Hammock use on the PCT?

Hi everyone,

I'm just curious if the use of hammocks on the PCT is aloud or if you can point me in the right direction where I can find out. Thanks

Not many trees.
I think it would be asking for problems.
However, since it doesn't rain in CA, you don't really need a tent.
Just bring a tarp for emergencies.
Oregon and WA will probably bring you some rain however.
More trees up there, especially in Washington.

Look at peoples pics of the PCT and see how many trees you see.

It's allowed, but you'll be sleeping on the ground a lot.

One place I know that hanging isn't allowed is Lake Morena County Park (~20 miles from the Mex. border)...
There ARE trees in SoCal - many more than most people 'imagine' or assume from seeing a few photos - and, yes, there are some long stretches without suitable 'trees', but can still be possible to hang many times with a little creativity (SoCal is not 700 miles of treeless desert!)...
Roni from Israel hammocked the PCT in 2003, the Ewoks the year before that... Roni did go to ground a few times - but mostly by his own choice, not wanting the hammock (need for trees) dictating his daily mileage... See this old posting from Roni: <http://bit.ly/wChn42> which should tell you a lot... If you're prepared to go to ground (only need a pad since you should already have a tarp for your hammock) if 'needed' or because you 'want to' - you'd be set...
You can also 'scout' the trail using Halfmile's Google Earth PCT trace <http://bit.ly/x9VCCG>, or Postholer's PCT Google Map <http://bit.ly/kqUb5X> to do some hang location planning for those 'difficult' stretches... Have fun!

Happy trails!!!
Jim (PITA)

The Ewoks hung in 2003... I know because I was one of the Ewoks. Hennessy has a photo of us on his site that's mis-labled as 2002 (and which I've asked him to update a few times but he hasn't).

I spent a lot of nights on the ground, but by choice. There are tons of trees in SoCal (or boulders, or shrubs) that you can hang from. In the High Sierras I almost exclusively hung.

Hey Ender - yep, Hennessey website is where I learned of the Ewoks - and have quoted that "2002" in the past, but will use 2003 from on! ;o)
But you did confirm my primary point about SoCal - there are plenty of hanging opportunities IF you want to hang...

BTW, do any of the Ewoks have an online journal from 2003? Thanks.

Happy trails!!!
Jim (PITA)

I do, though I don't think any of the others do. It's on Trailjournals. I had to pull off at Donner Pass due to injury, so I didn't finish. In fact, none of us did. One day I'll get back and do the rest... I'll probably backtrack and redo the High Sierras too, because they are pretty amazing. :)

I met a guy who said he never went to ground. I met him in Big Bear, so he wasn't yet finished with So Cal, but I was impressed because I could think of lots of treeless places on the way to Big Bear.

Thanks everyone for the replies. Helps out a lot. Just wanted to make you could hang and I'm sure there will be times I need to be creative as some of you stated. Everything is much appreciated...

I guess I should say that I'd sleep on the ground a lot because I don't want to have to get that creative, and I might want to camp with others.

I thru-hiked with a hammock last year and did not regret it one bit. You do need to be a little creative in SoCal, but even there it is not too hard. I cowboy-camped twice -- once to stay with friends and once in the middle of the Mojave. There was one time after Mather Pass where I'm pretty sure I found the only suitable trees for 10 miles. Other than that, I don't remember any problems.

I really wish that people that haven't tried it wouldn't answer these types of questions. When you're a hammocker, you look at things a bit differently and see places to hang that tenters/tarpers don't see. I'm sure you guys are great at seeing flat ground, but some of you seem pretty bad at seeing trees. :)