Backcountry backpack camping

[Bearkat9293]

I am looking to get a sleep system for a 5 day Backcountry hunt that I will be backpacking in. I would really like to use a hammock instead of tent, but not sure of tree situation as may wonder above treeline. I have seen some videos on taking the hammock to the ground. My thought is to buy a Chameleon double layer and use sleeping pad in case I have to go to the ground I would still have the pad. Of course I would have a tarp on ridgeline, and a ground tarp to put under the hammock. Should the ground tarp be a bathtub style seeing may be on side of hill? I plan on having an over tarp with moonlight as temperature may get down to low 40s.
I am wondering best way to setup on ground maybe using trekking sticks and how to keep top cover and tarp suspended out of my face? Also is there a better setup I need to be looking at? fYI I am 6'3" 210# with wide shoulders.

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[Shug]

I can offer up this video to help out.
Thinking you could just prop up the uphill side of any ground cloth with sticks or stones or leaves to raise that edge,
Shug

[Bearkat9293]

I can offer up this video to help out.
Thinking you could just prop up the uphill side of any ground cloth with sticks or stones or leaves to raise that edge,
Shug

Thanks! That help a lot.

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[cougarmeat]

Bearkat9293 - the question is, are you just concerned about a lack of trees or does this have to be storm proof too. If you need to accommodate expected bad weather, Then a small “Solo” tent might serve you better than ground sheet and a tarp. But if it’s just a lack of trees, and you don’t expect torrential rain. Shug’s example is the ticket. I had a WarBonnet Black Bird and just layer it on top of an old Therm-a-rest (that was on a ground sheet), and tied the built-in bug net to my poles - which also held up the tarp.

[Bearkat9293]

I can offer up this video to help out.
Thinking you could just prop up the uphill side of any ground cloth with sticks or stones or leaves to raise that edge,
Shug

Shug,
I was just looking at the AMOK XL 5.0 thread and watched your video of the 3.0. In your opinion would a AMOK go to the ground as a bivy better than a GE? They look interesting. I was thinking it might work with the trekking poles on the side.

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[Shug]

Shug,
I was just looking at the AMOK XL 5.0 thread and watched your video of the 3.0. In your opinion would a AMOK go to the ground as a bivy better than a GE? They look interesting. I was thinking it might work with the trekking poles on the side.

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It does work....

AMOK XL on Ground by Sean Emery, on Flickr

AMOK XL on Ground by Sean Emery, on Flickr

Used a small biner to take the slack out of the ridgeline
AMOK XL on Ground by Sean Emery, on Flickr

AMOK XL on Ground by Sean Emery, on Flickr

[Bearkat9293]

It does work....

AMOK XL on Ground by Sean Emery, on Flickr

AMOK XL on Ground by Sean Emery, on Flickr

Used a small biner to take the slack out of the ridgeline
AMOK XL on Ground by Sean Emery, on Flickr

AMOK XL on Ground by Sean Emery, on Flickr

Thanks! That actually looks like might work better. Really be nice with the Superfly.

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[Bob-W]

I've come to hammocks from ground camping, more specifically bikepacking with tarps rather than tent.

Mixing ground and hammock camping means you need to look at what gear can be used for both and what is specific. On the hammocking side the hammock and underquilt are specific, on the camping side, probably just a bivy bag couldn't be used in a hammocking setup. Generic kit is the tarp and top quilt, then there's kit that while not ideal in the other scenario could be used: sleeping mat; hammock sock.

I'd first look at how to pitch your tarp on the ground. Plain square or rectangular tarps will be best for this rather than tarps that are specialised for hanging but a hex shaped tarp will do at a push. Many ground focused tarps have mid-panel tie-outs to assist in pitching. For support you have your trekking poles. There are lots, and I mean lots, of types of pitch, some are useful, some are more the "aren't I clever?" variety. The classic A-frame (which is what most hammock tarps are pitched as and as shown in Shug's video links) is likely to be the least useful as it's most likely that you'll be going to ground where there aren't trees or shelter and the A-frame is a bit of a wind tunnel. Easiest is the dropped tail A-frame, basically you have one end at or near ground level, face that end at 45deg into the prevailing wind so eddies don't sweep back into your shelter.

I wouldn't put the hammock on the ground, in fact I wouldn't use it, wrong tool for the job IMO. I use a lightweight (170g Borah Gear) bivy bag when on the ground, keeps draughts off as well as any bugs. If the ground's dry then you don't really need a groundsheet, if it's damp then consider something like a hammock sock as a sort of bivy bag with your mat, top quilt and you inside. If the hammock sock has a noseeum upper then that should deal with any bugs, you just need a means of lifting it off your face. A mini-carabiner and shock cord up to one of the tarp tie-outs would do the trick.

In your situation I'd take: tarp; double skin hammock; sleeping mat; top quilt; hammock sock. Use everything when hanging, everything but the hammock when on the ground.

[Bobonli]

I've come to hammocks from ground camping, more specifically bikepacking with tarps rather than tent........I wouldn't put the hammock on the ground, in fact I wouldn't use it, wrong tool for the job IMO.

Your contribution is very timely. I've been scouting locations for a quick overnight bike pack. Emphasis on quick, and many of the locations (county and state parks that allow camping) are configured for tents/ground camping. They've cleared away any useful trees or the ones that remain are dead. So now I'm wondering if it's time to buy a new tent. I know many people go-to-ground with their hammock but the whole affair looks like a mediocre compromise...which it is, really. In my region, at this time of year, some form of bug protection is required. The last site I scouted I couldn't stand still enough to really inspect it because of all the gnats and mosquitos!

Thank you for the "right tool for the job" reminder. It might be time for a divvy and just leave the hammock in the bar-bag when their are no trees. Or just resign myself that 'this trip I'll be on the ground'