Video: Eagle Rock Loop and Hammock Comparison

**Spiguyver** · 04-13-2018, 09:08

Last weekend a group of three of us spent three nights/three days hiking the Eagle Rock Loop in Arkansas. It was a great time, but we were challenged by the weather. Rain and cool temps made the trip more difficult than it normally would be, water flow rates spiked from their normal 100-150 cu ft per hour to approx 1800 cu ft per hour, making several crossings too dangerous to even attempt!

Because we had 3 people and 3 nights, I decided to bring the 3 hammocks I get asked about the most, the Dream Hammock Sparrow, the Dutchware Gear Chameleon, and the Warbonnet Blackbird XLC. We swapped hammocks each night and I got feedback from everyone on what they thought of the hammocks.

Check out the video!

**sloanie** · 04-13-2018, 11:09

Love the idea of the hammock comparison. How long is the ridge line on the sparrow?

**rhjanes** · 04-13-2018, 11:57

Question on where you parked and that road in. I've parked at the Winding Stairs, and also around at the NW corner (2 times). That NW corner is about 20 minutes of FS (rough) roads.
So, how is that road into the SW corner?
Is it a few miles or short?
How is the parking area?
And then it is around 1 mile to the intersection of the Viles trail, the ABF and the spur you hiked in from parking at?

Thanks for the video.

**Spiguyver** · 04-13-2018, 13:24

Originally Posted by sloanie

Love the idea of the hammock comparison. How long is the ridge line on the sparrow?

So it turns out it's the same length as the Chameleon, at 110 inches, it's just run through the hammock differently. I will dig up a video link that shows the difference.

**Spiguyver** · 04-13-2018, 13:27

Originally Posted by rhjanes

Question on where you parked and that road in. I've parked at the Winding Stairs, and also around at the NW corner (2 times). That NW corner is about 20 minutes of FS (rough) roads.
So, how is that road into the SW corner?
Is it a few miles or short?
How is the parking area?
And then it is around 1 mile to the intersection of the Viles trail, the ABF and the spur you hiked in from parking at?

Thanks for the video.

That way wasn't too far off the paved road, maybe 3 miles. It would have been significantly less had the gate been open, but because it wasn't we had to go a little further around. The parking area is okay for about 7 vehicles. One spot in the road out there is really washed out and you need to be careful going over it. The trail to the loop is a tough 1.4 miles. You end up doing an additional mountain, which makes the ABF section 7 mountains rather than just the normal 6.

**Dlrocm** · 04-13-2018, 15:14

great idea! I will be heading to the eagle rock loop in late May or early June. I'm looking forward to hearing the opinions on these great hammocks.

**Spiguyver** · 04-13-2018, 16:00

Originally Posted by Dlrocm

great idea! I will be heading to the eagle rock loop in late May or early June. I'm looking forward to hearing the opinions on these great hammocks.

You'll love it. It's a great trail, so well maintained, and amazing views throughout. Unfortunately we didn't get to see any of the views from the mountains, but we did get to see some amazing waterfalls. Not sure how many of the hundred or so we saw are there when it's not raining though!

**Spiguyver** · 04-14-2018, 12:31

I will be putting together an expanded video of just the hammock comparison next week. I know there are a lot of people that are just interested in that, and don't really care about the trip.

**LaxativeLarry** · 09-10-2018, 23:04

Thanks for the vid, Spiguyver. Some buddies are I are hiking the ERL in November. We'll be starting at the NW corner, and take it CCW. Sure hope we have less rain and easier river crossings than you encountered. But we'll take whatever the adventure throws at us.