Molly Stark State Park, Vermont. Hammock report

[hk2001]

This isn't so much a trip report, as a "Hammock Friendliness" post. Vermont is insanely hanger friendly. And I love their state park system, because on the website, they do something I truly wish NY would do: They post pictures of the sites! Click on each individual site on the site map to see a pic on this map It gave me a great starting point to choosing a site, but I walked around, and made notes of each site, and how hanger friendly it could be.


We stayed in site 5, which looked to have some good trees behind the fire ring.. thankfully it did (see pic below) My hammock (the Orange one) was over a small stream.
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Unfortunately, the park was completely booked, so I was only to make observations from the road on most of them.

Site #1: 1 tree in site.
Site #2: 1 Hammock on edge of site, 1 more close in the woods.
Site #3: 1 Hammock in site, 2 more close in the woods.
Site #4: No hanging capability in or near the site
Site #5: We had 2 hammocks up, there was space for at least 2 more.
Site #6: 1 Hammock in site, 2-3 more close in the woods.
Site #7: 2-3 Hammocks
Site #8: 1 Hammock in site.. surrounding woods thick with tall undergrowth
Site #9: 1 hammock in site.. surrounding woods mostly young trees
Site #10: 1 Hammock in site, for a light hanger, long suspension needed. Surrounded by trails, no spill over capability.
Site #11: No hanging capability in or near the site
Site #12: No hanging capability in or near the site
Site #13: No hanging capability in or near the site
Site #14: 1 Hennessey Scout hanging, trees VERY close together (9' hammock with short suspension needed) no spill over capability.
Site #15: 1 Hammock.. big tree straps needed.
Site #16: No hanging capability in or near the site
Site #17: 1 Hammock, maybe room for 2 just outside of site.
Site #18: Wide open, no trees in site.
Site #19: No trees, tiny site, big enough for 6 man tent
Site #20: Space for 1 hammock, mostly open site.
Site #21: No trees, tiny site, big enough for 6 man tent
Site #22: 1 Hammock mostly open site
Site #23: No hanging capability, no trees.

Lean tos:
Apple: Couldn't tell. Site fairly hidden, and very brushy looking
Oak : One hammock on edge of site
Birch: Surrounded by young trees, and thick brush
Cedar: Surrounded by young trees, and thick brush
Elm: 1 Hammock hanging
Maple: Room for one small hammock (< 9.5') on edge of site.
Poplar: Tiny trees
Ash: 1 ENO style hammock hanging in site.
Pine: No hammock capability
Cherry: 1 GTSB hanging.

[Futhark]

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Molly Stark State Park Office

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Vacant Site #5

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How the trail looked heading up Haystack.

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MADE IT! First mountain summit!

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The view from up here.

While hk's post is about how hammock friendly Molly Stark is, I'm going to add in a bit more of our trip and experience.

Molly Stark was truly fantastic. The sites are not jammed together and it is (wonderfully) very quiet. Even while people are setting up/tearing down I didn't hear much - and that was with a bunch of mud covered Range Rovers checking in from the Vermont Overland Rover Rally!

We hiked some local trails and also up Haystack Mountain. My first mountain summit! I still feel like my legs are going to fall off. But if you don't think you're going to die, you're not doing it right...right? We "took our time" as hk would probably say. But I'll say that I am getting back into shape and took many breaks.

I got to spend 2 nights in my new "Hound Dog Robin's Egg Layer" (that brings me to a whopping 3 nights in a hammock!) and I'm hooked. The second night I definitely got the gist of things. First night I may or may not have woken up on my zipper...did you know that zipper lines on your face rather sting? I do now.

All in all I can't wait to go back and do it again!

Except for maybe Haystack...not sure my legs will agree to that again.

[K0m4]

Lol.. haven't noticed them before, but weeks after I make plans to go to the States - specifically Vermont - and squeeze in a hike, Vermont trip reports start popping up like mushrooms! Thanks for sharing, although you're not making my choices any easier!