Rock, Climbing Nuts and Hanging

[ntxkayakr]

That is a great photo. I have seen people use a very hard rock wedged in a crack with rope or webbing attached to it, this makes me nervous if there is more than 18" to fall. I think I saw Bear Grylls and another "actor" on Isle of Sky doing that on a T.V. show recently. Will not saw what I really think. But this may have been how people routinely did it hundreds/ thousands of years ago when metal was not as easy to carry and more valuable than it is today. Bottom line test it out and hang as low to ground as possible on a summit or in carpeted bedroom.

[mbiraman]

[QUOTE=ShellHammock;1308237]the big difference between climbing slings and tree hugger straps is the material used. Climbers use nylon that is dynamic (stretch) and hammockers use polyester that is static (don't stretch). Of course a rope is a rope and you can hang from just about anything. I just don't like it when my suspension stretches over night and changes the angle of my dangle

As an ex- climber i can tell you that slings do not stretch any appreciable amount. The rope itself is what stretches and reduces the dynamic affect of a fall. As someone else has mentioned its good to get a bit of training in how to place natural protection,,its not obvious to many and takes a bit of practice. A rock in a crack can work as well as a nut if placed properly. Any wired nut you use should have a small sling on it to allow for any movement that might disturb the nut or rock or cam device. Cams work best but are expensive unless you think you'll use them regularly. I think you'll have better luck with large slings around boulders than you might finding the appropriate cracks for hanging. Anyway good luck with that.
bill

[OutandBack]

Shell: cool picture very creative (and brave !)

OutandBack: Thats true, I do worry for my dyneema though


At 17g i often just take one of these along
Attachment 91773

Where do you use dyneema at? your whoopie?
I just use the tree strap loop to go around the rock or stick.
Just like you use it to go around a tree with no hardware.

[Scotty Von Porkchop]

Most often, when I'm in and area with sketchy amounts of trees etc, I use a 20m dyneema in a SLS with a bachmann/munter hitch on the carabiner. Its not that this is a better way to do it but I just cant leave behind my bushcraft roots (where a hank of rope is always in the pack)

Ha you know what it has never even occurred to me to use the tree strap ! I'll go buy my rock climbing buddies a drink to see what they think (it should only cost a pint or two)

[ofuros]

As the others have said. Wrap a bolder, jam a crack, use natural chocks, etc etc.
A flexible approach will have you hanging in a rocky situation, the bottom line is...do it safely.

If I do plan to hang on a treeless summit I'll take my tricams, carabiners & a few endless climbing slings...they're a lightweight
flexible arrangement anyway.
Otherwise I'll leave them at home, summit, take some pics & drop down to the treeline.
Being caught out in an exposed area by some incoming bad weather will get the heart pumping,
hammock swaying & tarp flapping.

[Singingcrowsings]

This is interesting, and I could totally see a rock or stick being used..!!!

Just to be clear, I'm not talking about hanging off a cliff or anything, more like if there's a clearing with large protrusions of rock, or on the side of a slope (mixed with a tree?). Nothing extreme. I just want to be able hang in more places than in the bush.

I'm curios with what your friends and you come up with Scotty Von Porkchop!

[K0m4]

This has been on my mind a long time, and on my next big fishing trip up north I would like to go to a tree-less area, but with this kind of system instead.

However - what do you do with the tarp? Wrap the guylines around boulders? Attach it more or less to the tricam that your hammock hangs from? Or smth else?

[OutandBack]

This is interesting, and I could totally see a rock or stick being used..!!!

Just to be clear, I'm not talking about hanging off a cliff or anything, more like if there's a clearing with large protrusions of rock, or on the side of a slope (mixed with a tree?). Nothing extreme. I just want to be able hang in more places than in the bush.

I'm curios with what your friends and you come up with Scotty Von Porkchop!

Me to, I'm only talking the usual 18" from the ground.

K0m4, If my tarps RL can not be attached the same as the treestrap I will attach it at the marlin spike. Not as tight but it works.

[bartlax4]

I would not suggest this as a complete alternative to getting some professional instruction, but this book is incredible and lays out any climbing scenarios you could possibly think of, illustrations included. In addition to instruction from an experienced friend of mine, this book taught me to trad climb. I think anyone who has read it will agree, much of the technique can be adapted to hanging your hammock. Think: hanging belay stations, big wall climbing, etc..

http://www.amazon.com/Mountaineering.../dp/1594851387

Good luck and be safe.