Flock of Darien hammocks take historic flight

[PapaSmurf]

HF member ricktreks (http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/member.php?u=5020), of Jungle Treks (http://www.jungletreks.com/) will lead an expedition beginning tomorrow that will retrace Balboa's famous 1513 journey across the Isthmus of Panama.

Rick and his team will be using the Darien Tropical Hammock built by Dream Hammock LLC (http://www.dream-hammock.com/Hammocks.html) during the trek. The Darien Tropical is a hammock designed and built exclusively for Jungle Treks (http://www.jungletreks.com/). If you want one, you gotta go backpacking in the Darien Jungles. :laugh: It features a larger netting to body ratio to improve airflow and breathability in this hot tropical environment. It comes with tie-outs outside the hammock, but also features 4 tie-outs inside the hammock for securing a silk or lightweight liner inside the hammock. This helps with insect protection as well as helps keep the hammock body clean and dry. The sheet or liner can also be used for the minimal amount of insulation required in the tropics.

I will try to post updates as I get them and photos after the trek is completed.

Anybody wishing to follow the trek can view their progress via this link.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0Ci5DUGXvCI9OSKn4QKaO4uFABVh4EV sD

[lazy river road]

AAHH that's very cool, thanks for sharing I'd love to see some more pics of the trip as they trickle in.

[pgibson]

And Rick is a great guy. Gotten to chat with him a few times. He is out doing some cool hikes in Panama. :thumbup:

[breyman]

Sounds like a great expedition. Thanks for sharing and supporting their efforts!

[dragon360]

Very cool! Would love to see pictures of the Darien Jungle hammock.

As well as any from the trek!

[Cranky Bear]

Awesome stuff PS, sounds like the hammock you built is just about as close to perfection for that environment as one could get. Would very much like to see/read more of their journey!

[craige]

Nice one, congrats to you for continuing success ps and good luck to the guys going on what looks like a great adventure!

[sr1355]

Very Cool... Hope you can post pics as they come in...

[Bunk]

Thats just awesome! Thank you for posting :)

[STinGa]

I spent 2 weeks in Panama back in 1999 and had a blast. I would love to go there again. Color me jealous!

I am looking forward to seeing the pics that get posted.

STinGa

[Redoleary]

That looks like quite the trek! Looking fwd to seeing more photos.

[PapaSmurf]

Here are some photos of this expedition on Jungle Trek's facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.486878211371257.109849.478066648919080&type=1

Here are also some photos of the Darien Tropical hammocks in use here.
http://www.dream-hammock.com/OutHanging.html

Enjoy

[ricktreks]

Thanks Randy for the post, and thanks HF members for your interest. I just got back from the puckerbrush after two expeditions in the Darien, the first one being the ocean-to-ocean crossing of the Isthmus of Panama sponsored by one of the country's leading newspapers, and the second one in search of some ancient petroglyphs with the blokes from Secret Compass, UK. Both were epic journeys. I promise we'll find a way to share the pics with all of you soon.

In the meantime, I'm cleaning up gear and getting ready for another traverse in two weeks. This one in Cuba's Sierra Maestra, the place where Fidel and Che Guevara brewed their revolution in the late 50s. I'm going there to see if it's still wild enough to develop a trekking route. I'll keep you posted on that one as well.

Needless to say, I'll be sleeping in my trusty Darien Tropical Hammock from PapaSmurf, and my equally endeared Lost River UQ by Arrowhead Equipment. The temps this time of the year should be cool enough for a guy from warm Panama.

Will keep you all posted... Saludos,

Rick