Jumping in at the deep end.

[canoebie]

I have always taken the approach with ground dwellers who want to "prove" they are more comfy in a tent, that I am happy for their comfort. I emphasize the importance of comfort and extol the virtues of a night of great sleep.

When I get up and sit up in bed and see the morning, they view my world a little differently. When I stand up rather than crawl on the ground to pack, they view my world a little differently, and most of all, when I pack in a hard rain, standing up, dry bedding, dry hammock, they view my world very differently.

Just enjoy it, you have nothing to prove. The pleasure of your experience is what counts, and if your ground dwelling friends are at all perceptive, they will understand your smile and cheery disposition, all the while you are standing, sitting, or reclined in your hammock, never on your knees, never on the hard cold ground.

[Noid]

It appears the exact nature of the trip has changed slightly.

We are struggling to get transport there and my buddy has hurt his back before we have even set off.

I will be taking my car, so we have a get out in case he can do no more walking or his back gets bad.

We still have just under a week before the trip so there is time for things to get better or worse before then but trying to be as sensible as possible.

[Noid]

Sorry for the delay in my report of this trip but it didn't go well for me at all!
I decided that I knew best and used paracord as my ridgeline! (I know, bad idea!)
The hammock stretched in the night, before I could get any sleep but after the point where I was awake enough to do anything about it!
This coupled with an extremely noisy animal about 50 yards away screeching for what felt like the entire night and a 30 mile walk the next day i decided enough was enough and threw in the towel.
I am away doing some volunteer work very soon and have made a whoopie sling long enough to be an adjustable ridgeline (out of Amsteel this time) so I hope to use this on my trip to some more success.