Date: 2011-06-20
To: More on Hammocking
Miles today: 0.0

I think some of you are intrigued about my newly-adopted hammocking lifestyle. It's a big departure from tenting, to be sure. When I was tenting, I had to look for a pretty flat spot in which to make camp. Obviously rocks, roots, twigs, and uneven terrain would be uncomfortable, but even a slight slope to your nest would result in wakening slumped in a heap to one side or other. The high-tech fabrics of tent, sleeping bag, liners, clothing, etc., are slick, and a slope of even slight incline could cause me to slip. In a hammock, I don't have to worry about the terrain beneath my body, as I am suspended above it. All I need are two good trees. In looking for trees, I try to find a pair that is spaced about 10-12 feet apart. Each tree should be, ideally, about 5-12 inches in diameter. It's important to make sure the tree is alive! I met an acquaintance on the trail who looked like he'd been in a bar fight (two black eyes, some scrapes and other bruises), because he pitched his hammock in a dead tree and he came crashing down in the dark of night when the tree broke. The neighboring trees should be alive, too. You wouldn't want a gust of wind to cause deadwood to fall upon you as you sleep! Believe me, here on the Appalachian Trail, the tree possibilities are virtually endless. It's a vast forest, for the most part, which is why it's known as The Big Green Tunnel. There are spots, however, where it's difficult to find a suitable pair of trees. Balds, for example, or pine forests. On such occasions, I just keep walking until I find a suitable spot. It usually doesn't take long, and is far easier than finding a tent spot. I am hooked on hammocking for this reason alone, but that's not all.Sleeping in a hammock is amazingly comfortable. I honestly feel that I sleep as comfortably in a hammock as I do in my own wonderful bed at home. I don't toss as much, either. I had some trepidation about the transition at first, because I worried that I might feel claustrophobic. Quite the contrary, I find it quite cozy. And when the weather permits me to sleep without a rain tarp covering me, I can open my eyes and look out at the magnificence of the night sky, and feel the air on my face. It's wonderful. Sometimes fairies appear, or a deer.When I slept in my tent, I would retreat to my domain and dump the entire contents of my pack in the spare space. (It was a two-man tent.) I liked being able to do this, but it let me get a bit slovenly and disorganized. Consequently, in the morning I took a lot longer to get my gear in order to face my day. Hammocking forces me to stay more organized. Not only do I sleep suspended from a tree, but my pack is hung in a tree as well. It's off the ground, so no worries about vermin or moisture. I also have to keep it in order, so when it's time to break camp things go much quicker. In the event of bad weather, I just put my pack cover over it and my gear stays dry.My hammock comes equipped with a rain fly. I upgraded to a larger rain fly than what comes standard with my particular tent, and I'm really happy with it. If it should begin to rain while I'm out I simply put the fly up first, then erect my hammock beneath the safety of the rain fly.I've seen several other models of hammock, but I am so happy with my Hennessy. No, I'm not being paid to endorse Hennessy products, but if I had to do it again I'd buy this same hammock in a heartbeat. And Hennessy customer service was phenomenal. I'm devoted. Thank you, Mr. Hennessy, for helping me out of my scrape with the rain fly!Here is a link to the Hennessy website so you can learn more about hammocking:http://hennessyhammock.com/This past weekend saw a big event in my family. After many years of dating, my brother- and sister-in-law, Lawrence and Linda, finally decided to tie the knot! Congratulations to both of you! I wish I could have been there to celebrate with you, but you were in my thoughts. Thank goodness the two of you didn¢t jump into anything too rashly! I see many happy years together in your future!Much as I hate to do it, I¢ve got to get back on the trail despite the rain. I hate hiking in the rain!!! But it looks like there¢s rain in the forecast for the next seven days, and I can¢t wait any longer, so off I go, rain be damned! At least the temperature is nice and mild.Happy Trails to one and all!