Hanging tough
I’ve been checking out a lot of websites recently - mostly to do with setting up, and being comfortable in, a hammock. The reason for this is that hammock camping is very light and very versatile.
I already knew this, of course, which is why, when we went to Alligator Falls on Mt Elliot (just south of TSV) I cleverly took my Thai Army issue hammock.
It worked well. I was able to sleep in comfort on a 20 degree slope. However, there were some problems:
The first was mozzies. The mosquito net didn’t work properly. As you can see, I had tied it off and draped it over me, but the bastards just got in (under the bottom) and then slayed me ’cause they couldn’t escape.
The second was the fly. It was just too heavy. I knew this would be the case, but wanted to use a cheap (heavy) one and make sure that it worked, before going and buying a nicer one.
The third was that, due to the configuration of the mozzie net, I couldn’t take my feet out of my sleeping bag when I got very hot during the night. To do so would’ve been meant instant death from Ross River Fever.
So began the customising and sewing.
I started by chopping the top off the cone shaped mozzie net. I then sewed a sleeve along the top and sewed the bottom of the cone onto the sides of the hammock itself, leaving a 1m section free for getting in and out.
I then went to Grid North, a custom gear manufacturer here in Townsville (that’s one good thing about being in Townsville, there’s lots of crazy army freaks who like to make their own gear which is better than the standard issue stuff) where I got the guy to make me up a custom tarp for the hammock for a very cheap $50-odd.
I then bought a $15 one-season sleeping bag for the warmer tropical conditions (even though it’s been unseasonally wet and cold recently - everyone’s blaming La Nina, I’m just glad my study has finished for the moment).
I’ll put up a picture when I’ve finished the set-up, but so far it’s looking good.
Anyway, I was looking at websites (turns out there’s a whole sub culture of people hammock hiking and even Hammock Hangers clubs who get together and camp out in hammocks), when I opened this site and came across this story.
This is where Seuss slept. He had a mighty adventure this weekend! He was down at the river watching the full moon rise over a peak across the river, minding his own business, when out of nowhere a BEAR snarled from behind a tree. It was a big’n, though apparently he hadn’t eaten in a while and was looking to Seuss for a small snack…or AS a small snack! The beast advanced menacingly, as if saying, “You can run but you’ll only die tired.”
Thinking quickly, Seuss knew he didn’t want to endanger all of us by leading the bear back to camp. He bravely lopped off part of his thumb (with his Leatherman, I guess, or maybe an axe), threw it at the bear, and came strolling back into camp like nothing had ever happened.
The bear didn’t chase Seuss back into camp, so either the thumb satisfied his hunger or he lost his appetite wondering why it tasted so funny. Karen helped him bandage up his thumb, and for the rest of the weekend he had fun tying his shoes with only one opposable thumb.
Way to take one for the team, Seuss!
August 8th, 2005 at 4:38 pm
I’m not sure how light those free-standing aluminium hammock stands are? I’d say for the weight of all the crap those guys have they could have carried a double-sized air bed each. Fancy having a hammock users base-camp so they can be all warm and comfy while their pathetic looking constructions take a beating from a light dusting of snow. And another thing - how often are you out camping by yourself where you can’t carry a tent? If your travelling in pairs (or threes as was the case on Hinchy) you can split the weight of a tent so that it would probably end up less than the weight of the hammock set-up. If you open up the solid doors on a tent you’ll get great ventilation and if it’s cold you’ll be warm as toast from the combined body heat with your tent buddy. Sure you can sleep on a 20 degree slope, but what the f*$k are you doing camping on a 20 degree slope? Get lost or something?
I’m just having a tragically slow start to the week here, please excuse me. Hopefully, my scepticism will only drive your creative spirit onto greater things.
August 8th, 2005 at 4:58 pm
The reason they took the stands was because there were too many of them and not enough trees.
Hammocks are good for: When you go in random groups, like our trip to Alligator Falls, or on field trips to areas with randoms. Or, where you have to stay in someone else’s accomodation, or when you don’t own a decent tent.
Sharing tents is great if you have three budies, but being self-contained is also sweet and not having to share with some snoring tool.
Also, lots of people report that in full-on storms they have been toasty and dry (if they set their hammock correctly) while their tent-bound counter-parts have been washed away on their “double-sized air bed”s.
At Alligator Falls there is not much flat ground. All the guys who slept in tents were sore and grumbly in the morning. One guy bivvied on the rocks right next to the stream, but there was only space for one and it was right next to the stream! a) noisy, b) could get wet quickly - especially in the tropics.
Also, it’s fun. Maybe you should get a dominant hammock and stop winging like a Sydney-bound architect
August 8th, 2005 at 6:03 pm
Fair enough. I did copy you and buy a 1-season sleeping bag the other day, it’s all sweetness and light, I’ll send you a pic.
August 8th, 2005 at 9:27 pm
It’s not good business to besmirch your sponsors
August 8th, 2005 at 9:37 pm
Ahaha… I seem to recall something along the following lines being written not a week ago…
August 9th, 2005 at 10:04 am
No need to get cocky, son. We can’t all live in tromopical paradise with our income paid for by the taxes of whinging Sydney-bound architects.
August 9th, 2005 at 12:06 pm
cold. so cold