What do YOU do when trees are too far apart?

[sideshowraheem]

One of these days I'm going to get a Tensa Trekking pole. Its not every trip that I would end up using it, but when you do man it opens up a lot more hanging spots for you.

[Knot Grounded]

Hi folks! I'm curious how you hang when your trees are less than ideally situated (too far apart) - do you climb the tree to get the straps high enough for that perfect 30-degree angle for your suspension? Do you tighten your suspension to a lower angle (20-degree, 15-degree, etc)?

I was playing with the Hammock Universe Hang Calculator to experiment with suspension lengths (do I need longer UCRs?) and realized that to keep a 30-degree suspension angle when the trees are more than 15-foot apart starts to get my straps pretty high up in the tree.

For example:
If tree distance is 15', then suspension height for a 108" ridgeline (the usual for 11' hammock) is 70"
If tree distance is 20' then suspension height goes up to 87" (just over 8-foot, I can probably just reach this standing on the ground)
If tree distance is 25' then suspension height goes up to 105" (almost 9-foot, I'm gonna need a step-stool or something)
If tree distance is 30' then suspension height goes up to 122" (just over 10 foot, at this point I either use less than 30-degree angle which dramatically increases tension on the UCRs, or I have to climb the tree)

So what do you do?

I just push my suspension up as high as I can get it and call it good. My hang angle is way off in that situation, but I’m okay with it if the trees and my setup are okay with it. Not ideal, but I deal.

[Rankin1]

I have a favorite hang location that is under an abandoned rail road bridge and above the 2ish foot deep stream. ItÂ’s about 50+ feet between the piling bents. I place an 11mm Dacron rope (near zero stretch) between bents. I can get it tight as Dicks hatband and hang hammock straps on pre tied Alpine Butterfly loops. The rope needs to be a little higher, but this means does not impart any additional lateral load on the hammock or straps. Even in 2Â’ water I can hang just above water without a wet butt. A few times the water was high and I just set up nearer to one end and above sand.

Some caution is in order, not all RR bridges are built to contain ballast stone totally. And jarring can release stone to fall.

I have done similar in the woods with too far apart trees.