Really Bad Wind

[JCINMA]

That sounds a lot like the same kind of wind everyone experienced at the Gorge Rat Hang. Steaks were useless because they were bending and being pulled out because of the tremendous force. Tying to heavy logs and something rooted into the ground worked for me. I use the same tarp as you, do you use the tie outs or just tie from the 4 ends?
These tarps are sturdy and they can take a lot of resistance. Heavy though but I don't mind.

I had two corners tied to the trees, and two corners staked down. It was really too dark (and cold) to do anything more elaborate.

[DuctTape]

We had some pretty good gusts come through Friday night. As with the other suggestions, I will add site selection. Even a short row of evergreens can block a heck of a lot of wind. The leeward side of a hill can be helpful. If near water, move into the forest more, especially stay away from peninsulas or points which are perpendicular to the wind. I found a giant boulder to hang on the leeward side of for Friday night. Without it, I would have had to use some of the already stated ideas.

[JCINMA]

We had some pretty good gusts come through Friday night. As with the other suggestions, I will add two things, tie off to saplings and most importantly: site selection. Even a short row of evergreens can block a heck of a lot of wind. The leeward side of a hill can be helpful. If near water, move into the forest more, especially stay away from peninsulas or points which are perpendicular to the wind. I found a giant boulder to hang on the leeward side of for Friday night. Without it, I would have had to use some of the already stated ideas.

I didn't have any of those options. I was set up in the middle of a pasture at the top of a mountain.

[L.D. Cakes]

We had some pretty good gusts come through Friday night. As with the other suggestions, I will add site selection. Even a short row of evergreens can block a heck of a lot of wind. The leeward side of a hill can be helpful. If near water, move into the forest more, especially stay away from peninsulas or points which are perpendicular to the wind. I found a giant boulder to hang on the leeward side of for Friday night. Without it, I would have had to use some of the already stated ideas.

Exactly, We went a far piece down the leeward side of the ridge into the woods to be away from the brunt of the wind (but those are strange winds in that Gorge). The beauty of hanging is you can pick a spot in some of the most unlikely places...over a bank, on the side of a hill, a pine thicket etc. etc.

[Bradley]

So, I was going to hang yesterday...
But I ended up tenting it because the wind was too strong.
?

Bummer . . . .

So . . . I guess it is good to be like a BOY SCOUT and be prepaired . . .

. . . but . . .

. . . a tent . . .

Brother . . . can ya spare me the heart-ache . . . a tent . . .

I guess a country boy sometimes just hav'ta
sleep on a nail bed in the penthouse . . .

[JCINMA]

Bummer . . . .

So . . . I guess it is good to be like a BOY SCOUT and be prepaired . . .

. . . but . . .

. . . a tent . . .

Brother . . . can ya spare me the heart-ache . . . a tent . . .

I guess a country boy sometimes just hav'ta
sleep on a nail bed in the penthouse . . .

First of all, it was actually a Boy Scout trip, which explains my bad site choices.

Second, my normal go-to is just a tarp, but as you can see, I don't think that would have worked very well.

[flyboy]

If you set up your hammock low to the ground and then pitch your tarp low and flat, that might help as well. Less exposed surface area = less damage the wind can do...

[Bradley]

First of all, it was actually a Boy Scout trip, which explains my bad site choices.

Second, my normal go-to is just a tarp, but as you can see, I don't think that would have worked very well.

Just funnin with ya friend . . .

and anything that works ain't a bad choice . . .

[JohnH]

Here in Oregon we get some nasty wind on the coast. I've tested in some pretty severe conditions (Upward of 40mph). I have found a few things that work really well.

1. Hang your hammock so that it is is only a few inches off the ground when you are in
it.
2. Pitch the tarp at a very shallow angle.
3. Pitch so that the edges of your tarp touch the ground (No space)
4. Use a ridge line. Also tie the ridge line as tight as you can.
5. If you are able put some ground debri along the base of your tarp to hold it down.


It may seem like common sense but I've hung with a lot of people and it isn't often for some reason that people remember to that the lower to the ground your setup the less air it will catch.

[leepingreenlizards]

So, I was going to hang yesterday...

But I ended up tenting it because the wind was too strong.

I had set up my hammock and tarp and then went to eat dinner around the campfire. About 20 minutes later I heard a loud SNAP, and saw that my tarp had come up on one side and was over the ridgeline. I pulled it back over and went looking for my stake.

THE WIND BENT MY STAKE IN HALF!!!

I decided to try it again. I got a new stake and staked down my tarp again. Another 20 minutes passed. SNAP! I looked over again, and my tarp had once again come off the stake. I then made the decision to tear it all down. One stake was still in the ground, but the wind had flung the other one about 20 feet away from my site!

How do you guys deal with bad wind like that?

That happens when I eat blackeye peas.

But seriously, did you have any shockcord attached to the tarp to help take the stress off the stake and the tarp? This probably would have prevented that. I keep it attached to my tarp and reattach my line to it, if the wind kicks up.