Bears and hammocks

[andersonaidan200]

I'm about to go on a two week backpacking trip in bear country. Has anyone had any experiences with bears and their hammocks? I feel that I might be very vulnerable to bears in the hammock. Also any tips for dealing with bears (brown) on the trail?

[Phantom Grappler]

Where are you gonna go? Is a brown bear? A black bear or a grizzly bear or is it a brown Kodiak bear as seen fishing for salmon in Alaska?
Each of these bears are generally different. I've read black bears avoid people but will try to get your food--even if you have your food in hammock. And a Momma black bear will kill you if you are near her cubs.
So to avoid black bear confrontations: don't hike alone, have two midsize dogs, keep as clean as possible with no food smells on your hammock, tarp or clothes.
I've read grizzly bears are more likely to kill you--more so than a black bear. Be prepared in all situations
I wrestled a bear, once when I was young. It was a trained bear and I held my own. In the wild, that bear would have made short work of me.
I'm not sure how Kodiak bears are with people. I'm not even sure if they are a seperate type of bear.
I'd have at least one dog, while hiking. You have greater odds of getting hurt in a car wreck--than a bear maul.


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[SilvrSurfr]

The same rules apply to bears, whether you're in a hammock or a tent.

[dakotaross]

Absolutely zero reason to feel more vulnerable in a hammock, but I do (and did) know what you're talking about. Now, I'm not in brown bear territory so I can't help you there, but no reason to think any bear is more attracted to the open hammock setup than a closed up tent. That's a human mind illusion.

In fact, I'd say in terms of knowing what's going on in your camp, you're more likely to wake and be able to chase off a critter than you would be in a tent. In a hammock, you lift your head up, shine a light, realize there's nothing there, and go back to sleep rather quickly. In a tent, IF you get up and shine a light out and realize there's nothing there - as you will - you'll be less inclined to keep getting up to see that nothing is there. And you'll always wonder if something might have been there. In a hammock, you will see over and over that nothing is there. And if by the slightest chance something is there, you are mostly lucky, in various forms of being lucky.

[dakotaross]

Yet another great reason for porch mode!!

Sorry, SS, I had to do that!

[andersonaidan200]

Where are you gonna go? Is a brown bear? A black bear or a grizzly bear or is it a brown Kodiak bear as seen fishing for salmon in Alaska?
Each of these bears are generally different. I've read black bears avoid people but will try to get your food--even if you have your food in hammock. And a Momma black bear will kill you if you are near her cubs.
So to avoid black bear confrontations: don't hike alone, have two midsize dogs, keep as clean as possible with no food smells on your hammock, tarp or clothes.
I've read grizzly bears are more likely to kill you--more so than a black bear. Be prepared in all situations
I wrestled a bear, once when I was young. It was a trained bear and I held my own. In the wild, that bear would have made short work of me.
I'm not sure how Kodiak bears are with people. I'm not even sure if they are a seperate type of bear.
I'd have at least one dog, while hiking. You have greater odds of getting hurt in a car wreck--than a bear maul.


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I'll be hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail in Lake Tahoe Nevada.

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[andersonaidan200]

Thanks for all of the fast replies everyone!!

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[Mike7540]

As others have mentioned, I don't think you are more vulnerable in a hammock compared to being in a tent. If a bear has reason to come sniffing around, a tent is not going to help protect. With that being said, I totally understand your concern being in bear country.

I carry UDAP bear spray and hang it from my ridgeline on a biner when I go to sleep. During the day, it's attached to my hip belt. You can't really prevent bear attacks, however, you can help to minimize the chances of an encounter. Make sure to cook away from camp, and I always carry a set of clothes just for sleeping in. I hang my hiking clothes/clothes I eat meals in with my bear bag away from my site.

[Theguywitheyebrows]

so nt that i have much experiences with bears in the hammock, because i have yet to have the incounter, but i am in bear country (the Mescalero Apache reveir the bear as a brother, and im right near the edge of the rez) and i sleep with my Glock when im sleeping outside of my house and i am fairly certain that when i do wake up and pop my lil head up over the edge f my hammock and see a critter, im pretty sure a warning shot with the .45 would deter loitering. if i were accosted by a bear, i'd likely just watch him in awe and amazment and try to be quiet and wait for him to leave. eats and kitchens in a bear bag away from 'home' and theres no reason for him (or her) to even wanna hang out with the human. they're just hungry and curious, not mean and vicious. had encounters with them in dumpsters and grubbing the foods that got left on the table during a bathroom break, those types of situations they usually freak out and jet when you start hollering at them and walkin their way. not cubs, mind you, full grown, denting-the-dumpster, mama and papa bears. they arent interested in violence as far as i know. i have NOT heard, in my last year in bear country, about anyone getting bear'd up. i hear about hikers loosing boxing matches with big cats, but they're sneaky coniving creatures that wanna eat you. nothing about bear attacks.

[SilvrSurfr]

Yet another great reason for porch mode!!

Sorry, SS, I had to do that!

Porch mode - because you want to see the bears coming!