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  1. #1
    Senior Member Ratdog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Swamp in the woods
    Hammock
    XLC, DIY, GT Dbl for day hiking
    Tarp
    WL OMW
    Insulation
    AHE KAQ JUQ, HG0B
    Suspension
    Web with Triangles
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    Progression of a Noob

    Hammocks, what's the big deal, you hang them, you lie in them, what else is there?

    That's kind of how it starts out.

    Then you gets one of those packable, lightweight traveling jobs as a gift and you take it on a little vaca. And thus begins the lesson...

    Stock suspension, cord running through the channel ends, replaced with higher quality line, didn't know about amsteel yet.

    Stock suspension, cord around the trees, replaced with heavier line.

    Purchased tree straps, happened to be the new Atlas straps.
    Purchased a bug net, skeeters are brutal in the Jersey swamps.

    Joined HF, learned I lucked out on the Atlas strap purchase.

    One week, and 500 bookmarks later I'm wondering if joining HF will earn me any Continuing Education Credits with all the freaking research I'm doing.

    Start sleeping in the backyard and sending brief video update reports via WiFi to family members.

    CBS leads to trial and error with several different pad and blanket combinations.

    Three days later, still sleeping in the hammock outside, family starts to express genuine concern.

    Burning reeedonkulous amounts of time on HF.

    Wild thoughts of major DIY projects and everyone getting hammocks for the holidays.

    Hammock videomania kicks in as I watch DIY vids, thru hike vids, howto vids, Shugs shenanigans, start forwarding vid links to already annoyed family members.

    Sister formally requests to be dropped from my Hammock update distribution list.

    Dinner out with extended family, one minor mention of hammocks and a 15 minute soliloquy ensues.

    Kickstarter dude gets $46K for hammock project and doesn't even know average load capacity of various fabrics weights/weaves. Formerly irritated family members make enquiry to hammock cottage industry potential.

    Budget lecture from interested parties stymies racing thoughts of massive purchases from HF vendors...back to budget DIY methodologies.

    More videos...mostly thru hikes, fronkey and the like. Best of luck to Kaleb as he musters out to a date on The Island.

    Repurposed old sleeping bag with 15 minute diy UG effort knotting paracord around bunched up corners. Ahhhh, UQ's are the way to go...no pads to disturb my comfy lay.
    Last edited by Ratdog; 10-04-2012 at 20:19.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Ratdog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Swamp in the woods
    Hammock
    XLC, DIY, GT Dbl for day hiking
    Tarp
    WL OMW
    Insulation
    AHE KAQ JUQ, HG0B
    Suspension
    Web with Triangles
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    On to the ridgeline...who knew hammocks could get more comfortable, I mean who knew besides all HF members.

    Boner ridgeline miscalculation. Used the specs on the GT Dbl length, estimated to be 10'6" and wasn't understanding what all the fuss was about. Trial and error, guitart string tight, resonant frequency testing was possible, something was wrong. Measured the hammock only to find it was actually 9' long, adjusted ridgeline length, now down to 90" instead of guessing with a 108" line and prusiks. Moved it to the actual fabric ends instead of the biners, WHAT !? Even more comfortable??

    Now the diagonal lie was working...seriously flat and comfy.

    Rain.
    Again, still in the test lab of a back yard and out comes the old heavy duty poly tarp.
    OK 12x10 poly is out...what a pain to rig right.

    Walden Pond, simplify simplify simplify.

    After rigging an 8 man tent alone in the rain a few months back, I am more determined than ever to make this hammock thing quick and easy to rig under all conditions. Amsteel, whoopies, decending rings, whatever it takes.

    Now pondering my SLS, some skins, and a proper tarp solution.

    That and a reasonable battery solution for the CPAP.
    Car camping is in, hiking is limited until a lithium ion solution is found for somewhere south of $300.
    Last edited by Ratdog; 10-04-2012 at 18:28.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Ratdog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Swamp in the woods
    Hammock
    XLC, DIY, GT Dbl for day hiking
    Tarp
    WL OMW
    Insulation
    AHE KAQ JUQ, HG0B
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    Web with Triangles
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    Extended family starting to get a sense of humor about everything.

    They know they are getting turtleladies in the near future, they don't know what they are and are a little nervous, but they know they're coming. After all, no reason not to be comfortable when I visit, trees or no trees.

    Tablecloths arriving any day now and only a few posts remain before being able to access the much hallowed regions of HF.

  4. #4
    Senior Member Ratdog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Swamp in the woods
    Hammock
    XLC, DIY, GT Dbl for day hiking
    Tarp
    WL OMW
    Insulation
    AHE KAQ JUQ, HG0B
    Suspension
    Web with Triangles
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    2
    Oh and somewhere in the above list, hauled my gear over to the brother in law's place, demo'd the GT for his bigfoot sized self, next thing I know, I'm getting msgs that he is "in" on the amsteel purchase.

    Lol, more tablecloths on order...
    Last edited by Ratdog; 10-04-2012 at 20:21.

  5. #5
    Member Stitch(USN)'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Kokomo, IN.
    Hammock
    DIY Double Layer
    Tarp
    DIY
    Insulation
    Jack's R Better
    Suspension
    Webbing & Whoopi
    Posts
    58
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    6
    Lol!!! I'm sitting here with tears running down my face. I haven't laughed that hard in at least a day! My wife was looking at me like I'm off my rocker. Seriously, the continuing education thing was right on...

  6. #6
    Senior Member MAD777's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    White Mountains, New Hampshire
    Hammock
    DIY, WBBB & Switchback
    Tarp
    HG cuben,OES Spinn
    Insulation
    DIY 3/4 UQ/TQ, UGQ
    Suspension
    Dynaglide / Dutch
    Posts
    10,950
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    39
    This should get "Thread of the Month" award! Everything you said is dead on accurate! Who would think that a rectangular piece of fabric with two ropes at the ends could take over one's life. Too funny
    Mike
    "Life is a Project!"

  7. #7
    Senior Member Cannibal's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Hammock
    Warbonnet ON!
    Tarp
    SuperFly or MacCat
    Insulation
    Yetis & Mambas
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    Webbing and rings
    Posts
    13,605
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    136
    I was stuck between laughter and flashbacks!
    Very nice!
    Trust nobody!

  8. #8
    Senior Member Fronkey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Grass Valley, Ca
    Hammock
    DIY The Crippler
    Tarp
    Cuben Refugee
    Insulation
    The Ex-gf
    Suspension
    Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    4,848
    Haha That was awesome.

    Thanks a lot too. Kaleb will make us proud.

    Fronkey

  9. #9
    Senior Member grannypat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    In the woods outside of Westminster, SC
    Hammock
    DIY, Dutch Argon
    Tarp
    Squidbilly/Tadpole
    Insulation
    20 Incubator,WL SS
    Suspension
    whoopies, MSH
    Posts
    3,069
    Yep, that's the way it goes!
    Keep movin', keep believing and enjoy the journey!

  10. #10
    Senior Member zukiguy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Space Coast FL
    Hammock
    Warbonnet Ridgerunner
    Tarp
    Superfly
    Insulation
    Lynx or Pads
    Suspension
    Straps and Biners
    Posts
    2,397
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    8
    Yeah, the first half page was funny. After that, it was just a cruel reminder of my own obsession.....;-)

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