Farewell to my Fabric Friend {a Memorium}

[Benchmark]

This past week I had a 4 day trip to the Adirondacks with a group of 5 others. I was the only one hammocking, the others used one of the shelters in the High Peaks area. After summiting Mt. Marcy on the 2nd day (NY highest peak), I was feeling a little under the weather and stayed behind with almost the entire group that day. I laid in my Blackbird XLC, filled out some notes in my High Point journal and noticed the wind pushing the tarp a bit into the hammock. After finishing the journal entry, I figured I'd run the tarp pull out to counteract some of this. As I moved into sideways/sitting position to get up, I heard a tearing sound and the next thing I knew, I was on the ground . It's definitely a challenge to get yourself out of this position!

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My BB was my first vehicle to get me off the ground. It's certainly sad to see it go. It is now with Green Bean. It was about 2.5 years old. I mostly had used it on Scout campouts. Upon closer inspection, I think this was self inflicted. During my first year (pre-underquilt) I was using a CCF pad. To try to stop some of the pad shifting that invariably happens, I had put some grip tape on the pad at various spots. It looks like that abraded the fabric enough to weaken it. Bonehead move on my part (I think I even wondered about that as I was putting it on the pad) - learn from my mistake kiddos! I guess I now have the *problem* of having to replace it with something... I spent the last night in the shelter as part of my penance. On the plus side, it was the first trip out with the ULA Circuit and it performed admirably!

Instead of condolences, feel free to post replies about your hammock/tarp failures to keep their memory alive or relive great memories of what they did for you, or, as in this case, what NOT to do!

Mods - feel free to move this to a different forum if you don't think it should be in this one.

[No-sage]

You must have had beautiful weather in the high peaks this week.

[TrailSlug]

Bummer. What did you do the rest of the trip?

[Floridahanger]

I must admit I've hit the ground a few times but not by hammock or suspension failure. It was also my fault.

First was my test hammock when I first started out. It was a DIY mock up with cotton material to test the hang. Suspension way less than 30* and the connection from hammock body to suspension couldn't handle the stress.

Second was me getting into my hammock without checking the Whoopie Sling connection to the MSH. Never get in without first checking to see if the wind has shifted the Sling off the knot onto the toggle. It took awhile before hitting the ground. Luckily no damage.

Now, years later, after that initial mock up with cotton fabric has turned into my DIY ripstop hammock, there is definitely signs of wear around the sides. Not bad for 8 years of use for $1.50 per yard of fabric. Will miss my hammock when it comes time to replace it. Almost time to do so. Hopefully not while on the trail.

[Pennsy Camp and Canoe]

. that sux

[Watertooner]

Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Blackbird:

What beck'ning ghost, along the moon-light path
Invites my steps, and points to yonder swath?
'Tis she!—but why that billowed bottom gor'd,
Why dimly gleams the imaginary sword?
Oh ever beauteous, ever friendly! tell,
Is it, in heav'n, a crime to hang too well?
To bear too slender, or too firm a tarp,
To act a lover's or a hanger's part?
Is there no bright reversion in the sky,
For those who greatly sink, or bravely lie?

Poets themselves must fall, like those who've hung,
Deaf the prais'd ear, and mute the tuneful tongue.
Ev'n he, whose sole now smells in awful ways,
Shall shortly want the gen'rous tear he pays;
Then from his closing eyes thy form shall part,
And one last hang shall tear thee from Benchmark,
Life's idle business at one gasp be o'er,
The Bird forgot, and thou belov'd no more!

~with thanks (and deepest apologies) to Alexander Pope

[P-Dub]

Well done!

[Benchmark]

Watertooner - Nicely done, thank you!

No-Sage - couldn't really ask for better weather for mid/late August. I think the warmest it got was upper 60's and coolest was probably about 50 overnight.

TrailSlug - I only had 1 night left so I did a night in the shelter as part of my penance...unfortunately, I slept better than I thought I would.

Other HF members - Any takers on reminiscing your fallen fabric friend?

[trouthunter]

Totally understand!

I have always developed an emotional attachment to my shelters, dumb I know!

I can only offer this advise.....

You can fix it, we have the technology, it can be faster, stronger.........

For younger folks my remarks are based on the TV show The Six Million Dollar Man.

I have spent countless hours repairing replaceable gear over the years, I just hate to part with a friend.