Hanging on the PCT

**guySmiley** · 05-25-2009, 10:02

I've been reading a ton of material about the PCT lately and it looks to me like the earlier part of it that's desert isn't very conducive to hanging a hammock.

Has anyone here got any experience trying to thru the PCT with a hammock as their primary shelter? How often did you have to sleep on the ground because there weren't trees or suitable hanging spots available?

**titanium_hiker** · 05-28-2009, 22:06

I'm not planning to hike the PCT any time soon, but I'd love to know this sort of info.

I guess you could ground set up your hammock, carry stuff so you can hang from boulders, and pray for trees.

TH

**miisterwright** · 05-28-2009, 23:46

I was going to let others reply that may have more experience, but since no one has.... I'll say that I have not had any problems hanging in the northern parts. I live in Oregon and hike on or intersect the PCT regularly. Washington, Oregon, and Northern California should be great for hanging. I can't say anything about the South, because I haven't been down there.

Make sure you have plenty of webbing. The trees can be huge.

**guySmiley** · 05-29-2009, 06:03

Originally Posted by mbwtt

I was going to let others reply that may have more experience, but since no one has.... I'll say that I have not had any problems hanging in the northern parts. I live in Oregon and hike on or intersect the PCT regularly. Washington, Oregon, and Northern California should be great for hanging. I can't say anything about the South, because I haven't been down there.

Make sure you have plenty of webbing. The trees can be huge.

Good advice! How long are the straps that you use?

**miisterwright** · 05-30-2009, 03:32

I use 12' straps, but I generally carry about a 100' of mule tape. It's a narrow webbing that is used to pull power lines up. I'm not sure what the breaking strength is, but the local telecommunications company was using it to pull a bucket truck back to the road... up hill. They would have got it too, but the truck was stuck in park. The mule tape didn't fail. It's not all that heavy to carry and is strong. Plus it's webbing so I can use it on trees. It's good stuff.

**guySmiley** · 05-30-2009, 06:34

Originally Posted by mbwtt

I use 12' straps, but I generally carry about a 100' of mule tape. It's a narrow webbing that is used to pull power lines up. I'm not sure what the breaking strength is, but the local telecommunications company was using it to pull a bucket truck back to the road... up hill. They would have got it too, but the truck was stuck in park. The mule tape didn't fail. It's not all that heavy to carry and is strong. Plus it's webbing so I can use it on trees. It's good stuff.

My straps are 15', but it sounds like it would be prudent to get some longer ones for the PCT. If you've got any pictures of your suspension when using the mule tape, I'd be interested in seeing that. Are you using it in conjunction with your 12' straps or instead?

**guySmiley** · 05-29-2009, 06:02

Originally Posted by titanium_hiker

I'm not planning to hike the PCT any time soon, but I'd love to know this sort of info.

I guess you could ground set up your hammock, carry stuff so you can hang from boulders, and pray for trees.

TH

I think I'd just ground setup the bugnet/tarp (if necessary) and not bother with the hammock, if I couldn't hang it. What I really want to do is avoid bringing a sleeping pad, but that sounds like it wouldn't be practical.

I'm taking that long conspicuous silence on an otherwise very active messageboard as an answer or sorts, but thanks for replying!

**lori** · 05-31-2009, 09:17

The tree on the right the strap is attached to is a cedar of about the same girth as the pine standing behind it.

If I hadn't been trying to stay close to my group in the campground there were plenty of smaller trees to use. These are typical of the Sierras in California. Subalpine the trees will get smaller, and going alpine they mostly are the size of small shrubs or nonexistant.

**callook66** · 06-06-2009, 12:15

550 cord is a wonderful thing, and would be perfect for light weight suspension extenders... if only 550 cord didn't stretch so much.

**miisterwright** · 06-08-2009, 00:45

Originally Posted by callook66

550 cord is a wonderful thing, and would be perfect for light weight suspension extenders... if only 550 cord didn't stretch so much.

I wouldn't personally use 550 cord in a suspension. If I absolutely had to, it would be a 3 or 4 part line. It is a must carry though. Great for lashing things together, improvising shoelaces, and in a pinch you can remove the inner strands and make fishing line. The are a lot of cheap imitations of 550 cord the real stuff is amazing.