Most of the time when I camp, whether backcountry or frontcountry, it's at a designated campsite. Nearly always, I can't be sure that there will be suitable trees at the site - even if there's a little picture provided by the online reservation system. The picture is often too limited in field of view or it may be out of date. In any case - the usual advice of "just hike on a bit and you'll quickly find some good trees" - that doesn't apply for designated campsites. How do hammock dwellers solve this conundrum? I don't get the feeling they go to ground much. Do you all largely avoid designated campsites - or at least the smaller ones that have a lower chance of having suitable trees?
I've done some hammock camping, and had mixed results, sleep-wise. And because of the designated campsite thing, I've largely tented. But now it looks like I have come to a point when my tents may need replacement soon, and it's occurred to me I could give hammock camping another go, and perhaps put a bit of that tent-replacement money into hammock gear. For instance I have a DD 3m x 3m tarp that seems well made and tough, but is relatively heavy. I could probably shave a pound off tarp weight, which is great, but truth be told I struggle more with pack room than pack weight. Another thing that might help me is a winter sock, esp. since I use a CCF pad instead of an underquilt (I tried an UQ and found it too drafty, fiddly, and bulky in my pack).
Anyway I have a trip coming up mid-Nov where there's a designated site I've been to before. It's fairly large, hard-packed dirt, and I think there are suitable trees. Seems like a good situation to try hammock camping. Avg low 35F, +/- 10 degrees.
But far more often I'm at sites that are smaller, with unknown tree situation, or the park rules state that the "tent" must be kept on the tent pad (and the trees around the pad are way too far apart to suspend a hammock over it), etc. How do you all do it? Or do you stick to other places? (if so I still need tents ...).
Thanks for any feedback or suggestions.
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