Snake Skin Directions

[attroll]

I start from the head end of the hammock. Disconnect the tie-outs, and separate the fly from the hammock bed. Start with each side of the tarp on the correct side of the hammock bed.

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/HTHH_Images/hss001.jpg

Gather the hammock bed tie-out and fold it into the hammock bed. Gather the rain fly tie-out and fold it into the fly. Keeping the tie-out cords separate keeps them from tangling.

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/HTHH_Images/hss002.jpg

Now roll the rain fly up in the hammock bed like this, remembering to pull away from the center in order to bias the roll away from the center. You want to bias the rolling material so that you don't end up with a lump in the center. You will wind up with a lump at the end, but that's OK as long as you don't have a lump in the middle.

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/HTHH_Images/hss003.jpg

Once you've rolled the fly up a little more than half way, pull the other side of the rain fly out.

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/HTHH_Images/hss004.jpg

Remember to maintain the bias of the roll away from the center, and start rolling the opposite side of the fly along with the material you have already gathered.

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/HTHH_Images/hss006.jpg

Keep rolling it tightly, with the bias away from the center, as I am indicating here. This is VERY important.

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/HTHH_Images/hss007.jpg

Roll it tightly all the way up to the ridge cord. The hammock bed will not be exposed. Only the rain fly will be visible.

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/HTHH_Images/hss008.jpg

Slide the Snakeskin out by grasping it behind the collar and pulling it out over the material you have tightly rolled.

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/HTHH_Images/hss009.jpg

Now address the other side. Pull the opposite side of the tarp under the hammock bed.

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/HTHH_Images/hss010.jpg

Gather and tuck the tie-outs, and tuck the opposite side of the fly into the roll of the hammock bed.

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/HTHH_Images/hss011.jpg

Now roll it up to the ridge cord, remembering to bias the roll away from the center. (Are you getting the idea yet that you should bias the roll away from the center? Good.) Once rolled, it will look like the above photo. A nice, tight roll near the center, with a chaotic gathering of material (a lump) nearer to the suspension point (distal end). The other side should have looked like this too if you properly biased the roll away from the center.

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/HTHH_Images/hss012.jpg

Gather and roll the rest of the material tightly. You will still have that bulge.

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/HTHH_Images/hss013.jpg

Now pull out the other side of the Snakeskins over the lump and as far as you can to the center.

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/HTHH_Images/hss014.jpg

When you do this, the Silnylon of the rain fly will form a balloon filled with air.

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/HTHH_Images/hss015.jpg

Simply work your fingers into this 'balloon' and squeeze the air out. It will deflate quickly.

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/HTHH_Images/hss016.jpg

Once the balloon is gone, stick your thumbs into either side of the Snakeskins' mouth and pull. Repeat with the other side, and overlap the Snakeskins by a few inches.

http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/HTHH_Images/hss017.jpg

Presto! All done. Time trials proved that I could do it in ten seconds, just like the instructions said. I preferred to take a little more time and make it very neat. When untying the hammock from the supports (trees, etc.), I like to tie a simple knot in the foot end rope so that I know which end is which next time I set it up. You could also mark the Snakeskin with something to let you know which end is which.
http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/HTHH_Images/hss019.jpg
Here is the hammock, rolled up and ready to be stuffed into a pack. Some people wind the suspension ropes around the main bundle and create a very compact package that stuffs easily just about anywhere.
Courtesy of www.theplacewithnoname.com (http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/index.html)

[txulrich]

Great instructions. I use the phrase "Head over Heels". I pull the foot end first, the pull the head end next. That leaves the head end over the heel end.

[Dreamer]

Hey,
Thanks. I never thought of the obvious solution to tie a knot in the bottom end line to mark it. I tied a piece of yarn, but it kept coming off. Thanks again.

[blackbishop351]

With my stuff sack, end recognition is easy. The bottom hole in the sack is stitched to the foot end of the hammock, so the head end always comes out first. Voila! :D

[Rhino-lfl]

What ya got on under that towel lol.

[peanuts]

i like your skirt...:D:D:D:D

[JohnH]

Not sure why I didn't think of this before but keeping the fly attached is a great idea for those of us that attach the fly to the Main line of the hammock!

Will this work with the bigger Hex fly?

[Ramblinrev]

Not sure why I didn't think of this before but keeping the fly attached is a great idea for those of us that attach the fly to the Main line of the hammock!

Will this work with the bigger Hex fly?

I use home made reptilian derma-coatings for my Hex tarp and it works great. I sewed an orange strip of grosgrain around the wide opening of the head end. The foot end is simply hemmed.

[JohnH]

I use home made reptilian derma-coatings for my Hex tarp and it works great. I sewed an orange strip of grosgrain around the wide opening of the head end. The foot end is simply hemmed.

Thanks for the quick answer. I guess this falls under the heading of "try it and find out." I'll post back after I have and let every one know!


P.S.
I'm using the stock Snakeskins from Hennessy on an expedition A-Sym with the 70D "HEX"-SHAPED PU-COATED POLYESTER RIPSTOP RAIN FLY

[Ramblinrev]

Tom Hennessey seems to get a tad torqued if "snakeskin" is used for anything beyond his own product. I have the hex tarp and the tarp works very nicely encased in those reptilian derma-layers.

[JohnH]

For those who want to know I WAS able to get the hex fly and Explorer A-Sym into the original Snake Skins. It is a little stiff but I was able to fold/roll it small enough to get it back into the original Hammock Bag.

[JaxHiker]

I also do the same thing with the knot in the foot end rope. However, I prefer not to stow the tarp in the skins. Either they're going to be wet with dew and get everything else wet or it'll start raining and I'll want to stop on the trail for a bit to wait it out under that tarp w/o needing the hammock yet.

[Ashman]

Okay this thread was worth the price of admission! I have always been intending to donate to the site, I just did in part to this great help! I always did a poor job of getting the hammock in the skins. Not only was this method faster, the final product is packed tighter! Thank you for posting these intructions!

[JEVanHorn]

ok so once it is in the skins what does everyone recommend doing with it for storage? I mean in terms of when you are going to continue on your hike what do you normally do just stuff it in your pack etc etc?

[Coffee]

Fold it up and wrap the straps around it and put it into the pack.

[JohnH]

I used a tiny zip tie around the head end Spectra at the very end of line (well about 4 inches from the tip). It's tiny and doesn't hinder knots.

Also as I stated before, using this method I was able to get the hex fly rolled up with my tarp, then packed back in the original hammock bag. Needless to say it saved a lot of space and I like the ability to hang my hammock with the hammock ever being exposed to the elements.