First Hang! On the way...

**Tuckahoe** · 09-13-2013, 17:58

I am writing this traveling with some friends up I-95 to Pennsylvania. We're WW1 reenactors and heading up to our recreated Western Front battlefield to do some maintenance on our trenches.

Rather than sleeping in our dugout as usual I thought I would give the hammock and tarp a go. I'll get some practice setting up in the dark. It supposed to be a low of 46º tonight and I'll be using a Thermarest Ridge Rest and a 15º sleeping bag (quilts are in the budget next week).

**fiveonomo** · 09-13-2013, 18:35

Good luck buddy, have a good trip. Let us know how it went.

**Bubba** · 09-13-2013, 19:29

Hope all is quiet on the Western Front tonight. Hope you sleep well.

**Tuckahoe** · 09-13-2013, 23:11

Well here I am. It is 12:07am and I'm all set up. Took me about 40 minutes to set up the hammock and tarp in the dark. I've got the tarp pulled out wide so I'm not using the pull outs. All comfy and turning in. Good night!

**Awkward Sportsman** · 09-14-2013, 00:34

Originally Posted by Tuckahoe

I am writing this traveling with some friends up I-95 to Pennsylvania. We're WW1 reenactors and heading up to our recreated Western Front battlefield to do some maintenance on our trenches.

That is awesome man! I hope the hang is comfy! And I send a huge amount of respect and gratitude your way for not letting the world forget WW1, and the brave soldiers that fought for freedom.

**Tuckahoe** · 09-14-2013, 12:28

Well, the first night was a great success. I slept great, best night sleeping out in a long time. Using the pad and sleeping bag, I certainly understand even better the value of top and bottom quilts. Although I got really good at turning over and not spilling out. Love the gentle rocking. Never got chilled, no CBS.

Got one more night to go.

Here is the view when I woke up

And here is the set up

**SMJerry** · 09-14-2013, 12:50

Good looking set up. Glad to hear you had a great nights sleep.. Thats what its all about... and better than a night in the trenches any day.

**Tuckahoe** · 09-15-2013, 23:26

Back home now and I had two wonderful nights in the hammock. Here are some random observations

This forum has been a great resource and I am glad I put the time into reading as much as I could on hammocks. This weekend was the first chance I had to hang overnight since I bought the hammock, and I did not feel like a noob.

Practice setting up and taking down. It'll make things easier on you when you're really out for the night.

Inflatable pillows are worthless. The only downside to my two nights was that when I moved the inflatable pillow would shoot out from under my head.

YES! You can side sleep in a bridge hammock just fine. You can even sleep on your stomac just fine. There is a rhythm to turning over, and I never tipped myself out.

I got along just fine with a pad and a sleeping bag, I had no difficulties, but I did better understand the dance there is getting in and out of a bag while in a hammock.

I'll hammock again when we head back up in a month for another maintenance weekend to finish our project.

We were working on a new section of trenches...

Here is a picture of the inside of our unit dugout... wooden bunks are not so comfortable!

My boys!

Yours truly

**Red Cinema** · 09-16-2013, 07:08

I dunno, hammock in WW I, watch out for those. . .oh yeah, wrong war for Nazis. . .

Looks great!

**sargevining** · 09-16-2013, 07:37

Well, besides the farby hammock, everything looks great.

I never made it out to Newville, and now I'm too old to be a convincing Doughboy. Had to be satisfied with doing PunEx and WW1 Aviation at a couple of museums down here.