Hammock on the PCT?

[Dayzy]

I'm planning to bring a hammock on the PCT this year as my primary shelter. I can go to ground if I must, but prefer the hammoc for several reasons. I can be warm with my set-up to about 20 degrees or so. Anyone had any experience using a hammcok on the PCT, particularly in the desert? I'm interested in hearing if it was hard to find places to hang, if you had to interrrupt your schedule to find a place to hang, if it was practical to hike till dark and hang late...and anything else that you can think of.

[Magnet_]

I used a hammock on the AT and really missed it when I went through the sierras. Still, there were times I was glad to have my tent up there (when camped among rocks and such) I had the hammock sent to Belden but I got off the trail there so never got to try it on the PCT.

South of Kennedy Meadows, I think you would end up on the ground more often than not if you didn't plan your hike around the location of trees. It's hard for me to say since I didn't have my hammock and so was not actively seeking out places to hang.

I am also interested to hear from anyone who has used a hammock on the PCT.

[Magnet_]

You may want to read this information that I found in the PCT-L archives. It's by Roni who hiked just about the entire trail using a hammock and never pitched on the ground. The link is below.

http://www.backcountry.net/arch/pct/0403/msg00694.html

[AlohaTink]

Thanks so much for this info.
Not able to do the PCT but in August I am doing the JMT and really dreaded the thoughts of hugging the ground in a tent. I have an injury in my back which makes sleeping on the ground pretty much impossible.
All I do is toss 'n' turn till daybreak...
Now I am planning on swinging in the breeze:D

[George]

I've always used a small one man 'tunnel' tent, but have been impressed with the Hennessy Hammocks that I've seen. Mainly because of the apparent comfort and also the ability to pitch on unlevel ground if anchor points are available.
I have a question for you hammock users though - How are they in cold windy weather? Like I imagine you don't have much insulation beneath you (no ground pad) and fairly light 'wall' insulation around you. Don't you find them colder than a tent in adverse conditions?

[Magnet_]

Yeah, they'll get pretty cold. Mainly from the lack of insulation underneath you. Air flowing over the top of you doesn't help (like wind blowing into your tent). There are remedies however. Lots of people add an underquilt, insulation that hangs uncompressed below the hammock. See http://www.thru-hiker.com/workshop.asp?subcat=5&cid=72 for an example. Some designs include a layer of mylar, to reduce radiant heat loss as well. Some underquilts wrap up over top of the hammock (under the rainfly but over the bug net) to help block wind and reduce air movements inside.

I've never personally tried an underquilt and never used the hammock in temps below around 20°F. The times it's gotten cold I've simply set up the hammock very close to the ground and piled up leaves underneath and around, held in place with some sticks lying on top. When there weren't any leaves around I've set it up even lower so that I end up lying on the ground. In this fashon i am basically just using the rainfly as a tarp.

[footslogger]

I have a question for you hammock users though - How are they in cold windy weather? Like I imagine you don't have much insulation beneath you (no ground pad) and fairly light 'wall' insulation around you. Don't you find them colder than a tent in adverse conditions?

===============================

I own a Hennessey (original ultralight backpacker model) and would classify myself a "fair weather hammocker". You are correct ...they can get a tad chilly. There are several adaptations now available to compensate for the colder temps but I was just never willing to invest in all that when I already own a good tent.

That said ...they are VERY comfortable. Only problem for me is that at night I like to spread out a bit and read/journal and that's quite the challenge in a hammock.

[AlohaTink]

I love my hammocks...and now I must say I have a few tents I love just as well. But for comfort and sleep only the hammock works...so I find I need to find places I can set it up during the day and get a quick nap.

George: Even at 60 degrees out a hammock can get your backside very chilly...there are so many ways one can keep warm and comfy in a hammock. I hate to admit it but down is the easiest and lightest way...and quilts work wonderful in hammocks. BUT I have been using Magnets Bod-i-Bag with just a bag under me and staying very comfortable and warm in 50 to 60 degrees out.

One of the best sites to answer all the ways is the http://www.hammockforums.net/

Hammocks seem not to be for everyone though. My hubby and daughter cannot get comfortable in them, whereas my sons and I love them.

[George]

Thanks for all the replies - they kind of bore out the reservations I had. I'm sure I'd find sleeping in one of them more comfortable than the ground and also very handy on uneven terrain, but the insulation side sounds like one of the downsides that would entail hauling a little bit of extra gear with them.
(thanks for the hammock site link Aloha - I got this extra link re' keeping warm from your link, may be of interest.. http://tothewoods.net/HammockCampingWarm.html )

I guess the answer, if affordable, is to have both tent and hammock and then haul one or the other depending on the terrain and conditions you are entering.
Weightwise, I think I'd probably end up saving about one and a half pounds using the ultralight HH instead of my tent.

[Unregistered]

I bought a Mt. Rogers quilt from JRB (http://www.jacksrbetter.com/index_files/Mt%20Rogers.htm), to replace my 15 year old cat's meow and use it for hte hammock. I have a tom Claytor mosquito hammock expedition model, and the Mt Rogers wraps around me like a pea pod and is warm to around 25 or so. I use a pad from JRB (http://www.jacksrbetter.com/index_files/Pad.htm) so I can go to ground easily if I must. I needed a new bag anyway, and I was thinking about a quilt already when I bought the hammock. So it worked out pretty good.
I carry a silk liner so I can use it as a blanket if it's cold, use it alone in the hammock if it's warm, etc. I use all my clothes if it gets really cold; I have been comfortable down to 18 degrees with a hat, gloves, wool long johns and driclime jacket, socks, etc. The hammock is so so comfortable, and light: the hammock with 4 feet of extra webbing at both ends is 23oz, the quilt is 28oz, equinox tarp with long lines 17oz, liner 5 oz, pad 6 oz: ~5 lb for shelter and sleep system, lighter than most floored tents, and comparable to most tarp tents. I am more adaptable cause I can sleep on rocks and such and don't need a flat space, although I figure I'll be on the ground a few nights in the desert. I am pretty happy with the hammock, it has full bugnetting and i use a ridgeline for consistent hanging. I am usually a light sleeper at home, I get up 4-5 times every night; in the hammock I sleep like a baby and have to be woken up by sun or noise or something. I am bringing an alarm cause I am afraid I'll sleep throught the best hiking time in the desert.

[Roni (from Israel)]

Although the southern pct is theorticaly all hammockable if Your willing to have You day rotate around reaching treas at night, You will probebly end up not being able to hammock for about 5-10 nights on the southern pct. depending on how good You are in improvising. For example, in 2003 I ended up hammocking in the mojave deser using the equadoct bridge and one side, and a burnt car fram on the other side to support my hammock. You be able to hammock evry night You'll have to consult You maps, look for a green patch, and hope that grove of trees hasn't burnt since the map was published (I hammocked on burned trees one night and got pretty dirty.

This year, especialy, as the water situation might be critical, we might have to depend on water caches, and might want to camp by them. Unlike natural water sources, which usualy have trees growing around, water caches are often in barren areas, to hammocking there is often Impossible.
This still shouldn't be a problem, as normaly in southern california You realy don't need a tent, so sleeping under the start is a favorible option for hammockers.
Thats why You should carry a matress insted of an under quilt, which would be pretty useless if you have to sleep on the ground.
I ALWAYS use a mattress -as I found that HH claims that a matress isn't needed is true only in warm situations. I have used in the past z-rest with 6-14 segments used, depending on the temprature (lowest was 0 farenheit in closed shelter on the a.t.).

I find that in many case hammock camping is actualy warmer than sleeping in a tent, as many ground campsites are in a valley or a medow, which is often at cold windless nights the coldest point. Even climbing 50 feet out of the valley can raise tempratures by 10-20 degrees, and thanks to to the versitility of the hammock You normaly wouldn't have a problem finding a hammocking spot anywhere.
A hammock is theoreticaly more exposed to the wind, but again, because hammock neccesiate trees, the trees themself will normaly give adequate protection from the wind, depending ot the thickness of the grove of trees.

Will I see You on the pct this year? Im starting on the 21st, with my hammock of course.


See Ya
Roni (still in israel)

[Unregistered]

I am using a quilt that is 5 feet by 7 feet: it becomes a full length sleeping bag in about 2 minutes, but also wraps completely around me and my hammock, so I can go to ground quite easily when I must. It weighs 1 3/4 lb, and is warm to about 25*. You will probably run into me on the trail; even though I am starting on the 12th of May, I am old and slow and you will likely catch me up pretty quick.
Happy hanging in the meantime.

[AlohaTink]

Unregistered a quick question please.
About your quilt sounds great...did you make it?

[Unregistered]

Actually, I am Dayzy but I forgot my password, so now I am unregistered till I start walking May 13th.
Sadly, I have very few skills, and sewing is definatly not among them. Not to mention spelling and typing...
So to answer your question, no, I did not make it, I got mine the old fashioned way, I bought it online. It is from a small business in VA called Jacks R Better (http://www.jacksrbetter.com/index_files/Mt%20Rogers.htm)
and it is the Mt. Rogers Quilt. It truly is a thing of beauty, and cats in Wyoming love it in the winter (it has served as our extra-cold-night quilt all winter). It is quite multipurpose, and if you combine it with their "Pad Converter" (http://www.jacksrbetter.com/index_files/Pad.htm), you have warm bag/pea pod/over blanket /camp blanket (if it's not raining), and extra warm blanket for the kitties. They are asking $275 for it right now, but I bought mine from them for $230 (before Christmas), so you might be able to call them and negotiate.