One more "can't sleep" story: In 2006, my bud from NC talks me into trying hammock camping. 4 of us head into the Rockies, my bud and me inhammocks, 2 others sharing a tent. I pass out quick the first night, but wake up freezing 0200, dog cussing hammocks. But despite my 2 tenting buds laughing at me, I get the insulation right(HHSS) and enjoy heavenly sleep the rest of the week. By the last night they are both miserable(rocks and rolling down hill and cold all night) and I sleep in, nice and warm to 0900.They have to roust me out.
Next year same group hikes into Olympic National Park for a week, 2 of us in hammocks and 2 on the ground. Two of us really enjoying our comfort and sleep, 2 not so much.
Next year back to the high Rockies, but the 2 that were laughing at me on that 1st trip have decided to go hammock. Said they were tired of seeing us looking forward to getting in our hammocks, and they were tired of trying to find a rock to sit on. This was all them, I did not try to influence them at all. First morning it is in the 20s, one of those 2 comes out of the hammock/Pea Pod saying "hate it, hate it, hate it", he had a miserable freezing night. Not only was he a stomach sleeper, he was very claustrophobic, and could not stand to have the Pea Pod vent hole anywhere near closed, and did not bring anything to layer around chest/neck to allow him to close off that area when he opened the vent as wide as he needed, had nothing for his cold face, etc. So he froze, when he opened that vent all his cold air would rush out. Next day we all worked with him to try and find solutions. He later said "it was a bit better" but would not admit it was actually good, and not as good as his pad on the ground which he longed for. But, we all noticed that he was spending the same 12 hours a night- plus long afternoon naps- in the hammock as we were. So we wondered if he was maybe refusing to admit comfort because he was still so pissed about that 1st night. ( BTW, the other new hanger- or all 3 out of 4- slept great every night)
Now comes the next year: no one goes except the 1 hammock hater, he and his dad go back to the exact same place, ONP. Both in a tent on the ground. When asked how the trip was, he said it was great, except for that tent and ground thing. If he went back again, he was probably going to use a hammock. So, admit it or not, I think after that 1st night he was sleeping pretty good.
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