Yosemite Trip Advice

[jacob8806]

Hello all,

I am new to hanging here (actually haven't gone on my first hang) and still acquiring some equipment. I will be going on a Yosemite backpacking trip In early August and I was curious as to what hanging equipment I should be taking with me. I have never been out west so I didn't know what the essential equipment would be or anything that should be left at home.
I have watched Shug's videos (probably need to watch them again) and
I do plan on getting a good bit of experience before the trip. I have done a lot of camping, but just switched to hammocks this season.

My current equipment list includes:

WBBB 1.7 single
Mamajamba tarp (waiting to be shipped)
whoopie slings
zing it
14 ft tree huggers (WBBB suspension)
Poncho liner
sleeping bag
nylon down pillow


I plan on making the poncho liner into a UQ
Trying to decide what to do about top insulation
What length tie-outs should I make for the tarp?
Any suggestions in general?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[EricFromPortland]

I have been to Yosemite a number of times and did 4 nights on the John Muir trail last year. There are a few key points.

First, if you are in the Yosemite Valley, there are lots of restrictions. So, you might want to research if anything can be hung from trees. It can be very crowed in Valley, and there are lots of rules.

Another thing is there are great sites above treeline. This means no hammock from about 10,000 feet and above.

Here is what I do:
- I bring a sleeping pad in place of an underquilt.
- I also bring a 3' X 8' piece of tyvek as a ground cloth.
- So, I use ground cloth and pad above 10,000 and sleep in hammock when lower and not breaking the rules.
- My hammock's tarp works great either way.

It is a beautiful area, enjoy it!

[steveflinn]

Your poncho liner will be more than adequate as an UQ or as a pad underneath you inside the hammock. In the campgrounds I have used something similar and that works just fine. Any sleeping bag will work fine on top, and will probably even have to be vented early in the evening, as daytime temps can be hot. In August you will typically see 50F at 4am in the campground.

Rangers down in the valley might say something to you about hammocking. As long as you convince them you are being careful and tell them you did your research before you came you'll be okay. They don't have an anti-hammock rule specifically but they are charged with protecting the trees. So be sure to use tree strap webbing, and make sure the bark wasn't already damaged so you don't arouse a suspicion of having caused it yourself.

Yosemite is gorgeous. You're going to love it.

[iRokk]

Take some kind of bug protection, otherwise you will get eaten alive by mosquitoes!

[iRokk]

Oops, ignore that, you have a WBBB :p

[jacob8806]

Thanks so much, been doing research on this trip for a month or so now, but first hand experience has been what I have been looking for. I was concerned to any "no hammocking" policy or potentially any areas that wouldn't have trees. Should my 14 ft straps be long enough for the trees out west? I was surprised just how thick the trees around here in KY can be. Any clothing suggestions?

[Dwage]

Do you know your backpacking route? As mentioned earlier, you will find plenty of trees that are suitable for a hang below 10k feet. Plan to camp below treeline and you will be set. I am not sure what the campground policy is in Yosemite but that is the only place you could have issues with hanging. I know they require slackliners to take measures to protect the trees.

Re: Clothing - Plan on temperatures between 25f and 80f with a chance of thunderstorms.