would like, I will go with you and do a group hang on the grounds of the State Capitol building in Montgomery. It might be interesting to see how many of the state leaders we could get out on the lawn taking a tour of our gear. Let me know if you want to try this idea out.........
My memory's not as sharp as it used to be. Also, my memory's not as sharp as it used to be.
I completely understand where you're coming from. As the son of a LEO i've heard my father have plenty of conversations about the specificity of the wording of laws. Yes, the ranger can use the wiggle room to slide his way. But it's also possible that he doesn't know the exact wording himself. Then showing him that there is wiggle room may work in your advantage. It's also possible that they don't know the regulations have been updated. As was the case a few years ago when Georgia changed the gun carry laws to allow carrying on MARTA and in bars as long as you aren't drinking. You'd be surprised at the number of posts I read of people being stopped by police who had no idea the rule had been changed.
But in the end it is all up to the authority figure. And I could not agree with you more that a smile and a politely phased inquiry (add a sir or ma'am if you don't by default) go a whole lot further than being confrontational.
If you don't try due to fear of failure you've already failed due to fear.
You have my deepest sympathy.
Aaaand you are absolutely correct about LEOs not always having the best grasp of all the laws they enforce (too many laws).* You will also get much farther with a kind word, a cup of coffee, and a doughnut than with a kind word alone!
BTW if y'all do a group hang at the State building I am soooo looking forward to the videos and pics of that.
* Many Calif motorcyclists carry the text to a newish law that allows us to wear hearing protection under our helmets for just that reason.
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