View Full Version : On the ground
Okay HH fans, I 'm stuck and need some help. I'm going above the tree line and plan on using my HH like a tent. I've seen some pictures of this setup, by my attempts have resulted in a string of failures.
I used my hiking poles to tie off the ridge line, then tied the hammock straps to the hiking poles. With enough stakes the poles will hold until I get into the HH. Then the whole thing falls down. :datz I put the poles about 3 or 4 ft from the hammock and tied off at about 3 ft high.
I got the obvious part--use more stake to hold the poles--but I guess I'm missing fundamental in this setup. Or, is thius just a bad idea?
hammock engineer
11-03-2005, 15:17
I haven't tried this yet, but you may want try hanging it a little lower. My guess is that when you get in, you are pulling down on it some how. You might be able to get by with 2 stakes pulling the pole away from the hammock. Then use the tension from the hammock to pull the 2 poles together.
Just a guess though, I will have to try this. SGT Rock has some good pics on his site.
http://hikinghq.net/hammock/hammock3.html
Setting up a tarp with hiking poles, I usually just use one stake per pole and am fine. Looks like Rock is doing the same in his pictures.
I think it's cool that you can set the hammock up this way, but the only advantage I see is that you get the bug protection, which doesn't seem to be an issue above tree-line anyway. Why not just set up the tarp and leave the hammock in your bag?
That said, are you sure you have enough tension in the lines? Also, are you setting the stakes far enough from the poles? Is the whole thing coming down as soon as you do anything or are you maybe pulling on the floor too much or something while you're moving around?
I'm curious to hear what the solution is.
Footslogger
11-03-2005, 16:59
Only tried it once during my thru in 2003. Used 2 trees about 10 feet or so apart as the anchor points. Never was able to get comfortable with the entry/exit process. Ended up deciding that if I was gonna use the hammock then it needed to be off the ground.
Have seen photos that make it look workable. Maybe I just didn't take the time to get it right.
'Slogger