Who is Planning a Long Distance Hiking Tip in '07

**Bird Dog** · 02-24-2007, 14:12

Originally Posted by southpawx3

I'm with you Tim, looking forward to their reports. It would be cool to have a chart or link to their journals somewhere on this forum

Thats two hints in a row Jeff.

BD

**Just Jeff** · 02-24-2007, 17:19

Working on it.

**glenaceae** · 03-11-2007, 17:14

Thanks for all the hammocking info. Starting out at springer the last week of march. Wanted to take a hammock after all these years of tenting with kids. My first hammock camping was back in high school in the 70s using the schools surplus jungle hammocks. Nice ride. (That was in Pinckney Rec. Area on the Pottawatmi trail for you Michiganders). Thought I'd buy a hammock until I stumbled on Jeff's site. Made a hammock last week and another this week. Experimenting. So much to learn so little time. Kinda uncomfortable trying out something new so close to starting out. First try in my hammock, the support rope slipped over the whipped end. Good boy scout that I am, I noticed an old cushion lying there on the barn floor and just to be safe I had put it under my head and shoulders. Somehow I missed the cushion and landed on my back on the concrete floor.

My main concern is cold and having the tarp blow off or tear in cold rainy weather.
As of now I am using two closed cell foam pads put together "T" shaped. Keeping them together and under me is my concern as well as wether they will even be adequate. Has anyone ever sewn pockets in the bottom of their hammock to slide pads into? Is ther a better/different way to go. Like to keep weight down or I'd take my thermarest which unfortunately is a full length model.

Thanks for all the good info. If not for this site and Jeffs site I'd be on the ground.

**FanaticFringer** · 03-11-2007, 17:28

Originally Posted by glenaceae

Thanks for all the hammocking info. Starting out at springer the last week of march. Wanted to take a hammock after all these years of tenting with kids. My first hammock camping was back in high school in the 70s using the schools surplus jungle hammocks. Nice ride. (That was in Pinckney Rec. Area on the Pottawatmi trail for you Michiganders). Thought I'd buy a hammock until I stumbled on Jeff's site. Made a hammock last week and another this week. Experimenting. So much to learn so little time. Kinda uncomfortable trying out something new so close to starting out. First try in my hammock, the support rope slipped over the whipped end. Good boy scout that I am, I noticed an old cushion lying there on the barn floor and just to be safe I had put it under my head and shoulders. Somehow I missed the cushion and landed on my back on the concrete floor.

My main concern is cold and having the tarp blow off or tear in cold rainy weather.
As of now I am using two closed cell foam pads put together "T" shaped. Keeping them together and under me is my concern as well as wether they will even be adequate. Has anyone ever sewn pockets in the bottom of their hammock to slide pads into? Is ther a better/different way to go. Like to keep weight down or I'd take my thermarest which unfortunately is a full length model.

Thanks for all the good info. If not for this site and Jeffs site I'd be on the ground.

Welcome to the site. I use one of these (I actually have both models). They work really well:
www.speerhammocks.com/Products/SPE.htm

**slowhike** · 03-11-2007, 20:09

i wouldn't sew anything to the hammock body unless you really read-up on jeff & risk's insulated hammocks. they have done well w/ those, but there is some risk involved when you start sewing anywhere on the hammock other than the hemmed edges at the sides & ends.
there's a lot of force put on the hammock body.
IMHO, that would'nt be a good thing to be experimenting w/ this close to the beginning of your thru.
but the double hammock on risk's web site would be a pretty save deal.

**Just Jeff** · 03-11-2007, 21:26

For a pad-holding hammock, check out Risk's ZHammock and my Two Layer Hammock (based on Risk's).

1st post - welcome to the site! Test as much as you can before the trip. Good thing about using pads is that you can always go to ground if it doesn't work out one night.

Good luck on your hike!

**glenaceae** · 03-11-2007, 21:55

Ya, was kinda wondering if sewing on the bottom would create weakness.
Like the Z and two layered idea. Appeals to my diy tendencies. Took a closer look at the spe. Looks like maby I should break down(has it come to that?) and buy one of those for the sake of expedience. Thanks for the ideas. Time to go to uh- hammock.

**roverdisc1** · 03-20-2007, 02:03

New to the site and haven't started hanging yet, but plan on picking up a Clark North American soon.

Biggest trip I have planned for '07 is 10 days on Isle Royale in Lake Superior northern Michigan. 7 days packing, 2 days base camping, 1 day waiting for boats.

It's not until August, but I'm already so excited I can't stand it.

**Hooch** · 03-20-2007, 02:20

Names: Jay and Chuck
Trail Names: Hooch and Short Bus
Hiking: AT SOBO from Erwin, TN to Hot Springs, NC
When: Start first weekend of June (Subject to change, Chuck just started a new job!)