Results 1 to 8 of 8
  1. #1
    New Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    River Edge, NJ
    Posts
    0

    New to hammocks; planning an AT thru-hike

    I like the idea of using a hammock for backpacking on the AT. Plenty of trees! And makes stealth camping easier - no need to look for flat, clear tent site.

    I recently purchased a Clark hammock. The North American. One of the topics I'm interested in is backpacking in the rain. Any thru-hike of the AT can expect many rainy nights and was wondering what hangers do with their packs while sleeping high and dry in their hammocks. It's not like sleeping in a 2-man tent where you can pull the pack in with you. How do hangers keep their backpacks dry overnight in the rain?

  2. #2
    Senior Member Dblcorona's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Novi, MI
    Hammock
    WBBB 1.7 DBL
    Tarp
    HG Cuben
    Insulation
    Sleeping BearTQ/UQ
    Suspension
    Straps and Slings
    Posts
    951
    Images
    18
    That is one of my issues with the Clark. The size of their tarp. I usually have my bag under the tarp with me or hang it at the end of my hammock put still under the tarp so it's not on the ground. Others use a small gear hammock that hangs under the main hammock.
    "We don't stop hiking because we grow old,
    we grow old because we stop hiking."

    -- Finis Mitchell,

  3. #3
    Senior Member rockerZ71's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Lawrenceville, GA
    Hammock
    Claytor JH
    Tarp
    Claytor JH
    Insulation
    ridge rest pad
    Suspension
    nylon straps
    Posts
    133
    I've only spent 2 rainy nights that I can remember in my hammock, and I just put it on the ground under me. Worked fine, I guess I picked a decent spot where the rain water didnt run directly under me. My dog sleeps under there too and sometimes likes to rest her head on my pack.

  4. #4
    all secure in sector 7 Shug's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Minnesota
    Hammock
    I have many so....
    Tarp
    Blackcrow DIY Tarp
    Insulation
    FrankenquiltUQ/Pod
    Suspension
    Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    23,395
    Images
    62
    Mine goes on the ground by on a piece of plastic. Rain cover on it if really stormy. I do have a plastic bag in my pack to keep stuff dry as well. Never had it wet yet!
    Best to you on your AT Trek.
    Shug

    Whooooo Buddy)))) All Secure in Sector Seven

  5. #5
    Senior Member Old River Rat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Deville, La.
    Hammock
    GrizzBridge Rhino
    Tarp
    Speer Winter Tarp
    Insulation
    HammockGear TQ/UQ
    Suspension
    Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    572
    the last time i went camping it rained. i kept my pack under my hammock on top of a sheet of plastic i carry. everything stayed dry.

  6. #6
    Senior Member affreeman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Quincy, MA
    Hammock
    Darien UL 11'
    Tarp
    HG Cuben Fiber Hex
    Insulation
    JRB TQ & UQ
    Suspension
    Whoopie slings
    Posts
    209
    I used a hammock n my AT thru-hike in '09. I mostly put my pack underneath my hammock with the rain cover on it. I sometimes felt I should do something more, but I am basically lazy and I never had any issues with it.
    ~
    "Home is where I hang my food bag."

    Monkeywrench
    Allen Freeman
    [email protected]
    www.allenf.com
    blog.allenf.com

  7. #7
    Senior Member Atlas918's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Hammock
    DH Darien
    Tarp
    WB Edge/Superfly
    Insulation
    Burrow, Phoenix
    Suspension
    Whoopies
    Posts
    913
    Greetings from Florida

    I hang my pack from the end of my hammock, under my tarp, with the rain cover on, just in case.
    The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.

  8. #8
    Senior Member FLRider's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Gainesville, FL
    Hammock
    DIY Gathered End
    Tarp
    DIY Asym
    Insulation
    DIY Modular Quilt
    Suspension
    Whoopies/MSH
    Posts
    4,471
    Images
    14
    It depends on the weather.

    If it looks like it's going to be nice, I just place the pack on the ground on top of my groundsheet (GI poncho) or sit pad (depending on what temperatures I expect, I sometimes bring a sit pad instead of just my poncho).

    If it looks like it's going to rain, I do the same.

    If it looks like it's going to pour, I will clip the (nearly-empty) pack to my suspension at the foot end of the hammock. I have a large enough tarp to be able to get away with this, though.

    If it looks like a monsoon's coming in, I will clip it to the suspension at the foot end and throw my poncho over the foot end of the tarp to act as a Grizz Beak. Did this last year in Middleburg during the NE FL Hang, though I had it underneath the hammock inside of a trash compactor bag rather than hanging that weekend. My new MMP-inspired DIY pack is a lot easier to hang than my old pack was, though, so...

    Something I did the first time I went hammock camping was to clip my pack into the foot-end loop of the SRL in my Hennessy. If you have a ridgeline (or even if you don't, but still have enough room in the hammock and a light enough pack), you can clip the pack to the point where the suspension enters the hammock at the foot end and let it sit in the hammock with you. As long as it's a large enough hammock and you're laying asym, the pack shouldn't touch you.

  • + New Posts
  • Similar Threads

    1. Replies: 25
      Last Post: 05-27-2014, 08:26
    2. planning Colorado Trail hike
      By Gus in forum West
      Replies: 1
      Last Post: 01-25-2014, 23:55
    3. Upper Michigan hike planning
      By jrs62284 in forum Midwest
      Replies: 11
      Last Post: 05-22-2013, 13:20
    4. GET Hike n Hang Planning Thread
      By trailryder42 in forum Hangouts, Campouts, and Trip Planning
      Replies: 19
      Last Post: 12-19-2012, 18:54
    5. Trail Days Hike Planning and Poll #2
      By Hooch in forum Hangouts, Campouts, and Trip Planning
      Replies: 104
      Last Post: 05-17-2010, 11:29

    Tags for this Thread

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •