Well, I had my first experience with my Hennessey Hammock Friday night of Fourth of July weekend.
Frank and Paula Looper and I were going out for an overnight on the Bartram Trail in South Carolina. I was ahead of them by a few hours, and I started out about 6:30-7:00. Walked about 2 ½ to 3 miles in, and it started getting dark, and I saw these two perfect trees to hang my hammock from…just down the hill from the trail. It had taken me an extra 30 minutes to walk in because there was this HUG tree across the trail about 2 miles or so in. I could see path through the middle of the trunk section, but had to break off the smaller branches to clear a path to get to the opening.
Well, I knew how to tie the hammock, but this being my first time using it, it took me a few tries to get it right. Plus, the ropes had to stretch a little. First time, it was off-center. Second time, not tight enough. Mainly my problem was that I wasn’t hanging it high enough for it not to reach the ground, and I wasn’t getting it tight enough. But I trust that is just a learning curve that will correct itself over time and usage. So, I did re-tie it a few times, and finally had it right. I was very tired, and wanted to get on in and read a while and head off to sleep.
I think it is going to take some practice to get into a sleeping bag without a whole bunch of hassle, I didn’t succeed the first time. And even though it was July, it dipped to probably right around 68 that evening. I had on shorts, which was a mistake since I usually take a pair of leggings to sleep in. I shivered a little but managed to drift off to sleep after reading a while. I really can see that it won’t be a problem to get into a regular sleeping bag…I have a Big Agnes bag so there will be no pad slippage. I think that will be ok.
I woke up to voices coming down the trail about midnight…Frank is loyal to his Nightwalker trail name. I really heard them coming from a ways away, and I had hung my pack from a tree over the trail thinking they would see it, so I didn’t make any sounds. They got closer and closer. Then their voices passed where I knew I had hung my pack. They hadn't seen it in the dark, and never even saw the hammock, but it was down the hill about five yards…not far. There was a smaller fallen tree across a portion of the trail right past my pack, so I knew they wouldn’t walk past before I could say something. I yelled out to them, "You guys are so noisy, I heard you coming three hollars away."
Well, I got out of my hammock, and we sat around and talked and ate and played 20Q. Went on to bed around 2:30 p.m. and never moved the rest of the night. Well, after I got my Big Agnes (my nickname for my rear-end) in the hammock. I didn’t realize it, but it was cold, and I found the Big Agnes was sticking out of the hole. I hadn’t closed it properly.
I was a little cold the rest of the night, and I figured something out for myself. The little fleece bag I took with me is about the same weight and size as my Big Agnes sleeping bag in its stuff sack. I am extremely cold-natured. I am just going to take my Big Agnes unless it is ungodly hot, and I can always use it as a blanket and be warm. I am just cold-natured. And my little ¾ Therma-rest will sit right on top of my pack.
It was a very nice overnight trip. I scared up a little raccoon on the way in, and he was cute washing his hands in the stream. I didn’t take my big pack, I took my day pack, and I loved every minute of it. It was packed to the gills, but it rode even better than my big pack. And this even though it was stuffed pretty full. I had though I might have gotten to go swimming, it wasn’t warm enough, and I didn’t have enough time. But I had taken along a regular towel for laying on rocks in the Chattooga. It would have worked better if I had gone ahead and taken a Neat Sheet. Warmth and can use to sit on and dry off.
The Hammock Hanging went well. But, I don’t think I had the ends at equal height. I slept well, but kept ending up at the feet end. I think the head was a little too high.
Dawg