A little scared to post this...don't hate me
I know we have threads on hammock-friends states/parks already and may have touched on this. But I’m wondering how concerned YOU are and when you feel a hammock “ban” will be much more widespread in a majority of state parks, national parks, wilderness areas, campgrounds, etc.
In my case there is not even a mention of hammocks at the places I hang, which is great. Hopefully it stays that way! I guess it depends on two things:
1. Proper/improper use of hanging hammock to prevent tree damage
2. The simple number of hangers/mainstream popularity of hammocks
Number 2 is what really worries me. I’m sure some states/parks can be totally ignorant about hammocks and will eventually ban them just because it’s something hanging on a tree without regard to how it is attached. They see more and more people hanging, commercial hammocks for sale everywhere in stores and online, and photos all over the web/blogs/facebook/youtube etc. You could probably tell them you’re using 8” webbing on the tree and how safe it is, but they won’t care. Just a hypothetical situation.
It seems like just a few years ago, if someone saw your hammock in camp, they were like "nice! where did you get that? do you sleep overnight in that?" Now, there's a 50% chance they use one too...and maybe the rest of their hiking party!
As much as I don’t want to admit it or even think about it, I’m guessing I will start to see some resistance to using hammocks within 5 years. Not something anyone here wants to think about, but that’s just something that crosses my mind now and then.
For now, I enjoy every minute I hang in the backcountry and try not to take it for granted!
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