View Full Version : Can you hang all the way?
I'm sure this has been asked a thousand times....
I'm beginning my final preparations for my spring NY-ME hike and one of the things I have to decide is whether to take a hammock or tent.
Here's my question: Can you find places to hang a hammock as easily as you can to pitch a tent from Bear Mt., NY to Kathadin?
I'm pretty sure that you can or it'd be common knowledge but I was just wondering about what practical experience folks have had with finding places to hang on the upper third of the trail.
sasquatch2014
03-10-2010, 07:22
From Personal experience from Hanover south yes there is no shortage of great spots to hang. Haven't done nor yet hope to knock some of it out this summer. From what I have heard yes this should not be an issue for you.
sherrill
03-10-2010, 08:53
You might be interested to read Wendy's Trail Journals (Shimmy 2009). From what I remember reading she hung a hammock often, especially in the northern sections.
hello 10K. i've hung all the way from bear mountain to Crawford notch and would say that there wasn't a single hammock issue, other than a silly caretaker at Guyot Campsite in the Whites who wanted me to hang by the privy (and he gave in to common sense, ultimately). the only harder spots to hang are in the whites, but so far the tent platform sites have worked just fine for me. i'm just starting to figure out the "over mt washington" piece, and that looks doable, too. i'd say if you like your hammock, you should go for it... i'll be posting some specific questions about mount washington myself, as that trip gets closer. Or you could just stay in huts... yes, definitely go for it.
white_russian
03-10-2010, 10:47
I would say in NH and ME that it is much easier to find a hammock spot than a tent spot.
Didn't Sgt Rock hang all the way?
Ox97GaMe
03-10-2010, 11:41
I would think that the only place you may have an issue is in the Whites. With the restrictions about staying in the huts, or the tent platforms, it could be an interesting venture for hammocking. Everywhere else, especially around shelters, there will be plenty of hammocking possibilities available.
skinny minnie
03-10-2010, 11:53
I would think that the only place you may have an issue is in the Whites. With the restrictions about staying in the huts, or the tent platforms, it could be an interesting venture for hammocking. Everywhere else, especially around shelters, there will be plenty of hammocking possibilities available.
Stealth hang or work for stay. :)
MyName1sMud
03-10-2010, 16:11
Didn't Sgt Rock hang all the way?
That's what I was thinking..........
Stealth hang or work for stay. :)
the trees are so close together thru the whites it seemed like stealth hanging would be really really tough... i've got to admit i didn't try...
singing wind
03-11-2010, 00:01
In Maine last summer (HMW) there were spots where the forest was so dense or the trees too short or small to hang, but down (or up the trail as the case may be) it was possible to find suitable places. Took a bit of creativity and ingenuity at times, but overall there were more choices for a hammock than a tent. And it sure was nice to have the tarp for all that wet weather! :)
I have no experience hiking with a hammock, but I see no reason why it would be harder to find a place to hang than to tent, in NH.
In the Whites where the Trail is above treeline (ie. Franconia Ridge, Presidentials) there are no trees to hang from. But, camping is not allowed here anyway so it's a moot point. Even folks with tents have to stay at the Huts, or come off the ridge and camp below treeline.
That being said, I see VERY few hammockers in my area (even among thru-hikers).
nitewalker
03-11-2010, 08:14
i would take a tent in case u want to take a zero in the rain. at least you will have decent cover for a day off. i cant see the hammock being as comfortable if that situation arises.. tent will also hold two people if that situation arises, lol....good luck with your choice......just some other things to think about!!!!!
skinny minnie
03-11-2010, 09:28
the trees are so close together thru the whites it seemed like stealth hanging would be really really tough... i've got to admit i didn't try...
In the immortal words of Tim Gunn... "Make it work!"
It's just as much of a pain to pitch a tent in places like that... if not more so!
Also if you want to zero in the rain on trail... set up your hammock near a shelter. You'll have a private place to sleep and a place to hang out/stretch your legs as well.
Just Jeff
03-11-2010, 09:40
I'd MUCH rather spend a zero under a well-ventilated tarp, where I could SIT at chair height and lounge around (just like I was in a chair), and enjoy the views...than sit on the ground hunched over inside a sauna looking at nothing but nylon walls. JMHO and YMMV.
I'd MUCH rather spend a zero under a well-ventilated tarp, where I could SIT at chair height and lounge around (just like I was in a chair), and enjoy the views...than sit on the ground hunched over inside a sauna looking at nothing but nylon walls. JMHO and YMMV.
You make sitting around bored to tears almost sound like fun! :)
Just Jeff
03-11-2010, 10:50
Haha - well, if you're reading a book or watching an iPod movie, it's much more comfortable leaning back like you're in a chair or swing than hunched over in a tent or laying down on the ground. Maybe not fun, but at least it's comfortable. :D
A hammock makes for a great rainy day. You just need a good tarp over it.
I'd MUCH rather spend a zero under a well-ventilated tarp, where I could SIT at chair height and lounge around (just like I was in a chair), and enjoy the views...than sit on the ground hunched over inside a sauna looking at nothing but nylon walls. JMHO and YMMV.
Ditto! Under my BOT (big ol' tarp), I can sit or lie in/on my hammock, or sit on my bear can. I can stand up, walk around, get dressed, look outside, pee outside! Much rather spend a day that way than stuck lying on the ground in a tent.
As already said, you can't camp above tree line any way, and where the trees are packed tight you're not going to find tenting easy either. If you're forced to stay at a tent platform, you can tarp or hang there.
IMHO, hammock + tarp= more options than a tent. YMMV.
One big ol' potential bummer is changing clothes in mixed company if your tarp isn't pitched low enough.
The 3rd night when I didn't pitch a tarp at all a couple hiked by the campsite and my first thought was "now I'm going to have to pitch the tarp to change into my long johns...". Goody for me they kept hiking.
One big ol' potential bummer is changing clothes in mixed company if your tarp isn't pitched low enough.
The 3rd night when I didn't pitch a tarp at all a couple hiked by the campsite and my first thought was "now I'm going to have to pitch the tarp to change into my long johns...". Goody for me they kept hiking.
Actually, I've never encountered any problems with this. I've stayed in shelters, and had some women simply ask me to turn around while they changed, others turned around themselves, others just didn't care. For most, modesty goes out the window along with smelling good. If there's a crowd around I just turn around myself, although I do give special consideration/warning to parents with little kids - no need to traumatize the little ones:eek: