Greetings from West Massachusetts

**RunningRigging** · 06-07-2020, 10:31

Hi all,
In a nutshell, hammock camping is a continuation of an experiment for me. Been camping just about all my life. Of late, the past few years it's been mostly off my motorcycle ( Suzuki VStrom 1000). I tried hammock camping a few years ago in a Hennessy asym. Didn't work for me, as I mostly sleep side lying and do flip flop a lot throughout the night. I just ordered up a Warbonnet RidgeRunner and am hoping this will work out for me given the much flatter profile. I love the idea of hammock camping and being divorced from the ground! And..... I've always been intrigued by the idea of climbing 50 or 60 feet up a tree and setting up a hammock to spend a night with the birds and squirrels. I'm 69 years old now and not sure if I'll ever pull that off. Still, it's a great dream, no? I won't go into the particulars of who I am.... it's in a nutshell in my HF profile.
Thanks to y'all in advance for all I'm going to learn on this forum. :-)
Gary

**kattdogg** · 06-15-2020, 21:38

Welcome to the forums. I flip flop and sleep on my side as well and have a dream hammock sparrow that is symmetrical and love it. I have the Ridge Runner and enjoy it during the summer but during the winter it is just to cold for me!

**I-Hang** · 06-16-2020, 06:07

There is a little learning curve at first but once you dial everything in you can have a great nights sleep. I am also a stomachache/side sleeper and have adapted well to sleeping in a hammock. I was sleeping full time in one for a while because of back issues. I sleep better in a hammock than I do a bed.

Setting up that high in a tree can be a little tricky but doable with the right gear. Many will say to never hang higher than you are willing to fall. Being that high up in a tree would not be so beneficial for nightly bathroom trips either.

It’s great to have goals though.

**FuzzyJew** · 06-16-2020, 11:22

Howdy from Houston,

My family is largely from the Falmouth area, always nice to see New Englanders.

A lot of comfort is nailing the angle of the dangle. There are a lot of great tutorials on here, and on youtube that walk through getting the sweet spot. Just fidget with it until it's like sleeping on a cloud.

Happy hanging!

**RunningRigging** · 06-18-2020, 12:03

Thanks all for the welcomes and encouragement. Re: hanging 50' up a tree..... In younger days I was a board certified arborist and professional tree climber/"surgeon". I would not attempt sleeping in a hammock that high up without also being tied in with a life line above me affixed to my climbing saddle. I totally agree.... don't hang farther up than you're willing to fall!
Gary