My first solo hammock trip

**cmoulder** · 02-22-2018, 20:11

Let's not forget to add frogs to the noise list, and, if you're very unlucky, cicadas... which make an incredible amount of noise.

**leiavoia** · 02-22-2018, 21:02

I like the frogs and cicadas.

**SilvrSurfr** · 02-22-2018, 21:37

I'm a light sleeper with a keen sense of hearing - I can hear everything while I'm sleeping, even field mice underneath my hammock. The only animal that has ever snuck up on me was a deer - he got right under my tarp! I've had skunks, raccoons, squirrels, and a possum under my tarp, but I knew they were there. That deer was quiet, though. I never heard a thing. When I woke up and saw the fresh deer tracks, underneath the tarp, I was a bit shocked. They are stealthy animals!

Best night I ever had was in the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon - we were camping at the top of the mountain, and I could hear four or five owls coming up the mountain. It took them several hours, but they arrived in our campsite about five in the morning and made a helluva lot of noise with their hooting. It was a wonder to behold (or hear, as the case may be).

**Malcolm** · 02-22-2018, 23:25

Originally Posted by cmoulder

Let's not forget to add frogs to the noise list, and, if you're very unlucky, cicadas... which make an incredible amount of noise.

Also foxes. If you think a tortured demon has spawned in the woods near you, fear not. It's probably just a fox.

(I've come close to some embarrassing, involuntary physical reactions to foxes making their horrible noises nearby.)

As to the frogs, does anyone else find the sound of frogs to be soothing? I love how their sound seems to be centered in the midrange of the audio spectrum where it's not harsh even when it's loud. Not unlike the sound of a really nice theater sound system. Is that just me?

**TallPaul** · 02-22-2018, 23:44

I’ve been soloing for a while and there are still nights the noises awake me up. I just try to embrace it and enjoy being part of nature. And even if I’m up a few times, I still feel fresh in the morning so I don’t let it bother me.

This last trip I had a new sleeping bag and tarp. I swear I was up every 90 minutes hearing something because my brain was saying something sounded different. I’d wake up conscious that it was most likely my imagination (after a good sweep with the flashlight to make sure) and tried to convince my primal brain things were fine. I’m sure it’ll eventually get better as I get used to the new normal sounds.

**Malcolm** · 02-23-2018, 00:02

Originally Posted by TallPaul

I’ve been soloing for a while and there are still nights the noises awake me up. I just try to embrace it and enjoy being part of nature. And even if I’m up a few times, I still feel fresh in the morning so I don’t let it bother me.

+1

Being awakened in the night by animals is somehow less fatigue-inducing than being awakened by my kids at home.

**cmoulder** · 02-23-2018, 07:18

Originally Posted by Malcolm

Also foxes. If you think a tortured demon has spawned in the woods near you, fear not. It's probably just a fox.

(I've come close to some embarrassing, involuntary physical reactions to foxes making their horrible noises nearby.)

As to the frogs, does anyone else find the sound of frogs to be soothing? I love how their sound seems to be centered in the midrange of the audio spectrum where it's not harsh even when it's loud. Not unlike the sound of a really nice theater sound system. Is that just me?

Yep, I linked to some audio of a fox scream a few posts above, and it is indeed blood-curdling the first time you hear it. I heard them again night before last when I did a quick solo trip.

Other noisemakers are owls — when they get cranked up they can go on intermittently for hours.

I find the pitter-patter of light rain soothing as long as I know all gear is stowed properly. Few things are worse than having to leap out of the hammock to cover up something because it was left out in the open since there was "no chance of rain" in the forecast.

**scrope** · 02-23-2018, 15:10

Originally Posted by Malcolm

As to the frogs, does anyone else find the sound of frogs to be soothing?

I was trying to sleep in the fall last year and I kept hearing this shuffle-shuffle noise near my hammock. I looked out with my light but there wasn't anything there. Eventually it started to freak me out so I got out of the hammock and starred into the dark. I could point to exactly where the noise was coming from but there wasn't anything there (invisible monsters was my first thought). I kept looking and staring and moved closer to the site of the sound and it was finally revealed to be a small frog jumping and the noise of the leaves was making the rustling noise.

**Brewmaker** · 02-26-2018, 23:27

I think I'll take the nighttime noises if I can convince the wifey to let me go solo....

**OneClick** · 02-27-2018, 10:06

Originally Posted by Go Dogs!

and hiked a trail and found a spot to hang my hammock by headlamp (not very smart, I know).

Not a problem at all. Even with a basic headlamp you'll have plenty of light. No different from daytime IMO. Just be sure to have a backup flashlight just in case (even a small cheap one if nothing else)

I used to plan most of my trips for a 9-10PM arrival just so I could do some night hiking. It's great waking up and seeing a totally new view, and see how good you did at choosing a spot.