Cold Reception at Campsite!

**NT57** · 07-08-2009, 09:51

Hi all.

Finally an opportunity came along to try out my new HH ULBP! I went on a diving trip last weekend to the south coast of England, and we were all to stay at a campsite over night. Great!

But when we arrived at the campsite, the staff were less than accommodating. They'd never heard of any sort of hammock other than the ones you find yourself on at the beach, with a cocktail in-hand. And the idea that I might want to hang one at their campsite... They told me in no uncertain terms that I was not to hang anything anywhere. They were pretty rude, and patronizing (one woman suggested that I might like to go to the beach for a little while and 'chill out' in my hammock there! - I tried to explain... not that sort of hammock)

So anyway, my first night in my new HH was on the ground, with the hammock pitched bivy style, using two hiking poles borrowed from another camper. Nonetheless I had the best night's sleep I'd had for about three weeks (I've been trying to get over jet lag), and I slept way better than another guy in our group who was taking the Mick, saying I was going to freeze and get soaking wet... I probably would have got wet if it had rained - the ULBP only had a Velcro fastener to close the entrance, which would let water in.

Has anyone else had trouble with campsite staff being hammock-unfriendly? And does anyone have any tips for keeping water out if you have you hammock bivy style? I pegged a bin liner to the ground below the entrance, but I'm not sure it would have done much...

Thanks guys - I've been reading these forums for a while! Some good stuff here!

**gargoyle** · 07-08-2009, 10:24

A good waterproof ground sheet and carry a larger tarp, if you think your going to run into trouble. Set up on higher ground, steering clear of possible wash-out areas. Dig a small trench, 1-2" deep, uphill of your bivy, to route away any run-off water. Trench out in a v-shape around sides. Place a log uphill to funnel water away from bivy. Anchor a small log or two, uphill of your bivy, with rocks to prevent it from rolling down during the night, or drive stakes in front of log(s), some small sticks from the woods will do). Keep your fingers crossed that you don't get hit with a monsoon.

**DuctTape** · 07-08-2009, 11:06

This reinforces my reasons for not referring to my setup as a hammock anymore. Instead I call it a suspended tent. It immediately is followed by a questioning "huh?", so I describe it again, it is like a tent but suspended between two trees. Frankly it provides a more correct image to non-hammockers.

**cashley550** · 07-08-2009, 11:12

I just haven't been mentioning it at all to any of the staff...

**sk8rs_dad** · 07-08-2009, 11:45

Originally Posted by gargoyle

. Dig a small trench, 1-2" deep, uphill of your bivy, to route away any run-off water. Trench out in a v-shape around sides.

Trenching is against the tenets of "leave no trace" camping and prohibited in most provincial and national parks in Canada.

**lori** · 07-08-2009, 11:53

I just roll in and set up. I had a ranger in Yosemite's backpacker campground stalk around it suspiciously, but she went away without a word. I'm all prepared with a talk on the LNT nature of the setup, with the straps that don't leave a dent on tree bark and the lack of damage to the ground flora.

**Gailainne** · 07-08-2009, 12:45

I like the idea of saying a suspended tent, but to be frank I wouldn't have told them, I've never been asked the type of tent before, only its size, ie solo

Once your set up with I presume your mates tents besides you, shrug

Pity it was England, up here you could have taken one step off their property and set up with no worries, as long as you follow the "responsible access code".

A link for the next time your up in a civilized Country

Cheers

Stephen

**MedicineMan** · 07-08-2009, 16:33

When Warbonnetguy sends out a hammock he includes written instructions, on the same sheet is included a warning to all of us hammockers about the growing trend/resistance to hanging in parks. We must be vigilent and realize that we will have to educate more and more people of LNT and how a hammock does far less environmental damage than a tent--even then it will be a struggle dealing with minds that cannot see the forest for the hammock! This weekend we hung in a national forest campground and then stealthed along the Edisto--no problems in either place--but we knew the mental status of most of the state park attendants and purposefully avoided them. It might be in our interests to visit the superintendent of some state parks for an introduction of ourselves/our ethic (LNT), and the hammock itself, fully presenting the tree huggers and how they eliminate any damage-that no nails are used etc. But we also must realize that in their minds eye allowing anything to be attached to a tree is also allowing the more unscrupulous to attach a clothesline to hang their diapers, their undershirts with a famous NASCAR racer, etc.
In the end for me it is simply avoiding places to hang where it will be an issue and always carrying a backup tent in the car.
On the trail I can always (so far) stealth it when needed.

**shrek** · 07-08-2009, 16:36

Never had a problem setting up my hammock. I've had some rangers say "no ropes" on the trees, but that's not an issue. Most times, they come by to ask lots of questions about the set-up, as most have never seen a true camping hammock.