MN Trip Report = Stealth Hammocking Adventure

**Refreshing** · 06-01-2017, 08:11

Hey guys! Over here in MN the weather is fantastic and the mosquitoes aren't yet in full force. I wanted to get out on a hammocking trip since I had the night off last Wednesday but I had baby duty the next morning. So instead of wasting the night sitting around the house I decided to go urban stealth camping.

I brought a small list of climbing gear and made a full adventure of it. I did not want to sleep near the ground since we have a lot of homeless drunk guys that wander the streets at night. Waking up with some drunk dude trying to crawl into my hammock is something that I wasn't willing to risk. So I hung my hammock about 30' high between two conifers. I didn't bring a tarp because the forecast said 0% chance of rain and worst case scenario I would have to walk home in the rain.

To my surprise I was able to get the "I am out in the forest" feeling due to the ponds surrounding my campsite which were filled with night creatures that did a great job of drowning out the rest of the city noises. It was a short and sweet trip. I will post up the gear list soon for anyone who wants to know what a climb like this requires. If you are interested in seeing more here is the video below:

**Phantom Grappler** · 06-01-2017, 10:29

Be safe, brave hammock friend. I'm scared of heights--I'da probably been 6 foot 2 if not for my fear of heights. It looks like--after you are set up--if one tree snapped, the other tree would hold you securely until you could climb down. Refreshing, have you ever had a tree snap while you were up there? And were you able to remain aloft without falling?
There have been stories of hammock campers (near ground level) being struck by falling trees. I wondered about this, since it seems to me that the higher up a tree you go--the less it takes to pull one tree over onto the other?!?!?
Good luck and great video
Old Phantom-scared of his own shadow.

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**Refreshing** · 06-01-2017, 11:05

Originally Posted by Phantom Grappler

it seems to me that the higher up a tree you go--the less it takes to pull one tree over onto the other?!?!?

You are correct. I was yelled at by an arborist on this forum for doing it in my early days of tree camping. For the past 4 years I stopped hanging between trees and used a bathammock which is anchored above the hammock at a single point. I thought it my duty to teach people to tree camp in the safest manner.

But then on some arborist forums I talked to a well respected arborist about the photos of him hanging multiple people between 2 specific trees up to a height of ~50 feet. After that encounter I realized I am smart enough to not hang in a dead tree or in a tree that isnt strong enough to hammock in. I also stopped caring about teaching the wrong way because if I am dumb enough to do it there are surely other people who are dumb enough to do it no matter what I say.

Some people will always think treecamping is too risky just like some people will always think that hiking out into a forest and sleeping in a hammock for the night is too risky.

**Rekoob** · 06-01-2017, 15:19

I love it! great pics video.

**Phantom Grappler** · 06-01-2017, 21:54

I don't worry about a tree snapping--another tree will grow up right past it. I hope you can be safe and continue to have fun and share your fun with the vertically challenged!! An arborist would know lots more about trees than me. Good luck, cool video!

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**jane.cassidy** · 06-02-2017, 09:04

How the bleep DID you get your body into that hammock? I watched the video to find out, and that part was not in it.
Being older and not so mobile, I can't get out of my hammock if I can't get my feet on the floor.

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**Alkali** · 06-02-2017, 11:01

That looks like a blast but not for me. I get dizzy if I'm standing on a stool and look up.

Stay safe.

**TheMushroom** · 06-02-2017, 16:43

Very entertaining, great vid!! Definitely not for this old man though. One question, if you did bring your tarp, how would you guy it out?

**tsunamihazardzone** · 06-06-2017, 23:13

Originally Posted by Refreshing

Hey guys! Over here in MN the weather is fantastic and the mosquitoes aren't yet in full force. I wanted to get out on a hammocking trip since I had the night off last Wednesday but I had baby duty the next morning. So instead of wasting the night sitting around the house I decided to go urban stealth camping.

I brought a small list of climbing gear and made a full adventure of it. I did not want to sleep near the ground since we have a lot of homeless drunk guys that wander the streets at night. Waking up with some drunk dude trying to crawl into my hammock is something that I wasn't willing to risk. So I hung my hammock about 30' high between two conifers. I didn't bring a tarp because the forecast said 0% chance of rain and worst case scenario I would have to walk home in the rain.

To my surprise I was able to get the "I am out in the forest" feeling due to the ponds surrounding my campsite which were filled with night creatures that did a great job of drowning out the rest of the city noises. It was a short and sweet trip. I will post up the gear list soon for anyone who wants to know what a climb like this requires. If you are interested in seeing more here is the video below:

Refreshing,

very cool video! Great timing for me as I have been reading up on recreational tree climbing and working on meeting some people in my area that do it that I can learn from as I don't have any climbing experience.
The thought of hammock camping that high is a scary and exhilarating thought, the kind of thing I want to try now!
I noticed in other videos you were not using a GE hammock. Do you prefer it to your other hammocks and porta-ledges for canopy camping?
Thanks for the inspiration and all of the info on your site. If you ever are in Portland, Or let me know (we have big trees!

)