Well based on the stats attroll just linked, we have another issue about what trees not to use. It appears we aren't getting any visitors from Greenland.
Whose gonna step up and get over there and start recruiting?
Scott
"Man is a stream whose source is hidden." RWE
Just throwing this out there...
I've argued here before (and I'm too lazy to find it and link it here) that Hennessey, Speer, and the other hammock makers should pool their resources to commission a study of what effects, if any, hammock use has on trees. I don't mean to discourage anyone from sharing info and informed opinion based on experience and expertise in an effort to minimize any environmental damage; but if this issue ever comes to some kind of confrontation, pro-hammock anectodal evidence is just as convincing/unconvincing as anti-hammock anecdotal evidence. The arborists who line up with hammockers will have their opinions cancelled out by those that line up against us. What will likely then happen is you'll get inconsistent policies towards hammock use until someone undertakes such a study as I suggest. The hammock makers have a financial stake in this argument and it is in their best interests to get ahead of the curve on this. If they don't, they (and we) may end up at the mercy of ill-informed opinion, or end up playing catch-up when a state or federal agency performs such a study.
That said, here's hoping we all take our LNT obligations seriously, and work together to preserve our [pick one: (1) enjoyable pastime; (2) unhealthy obession with hammocks and hammock accessories].
My first hammock used ropes to go around the tree, they would leave marks so I upgraded to the ring buckles with 1inch straps. I see no damage if I chose my trees with a solid bark. Loose bark trees get damaged just by resting your hand on it to take a break.
I had a ranger lecture me when I was leaving a local park about how I could kill trees in the park by using a hammock on them. He saw the area I was reading my book in but not the exact trees I was hanging from, so we took a walk over and I asked him to show me what trees I was on since I damaged them. He picked 2 trees about 8 ft apart and said that they were the ones I was using. I told him my hammock body was 10 ft long and I couldn't hang from those if I wanted to.
After about talking and joking for about 30 minutes, he gave up and I set the hammock up the same way it was when I was reading. First he was amazed that I hung from 2 trees about 20ft apart, next he was amazed that there was no damage on the trees and 3rd he was amazed how cumfy the hammock was.
On the walk back to my car and his, I pointed out an area off the trail where someone had set up a tent. He said that alot of people stealth camp and they are always damaging the undergrowth.
Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time. ~Steven Wright
[QUOTE=Iafte;58840]
After about talking and joking for about 30 minutes, he gave up and I set the hammock up the same way it was when I was reading. First he was amazed that I hung from 2 trees about 20ft apart, next he was amazed that there was no damage on the trees and 3rd he was amazed how cumfy the hammock was.
QUOTE]
way to go Iafte!
I too will something make and joy in it's making
No flames here. I do disagree....I've seen plenty of trees with peoples initials carved in them, nails driven in them etc, that have survived quite well. Trees are remarkably resilient. Regarding damage done from repeated hammock hanging.....in all the years of car camping in campgrounds, my grand total of hammock hanging sitings has been precisely......(drum roll please)....one! Other than mine, I've never seen one while backpacking. Frankly, I think the overall negative effects of hammock hanging is nil to none. Having said that, I do believe it is our moral responsibility to take every reasonable precaution to protect our environment.
Miguel
There are so many variables that it is difficult to get a good handle on what is happening. There are different types of trees, different weights in hammocks, different suspension systems, different basic hanging schemes where minimum stress is applied to the trees versus maximum stress applied to trees, wilderness camping in areas where trees grow like weeds versus high use camp grounds where trees are scarce and slow growing, and probably other variables as well.
Youngblood AT2000
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