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Some friends are planning a trip this July 4th to do the Art Loeb trail, north to south from Daniel Boone to Davidson River. I am the only hammocker in the group. Will there be adequate hanging spots along the way? I have read that there might be a few areas with sparse hanging spots, and since the rest of the group are tent guys, I hate to be the only one looking for trees. Thoughts? Will I be OK, or should I dig out the old tent and, as much as I hate it, sleep on the ground?
You should be fine, the only space sparse of trees would be on Black Balsam or top of Tennent Mtn. Great hanging spots around Shinning Rock and just south of Black Balsam. After that its wooded all the way to Davidson River.
Just in case, you might want to bring some sort of ground sheet, like a piece of Tyvek and some line with you. Since you have a Blackbird, you can use your trekking poles or even a couple of sticks to convert the Blackbird into a 1-man tent. Just put down the ground cloth, put the Blackbird on top of it, take a trekking pole on each end, wrap your straps or whoopies if you have those installed, around the trekking pole or stick and tie some line on the top of the pole, pulling it taught and stake it to the ground. Do that on either side. Then you can throw your tarp over that and have a shelter.
Here's a couple of pics of a hammock being used in this fashion:
https://www.hammockforums.net/galler...ck_as_tent.jpg
https://www.hammockforums.net/galler...0/img_0263.jpg
Thanks for the pics lilricky, I was thinking that exactly as an option. My play with that some this weekend , as a "just in case" option.
When I did the Art Loeb trail (south to north) the only section that seemed like a problem was near Black Balsam. Pretty much from the crossing of the Blue Ridge Parkway until you get close to shining rock there were not many good places to hang (perhaps way off trail in a pinch). I was headed to Deep Gap so it wasn't an issue. I will say that the Black Balsam area seemed like a neat place for a tent, nice views (then again in July it might be really, really hot). I also walked up Cold Mountain but didn't find a nice place to hang near the summit.
I agree with eaglej. Running Feather and I did the Art and really the only place that I would say would be a challenge is Black Balsam. Although, you're not in that area for long, maybe a couple hours.
Thanks guys, I think I will be fine. We are gonna shoot for camping around Shining Rock the first night, then moving through the Black Balsam and onto another are the second day, so I should be fine. Also, one of the other guys will have a big enough tent to share if I have to.