My 1st overnighter: MOGA 2013

[Black Chrome]

I've been reading and researching things all winter since I decided I wanted to be a hammock hanger. Armed with some knowledge my friend and I headed almost 4 hours from home with our hammocks. Lithia Springs campground on Lake Shelbyville in Illinois was our destination. I was surprised when I drove through the parking lot of the campground to see 2 other hammocks set up. If you were there feel free to chime in!

We got set up Saturday morning so that we could concentrate on caching the rest of the day. The wind gusts were probably up to 35 mph. I knew better than to use the grommets on my harbor freight tarp but there were no small round rocks at the campground to use as tie out points. I later found some while hiking around the lake so I put them in my pocket to use later.

After we got back I did notice that some of my grommets were starting to rip so I used the rocks to fix them and add a pullout to the back of the tarp in the middle. I had my tarp set up in a lazy porch mode. Around 2 am I woke up to a very hard rain. When I woke up in the morning it was clear again and all of my set up was dry. I looked back at my buddy's hammock and it was empty! He slept in the truck because the head end of his hammock slipped and he was getting sick from being at such an extreme angle. After breakfast we fixed his hammock and he got a short nap in it so I think it was an overall success! Thank you guys so much and feel free to comment.

They look naked

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/...ps79e55da6.jpg

Fully clothed

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/...ps996e0c97.jpg

My view this morning

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4c3a07ec.jpg

Oh no he bailed!

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/...ps89d2fa1d.jpg

He isn't giving up

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5541ab28.jpg

[gophin]

Congrats on the first hang! Just had mine recently, as well. Sounds like you had some real wind to deal with, glad you had some cover there in those trees. Super glad your tarp setup worked out so well, heavy rain and still all dry...nice.

[Thom]

Lake Shelbyville is about an hour north west of me. Would be nice to get together if you make it back over this way.

[SkyPainter]

Good first hang learning experience. You will find, as you hang in different places, that each hang is a learning experience! Eventually, you can evaluate about any potential hang site and think, "I've done this before!"

Thanks for the report, and I loved the RDB hat hanging on the tree!

~ SkyPainter

[MAD777]

Congratulations! It was smart of you to select a site where you could bail on your first outing.

[the_drake_man]

Im not sure what happend to the suspinsion but after some daylight and some adjustments it was nice to take a quick nap! Not giving up on the hammock after only one trip.

[Black Chrome]

I'm glad that you aren't giving up yet. I'm also glad that you joined this site. There is a vast wealth of knowledge here along with some of the nicest people that you will ever meet.

[Jcavenagh]

Hey, not bad for a first trip. You guys will learn what works for you in the next few trips.
I was hanging 110 miles NW of you at Sand Ridge. I had at least 3 T-Storms blast thru during the night and it got quite chilly by early morning. It was cool listening to the storms as they approached and then went off NE.

[AKA Pete]

Practice makes perfect.

Well, at least a whole lot easier and more comfortable. I think "perfect" in hammock camping is that Zen like thing that is just slightly out of reach.