Spontaneously attended a local "hang" at Lapham Peak State Park this past weekend. My initial thought was just to pop by during the day to see what it was all about and ask some questions. (I had been researching hammock camping earlier in the year and just hadn't gotten a chance to try it)
Luckily, hammock camping people are AWESOME, and brought extra gear so that I could stay the night!
(...which turned into staying both nights!)
My background:
I grew up car camping once a year at most.
As an adult life got too busy for camping for a while...but as my kids started getting older, I got back to the once a year (or every couple years) car camping.
As life got even busier, I got hooked on backpacking and really getting off-grid and away from the hustle and bustle of life. There's nothing like being miles away from crazy life to refresh me! I started backpacking with a couple friends out west... Sedona, Arizona and Southern Utah...and then out in the Smokey Mountains with my college BFF. I think I love the canyons the most.
I've done minimal backpacking with my kids...mainly due to lack of lightweight tents for all of us..and what it would take to buy packs, tents etc. I started researching hammock camping, because I think this might be a good alternative to buying expensive, lightweight tents. I bought a cheap hammock last spring for my youngest son (11), who is excited to use it camping at some point. (This summer came and went and we, unfortunately, didn't get to try it out.)
I learned a lot this "first time" hammock camping. I am hooked! I know my kids are going to love this too...and gear will be easy to carry and I'll be able to DIY a lot of it. (I love to sew).
Thank you so much to Karla "with a K", Tumbleweed, Banana Hammock, Goobie, Nick and Harley for a fun weekend! I'm looking forward to sewing up some decent gear and getting out there with you all again!
Betz
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