OK so I was invited to go give backpacking seminar to some boy scouts that one of my co-workers is involved with. It was going to be a car camping affair on some local property owned by the scout director. I figured what great opportunity to get in my first hang. Any way we get there Friday evening and then begin to set up.
I found some trees that were about 15 feet apart but then walk over to another potential site and by the time I got back some ground dwellers took my spot. So I went back to the 13 foot spot. Any way I set up my hammock, UQ tarp, and my WM highlite bag. Made some dinner and then went over to the already roaring camp fire. Around 10 we all went to bed.
I walk up to my hammock and get in. The temps were only supposed to be down to 40*f so I figured I was good I pitched my tarp pretty low because it was windy, and had more insulation items for when it got too cold. Any way I get in and began to try and find the sweet spot. It seemed like a lot of tension was on my calves again and after about 30 minutes I just couldn't ignore it and knew that if I tried I would not get any sleep. I remembered from my playing around in my garage that lowering the foot end alleviated this problem. So I climbed out of my snuggy cocoon and got my head lamp and proceeded to lower my foot end about 6inches or so, which looked good from my new RL line I climbed back in ... much better and this time tried to use my bag like a quilt. Yah no, I don't like that at all. MY back was cold and I didn't feel snuggly warm at all. The minute I turned it back around and zipped myself in, instantly I felt snuggy again. Sorry for me that layer underneath of me counts...no matter what the theory is. And yes I tuck it in all around me, etc, etc. YMMV. HYOH
3am I wake up (WOW I SLEPT TILL 3 AM. WOW I SLEPT TILL 3 AM and did not have to roll over every 45 minutes, and I went to sleep right away to begin with) to answer natures call, climbed back in bed, adjusted the UQ and zipped up. 5am I wake with the feeling of man I have been on my back too long....it was a little stiff/soreish...so I flip over on my side and lay fetal, man I could never do that on the ground. From 5am-7am (when everyone began to stir) It was then a fight between me and the UQ but I will post all that in the UQ section. Just like I will post the Tarp issues I had in the Tarp section.
So after breakfast I gave my hands on backpacking workshop (non of them has ever backpacked) and then at the end we walk over to the shelters section so they could see what one looks like. I had my SMD Lunar solo, and 6x9 zpaks cuben tarp. They all spent a few minutes looking at them and then we walked up to the hammock.
After letting them see it in the "buttoned down position, I pulled back the tarp, and bug net and then proceed to demonstrate more. It was nothing but ooh and ahhs from everyone. They all loved it, including the leaders. I let each one get inside it and lay down for a few minutes(shoes off of course.) After that for the whole rest of the morning and afternoon it was Mr.>>>> can I go get in the hammock. And those that weren't in the hammock it was can we boil water with your ESBIT stove (my favourite piece of gear) and other general question by both staff and kids. But the biggest hit was the hammock....I have a feeling come spring time I am gonna see a forest full of hammocks All in all it was a great hang, and I am totally stoked about my new adventures to come...I am once again excited to backpack...I am even contemplating winter camping
Now for some hammock questions.
A: Given that I was only able to be 13 feet between trees should I have placed my straps lower then the 6ft mark. My angles were about 40-50* (yes I brought my angle gauge) I am 6.1 so I placed the strap a scant above eye level. Do I raise the strap height for trees farther apart and lower for shorter distance, or is it the opposite?
B: In my garage, my center beam is about 8 feet high, I have my hang points at 15 feet but the hang is very steep, should I figure out a way to get the straps down to the 6 foot level first and then hang?...for practice purposes yah know
Here are some pics to prove it happened.
Early morning, tarp pulled back....The tarp may seem high, but I originally had it pitched about 6-8in (or so) non weighted off the RL, but then when I lowered the foot end of the hammock it dropped to almost even with the tarp edge. Just had to clarify.
one of the kids...his face says it all.
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