When you just can't find two trees

[smirkinman]

Hi all, newbie here. Both to the forum and hammocks, but I've been lurking for a while and reading all I can find. I have a new HH Expedition asym and have pitched (?) it in the yard and on a dock a few times. Never overnighted - too hot here in SW FL at the moment.

Being of the type that tests everything out before heading off into the wilds with it, I'm now working on my "dang! no trees" procedure. Think kayak camping on a beach with one or no handy trees. I know- "if you expect no trees, take your tent." (told you I've been reading.) But I'm visiting islands I've not been to before so I don't know what I'll find. I can't carry both hammock and tent in my 14 foot 22 inch boat. I don't have to tell this group why I want the hammock vs. the tent.

To test the hammock as tent I first pitched it low but without stakes or poles so I could crawl in and see what the issues were lying on the ground in it. Not too bad, especially since I could sit up and let the bug net bulge out above the ridge line while I got situated. Lying in it I found the hammock would be best pulled out. Staking the "points" of course, and on opposite sides using a coin in a loop to pull out that side. So far so good.

I assume I can prop the ends up with 1/2 of my kayak paddle on each end. Some tricky knots may be called for, but that's fine. I have four snow anchors that work well in sand, and two on each end should be fine.

Here's things get fuzzy -

1) Do I create a seperate ridgeline and pitch my HH hex (I got the father's day special) seperate from the hammock, or "somehow" rig the hammock ends such that the integral ridgeline is used and the tarp is over that?

2) I'll need something to keep the beach dampness from coming up from below. I could use the asym tarp, but not too often less it be damaged, no? I carry a 3/4 length inflatable 3/4 inch pad for insulation, so I'll sleep on that.

I have searched and searched for more details on how to use the hammock on the ground, and all I find is "works on the ground as a bivy too." Some photos of various tarp set-ups are around, but has anyone here actually slept in their "hammock" on the ground using only what they would carry for trees?

Some thought experiments please.

[Just Jeff]

Most folks that I've seen talking about it use hiking poles. I bet you could use your paddle at one end and tie to your boat at the other end, assuming you could find a suitable place to camp that's close enough to where you beach your boat for the night.

Just thinking about it since I've never done what you're talking about - I would tie both the tarp and hammock to the boat first, then finish setting up the tarp nice and tight, then tie up the hammock nice and loose so you won't put any weight on the supports when you get in.

When you're in a boat and weight isn't such an issue, you can just use some 3 mil painters drop cloth for the ground cloth - it's like $3 at Walmart. Lots of ground dwellers use Tyvek, too - very light and durable.

[Time To Fly 97]

Bring extra two stakes for this. Use your hiking sticks like tarp poles, pulling the ridgelines of the Hammock taught (loop over the poles) and stake them down. I use a Z-Rest full length pad normally inside my HH. If had to go with no trees, I would put this under the hammock to serve the purpose of a ground sheet. I stake the rain fly taught as well, but pretty close to the ground (1 foot up, etc.) - wide and low. Use rocks if no good soft ground for stakes.

Little getting used to climbing in, but not that much different from tarping - other than completely bug-proof. : )

TTF

[Just Jeff]

Oh - didn't answer your ridgeline question. Some folks like separate ridgelines and others don't. I never use one but it looks like TTF does. So it's not "needed" but some people find them useful.

[smirkinman]

Tyvek eh? I like the strength of that idea. Breathable tho - water won't go thru, but water vapor does. Sounds like it might result in a damp bag/hammock, or does the vapor just keep going away from the hammock too? I really should carry a small tarp anyway to provide a sand-free place to pack the kayak.

OK, so it will be pitch the hex tarp, lay the ground sheet, lay the hammock in and attach the bug net ridgeline to the tarp ridgeline. Then pull the hammock sides out to the tarp stakes and call it done.

Now to find the best option for the ground sheet. I could even use a old patch of "Charley roofing" (the blue tarps that were everywhere after hurricane Charley went thru here.)

Any pros and cons from folks with experience? I know I do have the ability to carry a little more weight, but when the seas get up, I pay the price for that as well.

[Shrkbit143]

If you go to Sgt Rock's webpage on hammock camping it may help with this. Their are other sites he list that may have information. I have only once not used trees. I used my trekking poles and a emergancy blacket that I carrie with me as the ground cloth under the hammock. It worked great.

http://hikinghq.net/hammock/hammock3.html

[smirkinman]

Thanks! I was looking for that, suspected it existed, but had not idea where to find it. Google didn't help, or rather the words I put in. So, taking that as my starting point, and having the hex fly, I pitched on the ground. Not to bad as others have said.

First I loose staked the fly and clove hitched the lines at the end of the ridge of the fly to the hiking poles. This allows good adjustment but is secure. Finish pitching the tarp by raising the poles into position and re-staking the tarp corners in position directly to the ground.

Next I slid the prusik knots down the spectra lines until they could be clipped into the triangle "rings" at the ends of the ridgelines. This allowed me to easily adjust the position of the hammock in the tarp. I set them so the hammock was just above the ground and any water seeping or running thru the tarp wouldn't soak the hammock.

Once positioned, I ran the line thru the wrist straps of the poles and tied bowlines in the ends of the spectra lines so I could hook the hammock directly to the stakes and not risk the plastic triangles.

To sleep, I unhook the prusiks from the tarp rings and let the hammock sag to the ground, ending up like Sgt Rock shows in his photo.

Thanks all! Now I just need that ground sheet and I've got a nice two-option arsenal for shelter.

If I figure out how to post photos I'll upload a couple.

Cheers,

Smirkinman.

[COOPDOG]

:banana That's why I like my tent. I can always find the ground even there may not be trees around.:D

[Pringles]

Get a bigger boat! Then you can take both. ;)

Beth