General backpack hammocking questions

[WesleyGalles]

As I'm getting prepared for my AT thru hike, whenever there is in-climate weather, I want to go hang and sleep in my hammock so that I can better prepare myself. In doing so, I've run into a few questions:

When its raining, what do you find is the best method to getting everything hung correctly, quickly, and efficiently while still staying dry? That includes getting your hammock + tarp out of your backpack, keeping your pack dry, and keeping it off the ground.

Also, while it is raining, what do you do with your pack over night? Cover it with your pack cover as best as you can and hope for the best? Hang it from a tree?

If I can think of any more questions, I'll ask as the thread progresses.

[HayJay]

Last time i hammocked in the rain, i was able to wrap some painters plastic around the pack like a burrito and put under hammock/tarp. Dry as a bone the next day despite torrential downpours all night and plastic splattered with mud.

[WesleyGalles]

Do you think the pack cover might do well enough to keep it dry if I just wrap the bottom well enough and just leave it on the ground?

[jrs62284]

I carry a small tarp for the ground as well as my cousin who I hike with. He showed me the idea and I know its extra weight but it keeps everything clean and dry. Rain or shine it goes with. A pack cover could serve a dual purpose just lay it under your hammock when your not hiking

[WesleyGalles]

Yea, I think I'll invest in a small tarp to lay my pack on at night under the hammock.

[gcy24]

Walmart sells a cheap one, I believe it's a 5x7? But it's made for backpacking so it's compact. That's what I use under me at night.

[jwright]

Yea, I think I'll invest in a small tarp to lay my pack on at night under the hammock.

TYVEX!

You can get small sections from many cottage vendors or ebay. I use a 2x3 foot section, works well. You may want a larger piece to use if you need to go to ground or when lounging by the fire. Cheap and light.
Also, a lot of people hang their pack from the hammock suspension under the tarp.
Good luck with the hike
jason

[TRU]

I'll be using a sheet of Tyvex as my ground cover for getting in and out of my hammock. I believe I left it big enough to wrap around my backpack if needed.

Good idea to be practicing in the bad weather. I haven't done this enough and think I'll be getting wet until I get the hang of it.

I'll be on the AT the whole month of June. I'll be staring in central PA and heading south. My two boys will join me when they get out of school mid-June and hopefully my wife will join us for the last week of June. We will all be swinging in the trees!

[otter]

I always pack my tarp last so that it is easy to get to. I hang it up then the rest of my set up is in the dry. I store my pack inside the garbage bag that I have as my pack liner at night (putting it under my hammock) and it seems to keep it nice and dry.

[kayak karl]

i hung pack from ridgeline. woke up to a few flash floods on AT. it wasn't the flood that woke me, it was the screaming tent dwellers. had a skunk try to drag off pack when i left it on ground. after you hang your food and setup the pack only weights a few lbs.
i never setup in the rain. i hiked in the rain and setup later when it died down for a bit. you will get wet. i don't think Georgia ever dries out.