Hanging in a state/local campground

**robanna** · 06-10-2010, 15:29

I was recently in a local campground with some friends who were RVing it. I set up my hammock and the ranger came by and asked me to take it down since anything that completely encircles a tree is not allowed. I didn't argue the point that this setup would not leave any noticeable mark let alone hurt the tree in anyway since he was just doing his job. I just waited until dark, setup, and then tore it down at first light but that's besides the point.

Anyways, does anyone have any thought on how to hang from a tree without going all the way around the trunk? How does one get around this rule? Educating the ranges would be nice but highly unlikely. Since it's car camping, weight is not an issue but I'm not going to bring a whole, freestanding rig.

My first thought was to tie off on a pipe, 2x4 or similar through the crotch of a tree but that would mean to tree the right distance with a good crotch in each. Not likely.

**Hogg Tyed** · 06-10-2010, 15:51

A good Hammock stand is going to be the safest choice for the car camper.

**mbiraman** · 06-10-2010, 15:52

Maybe taking some 1" dia. branch pieces 3-4 " long and inserting them under your webbing that goes around the tree might be a possible solution but more than likely not. You could discuss this with them at a time when you not camping and see if their open to changing their idea. Sometimes its easier from their end to make an across the board ruling to save having to mess with the whole thing. Good luck

**BrianWillan** · 06-10-2010, 17:29

Originally Posted by robanna

I was recently in a local campground with some friends who were RVing it. I set up my hammock and the ranger came by and asked me to take it down since anything that completely encircles a tree is not allowed. .

Clearly the ranger would have preferred you to use a couple of rather large screw eyes into each tree, given the above statement.

It is sad that front line workers these days aren't given the leeway to exercise their own judgment when applying "the rules".

Cheers

Brian

**BrianWillan** · 06-10-2010, 17:36

Originally Posted by Hogg Tyed

A good Hammock stand is going to be the safest choice for the car camper.

Most hammock stands that I have seen would require a relatively level area to be setup on in order to hang the hammock properly. Not always possible at some car camping sites.

Cheers

Brian

**BR360** · 06-10-2010, 18:42

Just a thought:
Seems like you could insert something large and very cushy (like a large, rolled-up towel) into the loop that goes around the tree. If this were placed at the back side of the tree where the greatest tension is, you could explain that the loop was not encircling the tree, because it was being interfered with by the towel. Plus, the towel provides cushioning, without being so soft that you could not maintain a good tension for the hammock suspension.

**dejoha** · 06-10-2010, 19:56

You might try what is done with rappelling and slack lines: a piece of closed-cell foam padding between the tree and the straps. Overkill? Most likely, but at least you can point out the extreme measures you are taking.

**Knotty** · 06-10-2010, 20:08

Were you using tree huggers?

If you tie off your suspension to both end loops on the tree huggers then they never totally encircle the tree (in terms of making contact with the bark).

If you weren't using tree huggers then I can understand the ranger's concern.

By the way, you're idea of tying off to a pipe or 2x4 in a crotch of the tree is very creative.

**FarStar** · 06-10-2010, 20:52

Assuming your experience was at a CO state park, it seems that no such rule exists: http://parks.state.co.us/Reservation...pingRules.aspx. In the future you might consider respectfully asking the ranger to see the rule -- they don't have the authority to make them up on the spur of the moment, although I assume they would be justified to prevent an unsafe act, rule or no rule.

I've had no problems in state parks in WA, OR, and CA, and never had a problem in a national forest campground.

There are some great ideas posted above that should put a reasonable regulator at ease. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of unreasonable regulators.

Hog Tyed, do you know of any sturdy, lightweight, and portable hammock stands?

**Walking Bear** · 06-10-2010, 22:32

I was at a state park last spring with friends. The two other couples have fifth wheel campers. My wife slept in one of them and I hung my hammock between them.
I crossed two 2x4's on each end and tied to the lantern post and the back stop behind one of the campers. No trees involved.