I had a chance to try out me DIY Double Layer Hammock this weekend. We were at camp with 11 Cub Scouts (age 8 - 10) and 7 Beaver Scouts (age 5-7).
The first night the Beavers were in the main (Heated) lodge and the Cubs were split between 2 (un-heated) cabins. Some of the leaders bunked in a 3rd cabin while the rest stayed in the lodge. I decided to camp in the field between the two Cubs cabins in my new Hammock, using my Turtle Lady style Hammock stand.
I slept great, My DIY hammock seems to give me a much flatter lay than my Hennessy. I do want to add some tie-outs to give me the feeling of a little more room in the hammock.
Some of the Cubs (and some of the leaders) found it a bit cold (-5c overnight) but that is all part of the experience of winter camping.
Saturday afternoon the rain started. It was pouring. Then the wind picked up. We had moved inside for some activities but that point. I looked out one of the windows, "Where the heck did my Hammock go?". I took off outside. The wind was strong enough to blow my stand over with all my gear sitting in my hammock. I stood the stand back up. I made sure everything was tied off and Headed back inside. Not even 15 minutes later it was down again. I made sure the other leaders had a handle on what was going on with the youth and headed back out into the rain.
I moved my setup off the field and into the woods. I strung my hammock in the trees. Some how even ending up in the slush and snow twice and being moved in the rain, all me gear stayed pretty dry.
The rain died off shortly before I headed out to the hammock for the night. The second night in the hammock was better than the first.
All in all it was a great weekend.
Lesson learned - If the wind is going to be high, add guy lines to the tri-pods on the hammock stand
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