"If you've ever had to go to ground"

**sargevining** · 02-08-2014, 16:04

Originally Posted by SilvrSurfr

The "what if I have to go to ground?" topic comes up often from people new to hammock camping. Some people's imaginations run wild and they think, "But what if there's a really bad storm?" and other scenarios that would force them to ground.

There is absolutely nothing that would send me to ground, except accidentally leaving my hammock at home. If I were going somewhere without trees, I'd bring a tent. However, I doubt I'd camp anywhere without trees 'cause then I'd have to sleep on the ground.

Now, if all you're doing is going out for a weekend and can pick your campsite even before you even leave the house, yeah, there's no need to go to ground. Hike 120 miles over variable terrain and there's a chance that one or two of those nights might be spent on the ground.

In the White Mountains and all down the Rockies, its common to be above tree line or have only scrub available.

Down here in Texas, we have huge expanses of prairie that you might be a day and a half crossing without seeing a tree, and plenty of trees for the rest of the hike. There's a 60 plus mile trail in west Texas that has few trees at all. The Davis Mountains have spotty tree availability. The hike in the Wichita Mountains last month required the guys to hang from scrub post oak and mesquite.

Not every place is New Jersey or Minnesota.

**ADKrella** · 02-08-2014, 16:28

So what I'm taking away from this thread so far is the only real reason would be tree availability or the lack thereof....not catastrophic gear failure like I was thinking originally....

For OP ....here's another good thread example that shows the Superfly GTG that I saved around the same time as the other photo...(I love photos to explain stuff)...between the original photo and this tarp set up...I figured I could combine the two Ideas with a clove hitch easy enough and with a pad and some tyvec ....which Im going to be carrying already...along with Hiking Poles.....be all set for whatever.

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ad.php?t=69617

(this is just what I found Im sure there are lots of examples.)

**kayak karl** · 02-08-2014, 16:53

seventh year of hammocking and i never have gone to the ground.

**Scottybdiving** · 02-08-2014, 18:02

I've had to go to ground once. Campsites are pre-assigned on some permitted river trips and there is no guarantee that there will be trees since you may be camping on a sand bar. Sometimes it looks like there are plenty of trees but they are not spaced properly or in a way they can be used. The tarp and hiking poles work for shelter and the hammock and net for a bug bivy if necessary. In my case there were no bugs so I just had to set up shelter. I carry an inflatable pad just in case.

**sargevining** · 02-08-2014, 22:32

Originally Posted by adkrella

So what I'm taking away from this thread so far is the only real reason would be tree availability or the lack thereof....not catastrophic gear failure like I was thinking originally....

For OP ....here's another good thread example that shows the Superfly GTG that I saved around the same time as the other photo...(I love photos to explain stuff)...between the original photo and this tarp set up...I figured I could combine the two Ideas with a clove hitch easy enough and with a pad and some tyvec ....which Im going to be carrying already...along with Hiking Poles.....be all set for whatever.

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ad.php?t=69617

(this is just what I found Im sure there are lots of examples.)

There's always a chance someone will leave their tree straps on the trees at last night's campsite, or the trees are too big for your straps but, yes, catastrophic failure of equipment is remote as long as you have good, quality gear.

**SilvrSurfr** · 02-08-2014, 22:41

Originally Posted by sargevining

There's always a chance someone will leave their tree straps on the trees at last night's campsite, or the trees are too big for your straps but, yes, catastrophic failure of equipment is remote as long as you have good, quality gear.

Well, I've never left my tree straps, but I have moved away from uber-light 1.1 oz. hammocks like the Weight Weenie Micro for precisely this reason. Sure, they're light, but also fragile. I've already had a couple of them get holes or tears that I simply wouldn't trust on the trail.

Nowadays I tend more toward 1.7 oz. or 1.9 oz fabric for peace of mind.

**olddog** · 02-08-2014, 23:32

Only went to ground once and it lasted all of 5 seconds. The stitching in on of my tree straps failed just as I was getting situated in the hammock. The failure sounded like a 22cal shot followed by an immediate SOB. samsara can attest to this if he isn't still laughing his behind off as he was then.

**bodhran4me** · 02-08-2014, 23:37

I have camped in an open field at the Maxville Games with my DD Frontline. Simply used a plastic groundsheet under the hammock to protect the fabric, rigged the hammock and tarp suspension using lawn chairs and used an Exped mat for downy comfort. DD does sell a model that has waterproof bottom layers so the hammock can double as a bivi but I would rather keep my breathable hammock for when I can hang and just use the ground sheet is I am forced to ground.

**MrsStrackAttack** · 02-09-2014, 19:49

Thanks for the info everybody. I will make sure to keep something underneath and the lawn chairs was a great idea too. The pics were also helpful! Not that id want to sleep on the ground or anything...

**Linkster** · 02-10-2014, 09:05

I have practiced setting up my hammock with my trek poles, but I really do not see the need for it unless the bugs are really bad. I think I would just use my space blanket for a ground cloth and tarp rigged between my trek poles.