Go-to-ground?

[Ducky90319]

Has anyone come across a situation where you just couldn't rig a hammock, and needed to convert to ground shelter? What do you bring or do different to accommodate the need for flexibility here. If you don't have a sleep pad and only an under quilt, what would you do in this situation? Obviously you could bring a sleep pad just in case and poles too. Just looking for ideas.

[BC9696]

That's when I lighten my load and take a tarptent. https://www.tarptent.com/#

[SilvrSurfr]

There are sixteen hundred and sixty-six "What if I have to go to ground?" threads on HF. Enjoy reading.

https://www.google.com/#q=site:hammo...o+go+to+ground

[warhead78]

I keep a contractor bag in my pack. If I can't hang, I throw the UQ in it as a pad, rig a pup tent with the tarp and dream about swinging.

[youbet]

Im with warhead78 i usually bring a foam windshield reflector with me reguardless, weighs 4 oz, and a contractor bag. fortunately I havent had to go to the ground. But if i had too!! in and emergency I will live.

[sargevining]

You can rig your tarp using your trekking poles---you should already have plenty of line and tent stake for it. Depending on what type of hammock you have, you can use it as a ground cover. In colder weather you can use your UQ as a ground pad and your TQ as a quilt.

Or

You could make something similar to my Underwoobie, or I could make one for you:

http://godgunspoliticsandhammockcamp...derwoobie.html

[pgibson]

Has anyone come across a situation where you just couldn't rig a hammock, and needed to convert to ground shelter?

NO.


Not once.


There is always a way if you're willing to work for it.

[MDSH]

One of the advantages of ultra-light (UL) gear is the flexibility it affords.

If, for instance, you are already carrying an UL under quilt what difference does it make to carry an UL pad for sleeping on the ground? It has multiple uses anyway, right?

Your welcome mat for hammock camping may need to be larger to make a ground cloth. But everything else is the same.

With UL we are talking ounces and not pounds of difference.

If everything is of UL materials and dimensions then between two variables, ground or elevated, there is only a relatively slight difference.

[Downhill Trucker]

I camp with a lot of non hammockers so going to ground has always been an important option. Versatility in camp site selection is one of the main reasons I was attracted to hammocking. I didn't want to eliminate the option of camping in a meadow under the stars.

With that in mind, I started with a great big OES tarp. Instant weather protection hammock or ground. I used a Claytor style DIY that can convert to a bivy on ground. If you don't use trekking poles, you can find sticks or stack rocks. With the tarp, you have created a tent. Under my hammock, I hang a gear hammock. This can be unstrung to create a ground cloth for my "tent" or while sleeping in shelters.

Finally, and most importantly... I use a pad. A cheap wal mart CCF. I have several of them in different shapes and styles. They are bulky, until you use the pad to become the frame in a frameless pack. Eliminating the frame, the pad simply replaces it while providing ample under insulation and the option to go to the ground.

I would still rather be hanging!

[Duckworth]

My go to ground plan is to rig up the hammock as a tent. (using hiking poles and sticks etc). For the ground I would put my underquilt on my backpack (I use a crown VC 60 with airbeam frame).

IMG_6014.jpg

I've never come across a situation where it was needed though. There are always lots of trees in the forest.